Supporting local products should be as part of every South African as “eish”.
For those who are not familiar with this term, it is an universally applied informal South African Language term, which can indicate surprise, awe, shock, exasperation, excitement or resignation (as in, “it is out of my control but I am going to make the most of this situation”).
On average we use or hear this term at least once every day.
For instance, when tasting a new coffee brand I could say, “Eish, I love it!” or, ”Eish, it tastes awful!”
So, whether you’re going out for a cuppa, or brewing your own, remember to choose local brands or roasters. There are a few reasons for this, one being a proud SA supporter of entrepeneurs. But another important reason is the roaster deals with the beans on the premises or close-by, which means your coffee is as fresh and real as it comes. Another is the local climate. The beans are treated in the same climate your body is familiar with. Believe it or not, this is also incredibly important. Even though the beans are probably imported, the moment they are roasted the clock starts ticking for flavour, aroma and ambience.
And then of course, each roaster has his or her own “hand and nose” when handling the beans, temperature and timing during the roasting process. This is their signature on final product, the one good cup they are always striving to make people come back for.
Such a place is Stereo Cafe in Bloemfonein. This is where I go for my regular early Wednesday morning fix with the girls. They focus on the coffee roasting and serving and are frequented by corporate coffee lovers as well as Moms on the go and entrepeneurs. No mess no fuss, order and pay at the counter, find a seat and your coffee is delivered to your table in no time. Nkosi is the Barista and he really does know his stuff. (My cup of choice is a flat white, but more about that in my next post.)
Heading up the serving is Nthabiseng and together with the manager/owner they feed coffee lovers the best on the block. The vibe is fast and focused early on, slowing down into a rhythm that is equally enjoyed by the folk who need another place to work than home or to meet a friend for a chat and a quick bite
I go back because the coffee as well as the quick data dowload between the girls acts like a catalyst for brain inspiration. Here you can walk out and be great. And “lekker”. All day. Right here in Bloem. Eish!
