I am a born-and-bred Durbanite, and among many culture shocks experienced in my move to Cape Town in 2013, the biggest one was the first exposure to the Cape’s borderline fanatical coffee culture. The craze hadn’t quite yet hit Kwa-Zulu Natal, so I was very much happy with my granulated Nescafé Classic and the occasional Cappuccino at a restaurant.
But first, what are the origins of this mysterious product? According to The National Coffee Association, the coffee plant was first discovered in Ethiopia in the 11th Century. Initially, it is believed the plant’s leaves were boiled in water for medicinal purposes, and it wasn’t until much later that the Ottomans discovered the magic behind the beans. They would roast the beans over a fire, finely grind them and then soak them with water on the ashes of a charcoal fire. With this new brewing method, coffee quickly spread to Europe (first arriving in Venice) and eventually made it to America in the 17th century. Nowadays, drinking coffee has become somewhat of an art.
My first “real” Cape coffee experience was in 2014. After a morning hike up Lion’s Head (cue eye-roll), a Capetonian peer with gave me the coffee breakdown at a popular coffee shop. This, after I dared pour a sachet of Candarel into my Flat White that I ordered under her duress.
– “The milk has to be poured between 60-70 degrees Celsius.”
– “Cappuccinos belong in the early 2000s, a Flat White is the only acceptable order.”
– “Under no circumstances are you to add sugar or sweetener to your coffee. It completely undermines the
taste and is insulting as insulting to the Barista as when you ask for tomato sauce at a fancy restaurant”.
To any concerned readers, please be advised that I never caved into the pressure. You should be able to enjoy your coffee the way you like it, and my order today is plain and simple: Americano, no milk, no sugar. On that note, I was curious to find out how some of the Obs Court inhabitants take their coffee:
• Gideon, Building Manager: “Americano, 6 sugars and a touch of milk.”
• Carla, Resident: “Americano, no sugar, no milk”, because I am a super freak.”
• Karen, Resident: “Usually, I’ll take an Americano, lots of milk (sometimes too much) and two teaspoons of sugar, but when I’m feeling bougie, I opt for a mocha latte with lots of milk, LOTSSS of whipped cream and two teaspoons of sugar.”
• Heinrich, Resident: “Flat White, no sugar.”
How do you take your coffee? Obs Court has its very own Seattle Coffee Co. shop on Level 1, right next to our gym. See their menu using the link below, and introduce yourself to the friendly Barista, Mandy, who will concoct your coffee just the way you like it. Visit https://www.seattlecoffeecompany.co.za/our-menu/ to see their menu.