20 Oct 2023 Do you often find yourself daydreaming and envisioning the perfect cup of coffee? One where each sip is an exquisite journey of flavours, aromas, and passion? If so, hold onto your coffee cups, because we’ve got some exciting news for you! South Africa’s biggest coffee show, Specialty Coffee Expo, is set to make waves at the V&A Waterfronts’ Makers Landing for their first ever expo in Cape Town. But wait, you may be wondering, what exactly is Specialty Coffee? It’s not just your average cup of joe, its coffee taken to a whole new level – an artform, if you will. It’s beans that are meticulously sourced with care, roasted to perfection, and brewed with the utmost precision. In fact, did you know that only a mere 6% of the world’s coffee beans are considered to be “specialty”? That’s the kind of excellence we’re talking about, and the kind of excellence you get to experience at the Specialty Coffee Expo. The event is set to be a rendezvous for coffee enthusiasts, whether you’re passionate about brews, intrigued by brewing equipment, or simply eager to discover the world of coffee in all its richness – The Specialty Coffee Expo has something special instore for you. What to expect? Specialty Roasters Village – Experience, taste, and purchase some of the best coffees available anywhere in the world. Makers Landing – Check out what culinary surprises our makers have in store for breakfast, lunch and supper. Specialty Coffee Association of Southern Africa (SCASA) Western Cape Barista Champs – The best that the region has to offer will compete for the top spots in Cup Tasters, Barista & Latte Art competitions. Prepare your taste buds for an exceptional journey, as we proudly present 14 premier roasters, carefully selected from all over South Africa, as well as coffee roasters within our V&A neighbourhood, such as Rosetta Roastery, Shift, and Moses Coffee. Click here for a full list of other participants. We decided to go around our V&A neighbourhood and ask our very own brew masters a few questions to get a sneak peek into the world of coffee through their eyes, and here’s what they had to say: Sharon from Rosetta Roastery; What inspired you to get into the coffee business? Our deep passion for coffee and wanting to share our love for it with others was the driving force behind us joining the coffee business. We are also committed to sustainability and ethical sourcing practices. We aim to support fair trade and environmentally friendly coffee production which meets our desire to contribute positively to the coffee community and industry as a whole. What’s the favourite part of your job? I’m highly driven by my love for coffee, passion for creating unique experiences, dedication to quality and attention to detail as well as my desire to engage with the community in a meaningful way. Building and leading a team of skilled and passionate coffee professionals has been very fulfilling. Seeing them develop their skills and coffee knowledge, and excelling in their roles has really been rewarding. If you had to recommend a coffee order to a non-coffee drinker, which would it be and why? If they have dietary restrictions I would recommend decaf (for those who don’t take caffeine). For those with no restrictions I would recommend light roasted single origins as they are generally milder and have a brighter acidity profile making them approachable. They often have fruity tea-like notes and would be a good choice for those who prefer a less intense coffee experience yet getting clarity of flavor and would be best in taking new coffee drinkers on a journey to discovering uniqueness in coffee. Irini from Love, Revenge and Cappuccino; What inspired you to get into the coffee business? 32 years ago, when we decided to take on the challenge, there were no proper coffee shops other than the House of Coffees in Adderley Street. My late father put all his savings into opening our coffee shop. This proved a huge success and made us a household name. Our logo was (if you haven’t been, you Haven’t been seen). If you could pick a coffee that best represents your personality, which would it be and why? Enthusiastic Visionary. I am highly creative. I’m very observant, and perceptive especially when it comes to people and what makes them tick. I have the power to bring something new into existence, I’m hard working and lead by example. I’m bold and confident and although I’m in a leadership role, I say I’m the team leader. This makes my staff feel part of a team and they are loved by all our customers for now our 32 years at the waterfront. We thought we’d ask the V&A team a few coffee-related questions to kickstart the hype around the event. After all, what better way to fuel everyone’s anticipation than by delving into our collective passion. Here’s what they had to say: If you could drink any coffee from any country in the world, which would it be and why? My favourite coffee is Uganda White Nile from Deluxe Coffeeworks but I also enjoy single origin Rwanda coffee from Bean There. Smooth, strong and full of flavour. – Adri, Marketing Manager If you could have a coffee date with anyone, who would it be and why? It would be Ron Dennis, former CEO of McLaren Formula 1 Team. Ron was instrumental in building the team from his days as a mechanic and built the team into the second most successful F1 team after Ferrari. I am a fervent F1 McLaren fan and have been since 1988 and Ron’s approach is kind of inspiring for me in building engineering teams. – André, Executive Manager: Operations If you could only drink one type of coffee for the rest of your life, which would it be and why? That’s easy, a flat white – or also known as a double short latte (no sugar). Two shots of espresso to one part of milk in a small cup, it’s smooth, but strong. I’ve tried every coffee drink – and there’s just nothing like it! – Nuha, Communications Officer. What was the coffee that inspired your love for coffee? My fav coffee is a cafe latte with almond milk, delishhhh! Though, I got my love for coffee by seeing how it brings people together from leisure to work. When I worked remotely, I would head to local cafes to work and started talking to the owners about how they started their business. So, when I heard the inspiring stories, I got inspired to create an Instagram account that helps local cafes that put them on the radar. – Alexa, Scout PR consultant.
