The best coffee in Cape Town

Woodstock is an up-and-coming district on the edge of the city, once a semi-industrial working class neighbourhood; it is fast becoming one of the trendiest areas in town and is home to much of the artsy crowd and boutique designers. Espresso Lab in the Old Biscuit Mill is one of Cape Town’s oldest micro-roasteries and have long been specialising in small lots of freshly picked coffee beans sourced all over the globe and roasted on site. Over the years they have developed close relationships with their coffee farmers and suppliers, investing time and effort to ensure a continued supply of quality beans that are sustainable and meet the international fair-trade standards.

Tribe Coffee is a bit further down Albert Road and in addition to a delicious cappuccino. They also serve a mean chocolate brownie, topped with loads of walnuts which makes it healthy, right? They are another roastery and supply much of Cape Town with freshly roasted coffee beans.

Still in Woodstock, the Rosetta Roastery in the Woodstock Exchange is yet another a micro roastery specialising in single origin coffees from South America, Africa and Asia. With a philosophy of quality over quantity they scour the globe, in constant search of innovative growers and new coffees. Their roasts are classified as either progressive, whereby the fruity characteristics of the bean are maintained as much as possible during the roasting (generally a lighter roast), or classic, which is a darker roast with a flavour that is deeper, and more bitter flavour than we generally associate with coffee.

The Haas Collective is more than just a caffeine hit, and as the name suggests, it is a beautifully decorated, collaborative space dedicated to art and design, with the aim of bringing like-minded people together with amazing coffee to get the creative juices flowing. The place is moody and filled with couches and comfortable corners to settle into, invoking a cosy atmosphere that encourages you to linger over your flat white. Founded by a group of friends and creatives, the concept was to create somewhere beautiful for art and design of all mediums to be displayed, as well as providing a platform from which local talents could showcase their work. From here, it was a natural progression towards wanting to make the space more inviting, and what could be more tempting than the promise of good company and great coffee?

In the heart of the legal district, Bread Milk and Honey bustles with the well-heeled breakfast and lunch crowd: lawyers, magistrates and other A-type personalities who like things fast and efficient. Their breakfast menu is blessedly varied and features smoothies, fresh juices and a wide range of hot and cold breakfast options. Coffee choices are wide too, from espresso and filter to individually hand-brewed drip-style pourover for the most discerning caffeine junkie.

Yours Truly is located on the iconic Long Street, the heart and soul of Cape Town´s social scene. Tucked in between a plethora of boutiques, bars and restaurants, this tiny coffee spot is an urban oasis in the middle of the city and a welcome respite from the constant hustle. With rustic wooden styling and surrounded by greenery, this is a little place with a big heart and is very popular with the locals; perfect for grabbing a quick takeaway or sitting down for a lazy lunch.