Confectioneries worth dipping?

After a long break involving coffee brewed into the late hours to sustain studying, we're back to keep the fine folks of Stellenbosch up to date on the best place to find that hot cuppa.

Dipped Confections is next on the list of stops in our greater quest, and centrally located in De Wet Square, proves to be a quick and delightful little stop tucked away in a sunny, quiet corner. A self described bakery and coffee shop, the emphasis is on the edible side of things and that shows in the drinks on offer.

Always looking for something a little out of the ordinary when it comes to caffeinated drinks, my eye was immediately drawn to the delicious list of lattes on offer, everything ranging from hazelnut to double chocolate cookie. Sounds delicious and unusual, no? The essential problem is that the drinks all taste like vanilla... Same consistency, same colour and quite frankly the same taste (the same applies to the mouthwatering list of milkshakes displayed on the on table menu). On a slightly incredulous inquiry to the waitress as to whether I had in fact ordered the correct drink, it was explained that they don't actually use any of the listed ingredients, it's merely a syrup that goes into a standard drink. Misleading (the menu shows cookies!) and at the premium prices charged for this "special" drink, it definitely left a less than sweet taste.

On a more positive note, there is a delicious dark chocolate coffee on offer that makes up for all the disappointment of the latte. Creamy, strong and hot, it is everything that a slightly unusual and delicious cup of coffee should be and is a definite recommendation if, strolling down Church street, you feel like slipping away into the atmosphere of a small cobbled courtyard somewhere in Europe.

PS:

The Open Kitchen

True to the current pattern developing in Stellenbosch, there's another new coffee shop/ deli/ kitchen open and ready to present it's customers with a delightful homely and warm atmosphere.

With a variety of freshly baked breads, sweet treats and brewing coffee, the smell emanating from The Open Kitchen's doors is just as wonderful as the interior decorating and is an immediate plus as far as a welcoming atmosphere goes. 

The owner, Kimble, is on hand to chat enthusiastically about the shop and the fact that it's become more of her home than her actual home. There's a variety of specials and delicacies, ranging from exotically flavoured home made pies to hot drinks converted into milkshakes (coffee, horlicks, milo etc). 

A huge plus is that pretty much any time you want to stop by you will be able to because The Open Kitchen is giving literal meaning to it's name, not only can you watch your food being cooked and the busy bustle of the kitchen, but they also open their doors at 7am, and starting soon will be keeping them open 'til 10pm on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night (a definite answer to the night-time coffee conundrum experienced by so many.) 

A personal favourite as far as this particular shop goes is that the bar counter is lined with the owner's personal collection of novels, and customers are welcome to pick up a book and read a chapter of two while enjoying their drink (and are of course encouraged to return to finish the book ;) ) 

The coffee is an organic Ethiopian blend, and while it was strong and hot it was definitely not one of the more pleasant cups recently tasted. Perhaps it was just a once off  but it had the definite taste of being burned, or the grounds having been used to make more than one cup. It was an unfortunate edge to an otherwise lovely experience. 

Wifi: Yes

Address: 35 Plein Street 

Facebook: Yes

No ordinary run of the 'Mill' coffee

After being thwarted a good three or four times in our determination to finally sample Mill Coffee House,we finally braved the cold and made our way to the corner of Dorp and Mill street. 

The verdict?

Mill's isn't one of the best known coffee shops in Stellenbosch for nothing. The coffee, a roast by the name of Caffé Tomeucci, is delightfully intense and smooth, no matter what form you decide to consume it in ( though the macchiato is especially so). The owner, who is on hand to chat which always adds to an already pleasant experience, reckons that if you're going to try a really good cup of coffee, the 3/4 is the drink for you. Basically it's described as a "big macchiato" and a definite must try 

And if a hot cuppa isn't quite what you're after (summer is approaching after all) then this delightful little coffee house wont disappoint, with an extensive range of smoothies, craft beers and "Rooibos iced coffee".

In addition to the really great coffee (as if we need more reason to be sold), Mill is also unique in the fact that it opens it's doors at 7am! So traipsing to the Neelsie at unholy hours is no longer necessary- your day can be started in this quiet and welcoming little corner of Stellenbosch. Plus, with a great menu of breakfasts and light lunches, and wifi for those workaholics who need good food, coffee and their laptops, there is really no excuse not to put this high up on the list of must try  coffee shops.

Check them out on Facebook for the latest specials and news

Dimi's (V)istro: a(v)solutely super(v)

Venturing out of mid-town Stellenbosch this week (we actually had to get in a car), the choice of coffee and breakfast stop presented itself in the form of Dimi's Bistro on the corner of Dorp and Stadler street.

This beautiful little Greek bistro is bright with big windows and high ceilings, making it feel like there is always enough space for however many people decide to drop by. And many do take advantage of the opportunity to get out of town for a cup of coffee and quick meal, be it a group of students (guilty); business minded folk or just those looking for a quiet and friendly environment to work. 

The menu that is thrown up on the wall is the right mix of exotic sounding delicacies and interspersed Greek words and phrases, which the head chef and owner, Dimitri Anastassopoulos, is only too happy to amble over and explain. Cue an impromptu lesson on the niceties of Greek pronunciation and explaining to a group of Engineering students that the sound "b" doesn't actually exist and they've been pronouncing  β incorrectly all along! 

The key question which needs asking is: "Can a Greek restaurant get coffee right?" The menu is definitely varied and provides something for everyone, whether it's a hot cup of Bar-One, straight up filter coffee or a vanilla-hazelnut cappuccino. The verdict though? The coffee itself doesn't have any "wow" factor but is definitely above average and extremely pleasant, especially when paired with the breakfast wrap.

Definite plus: a restaurant as versatile as this one is always bound to have a few surprises up its sleeve and rumour has it this one is no exception, with the ability to change from cosy coffee stop to a proper Mediterranean dining experience.  This is a must if you're looking for an extremely friendly, personal and varied coffee/ eating experience.

Check them out on  Facebook

Café Crème: when coffee meets cute

Ryneveld seems to be taking over as the coffee street of the Stellenbosch Coffee Project. As soon as we finish at one shop and take a further step on our adventure, we land straight on the doorstep of yet another coffee haven and Café Crème was no exception.

Tucked away under black awnings and set into the building, it's not quite so easy to pass this one by. The atmosphere draws you straight in. In the warmer weather, an assortment of tables stand crowded onto the pavement, seemingly calling to passers-by to sit down for a quick something. 

We ventured a bit further into the shop and weren't disappointed, before we even got to the caffeine (after all, while the coffee is vital, the vibe needs to be there too). This is undoubtedly one of the coziest coffee shops in Stellenbosch thus far and finding a room with more buzzing atmosphere will be a tough task. 

The coffee is good, if forgettable and slightly on the wrong side of "not hot enough", but still provides a pleasant accompaniment to the delicious variety of treats on hand.

Word must be out about what a lovely experience this particular stop; the constant traffic and scrambling for any table that's available is testament to the fact that this 8 month old café is doing something right. Having the owner on hand and actively involved in the experience is also a huge plus that seems to be a common trend in the coffee shops that always make you want to go back for more. (See The Blue Crane and the Butterfly for another example)

For more info and updates on specials, go check them out on Facebook here.

Note: no wi-fi available yet so you'll have to put the laptop away and soak in the surroundings.

    

A delight to the Taste Buds

Last week, in the brief respite Stellenbosch was granted from otherwise miserable weather, a walk down Ryneveld landed us on the doorstep of Taste Bud Eatery and coffee shop, situated in the Skuinshuis. As far as initial impressions go, it's easy to walk by this particular door without giving it so much as a second glance, but you'd do well to pay attention to the adage of "don't judge a book by it's cover" and sit down for a quick cuppa.

A self-described "soul food" restaurant, the coffee menu is definitely good enough to do some soul soothing  of it's own. The menu is fairly varied, and a cappuccino and iced-latte were the choice of the day, just to change it up.

When the first words that come to mind with the first sip are "wow this is the best cappuccino I've ever tasted", it's definitely telling and the rest of the cup didn't disappoint. Strong, hot and creamy: all three boxes checked and then some. The iced-latte was equally wonderful, and a definite must for the warm days which will hopefully be showing their faces around these parts soon. The general consensus was "...at the moment this is the tastiest cup of coffee in Stellenbosch..."

The coffee is the only real drawing point though; if you enjoy the atmosphere that comes along with the best coffee shops then you will leave here with a sense that something is missing in amongst the eerie silence and whitewashed decor. If, however, you enjoy feeling as though you've stumbled across a table in the middle of a street where coffee magically appears on your table, then this is the place for you.

Regardless, whether you enjoy a bustling; quiet; eclectic or minimalism feel, if you enjoy good coffee then be sure to add Taste Bud to your coffee bucket-list.

www.tastebudeatery.co.za

What about 'coffee lovers'?

Food Lovers Market has been open for less than a year in Stellenbosch and already it is a central part of campus living. Everyone who loves good quality meals and snacks is bound to find something to suit their tastes, but can the same be said for coffee connoisseurs?

Located centrally, in Eikestad mall, it was quick and easy to pop into the adjacent Food Lovers cafe and see if the shop's standards carried over. Cappuccinos were ordered all round as we settled into the bustling but pleasant center of the restaurant.

The coffee, however, left us pretty ice cold (much like it was after a minute or two). It wasn't particularly strong and it definitely didn't provide enough of a kick to get us through the next hour or two of classes, which is, in all honesty, a fairly compelling factor in the search of the best cup of coffee in a student town.

To be fair, as far as location and ambiance goes, it's a pleasantly convenient place to grab something quick or sit down for that spare hour in between classes to catch up with friends. A bar runs along the perimeter of the restaurant for customers with their own take-aways from the shop, and there is free wi-fi available for those who can't bear to abandon their electronics over their daily caffeine fix.


Coffee lovers: don't be distressed, keep your eyes peeled and we will be presenting you with plenty of fresh ideas for the best places in Stellenbosch to get your cuppa.

The Peacock Beanery, all for show?

This coffee shop, like the bird after which it takes it's name, certainly makes a great visual impression. Stocked to the brim with any coffee paraphernalia that your heart could desire, ranging from dozens of different beans to plungers, cups and roasters, it definitely seems like this tiny little restaurant should be a front running contender to offer one of Stellenbosch's best cups of coffee. But is it?

Situated in the heart of Eikestad Mall, I stopped by for a quick cuppa during a day of shopping and errands. I was quickly persuaded to try the daily R25 special which offers a cup of filter coffee and slice of quiche (the butternut and feta was the choice of today).

Unfortunately, the food was better than the coffee. Today's roast was a Tanzanian bean that seemed to lack anything to makes this supposedly gourmet coffee special. It was hot, but the sort of hot that leaves it stone cold in a minute or two, even with warm milk. 

The service is good, and the owner is on hand to answer any questions or concerns, which is always a plus. But with no wifi, and a tiny 4 table capacity, it's not the type of shop that lends itself to meeting friends or sneaking away for a delicious, decadent cup of coffee when the going gets tough. 

The Blue Crane and the Butterfly...

... sounds like some complicated yoga pose, doesn't it? Wrong. The Blue Crane and the Butterfly is a two month old coffee shop that has found a home in Dorp Street and we, for one, sincerely hope that it's around to stay.

We snuck in at 5:45 (they close at 6) and were welcomed with open arms. Chatting over the counter to the man making our coffee we discovered that he is the owner who is there "dawn to dusk" making sure that this eclectically decorated place is not just another coffee shop but rather a place where people can walk around, grab a newspaper and feel like they are meeting friends. It was specifically not designed with any particular group of in mind and anyone and everyone will find a place here; from people looking for morning tea and scones, to students grabbing a quick caffeine fix or even business minded folks looking for a meeting place.

The welcoming was so delightful that by the time we sat down with our drinks the general consensus was "at this point I don't even care if the coffee is bad, we are coming back as soon as possible". But no worries on that front, the coffee is as wonderful as the first impression of the restaurant. It's imported from El Salvador and roasted daily on the premises, providing a rich and delicious drink that hit the spot after being out in the chilly Stellenbosch evening.

The drinks are complemented by a small but varied menu that ranges from pastries to soups and platters-to-share at fairly reasonable prices. Expect to pay R18 for a cuppuccino and less than R20 for fresh croissants with cheese, butter and preserves.

All in all the Blue Crane and the Butterfly is a welcome addition to the range of establishments on offer in Stellenbosch and I can say with confidence that it is currently getting the mix of atmosphere, service and great products down perfectly.













Go like them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBlueCraneandTheButterfly and be sure to make this the next stop on your coffee drinking list.

Who needs studying when you have Limnos?

So, admittedly, coffee among students is a 24/7/365 sort of thing but two factors make it particularly enjoyable. 1) Exam time (procrastination, anyone?) and 2) winter. Both have set in with a vengeance in Stellenbosch, making it the ideal time to sneak away from the books and grab a cuppa with Amy (pictured below ;)).

However, post 6pm coffee in Stellenbosch proved more challenging than we thought it would be. Maybe the good places that stay open late are hiding somewhere in Dorp Street (don't worry, we WILL find them), but we ended up at the newly opened Limnos in Eikestad Mall where, unlike the rest of the shops, we were welcome until 7pm.

The aesthetic appeal is great, with faux leather booths and gorgeous crystal chandeliers, making you feel like you've taken a step back into a 1930's coffee boutique. And have you seen the range of cakes and other sweet treats?! Eye candy indeed. However, would the coffee live up to the initial good impression?

The verdict is yes, we both had a cappuccino (R18.50 a pop) and we certainly weren't disappointed. The fact that it was served piping hot (an essential requirement that has been set), and made with a sweet medium roast blend proved to make for an extremely enjoyable drink that went well with conversation and a much needed session of socialization.

Best cup of coffee in Stellenbosch? Tough to say, but it's definitely not off the list.