The Best Coffee of 2014

I cannot believe the year is just about over, but before 2015 arrives let’s take a look at The Best Coffee of 2014. Coffey & Cake has had another fabulous year sipping on new coffee blends and single origins, learning new methods of making coffee, and eating Cronuts for the first time in my life.

But today I want to take a moment to name The Best Coffee of 2014, according to Coffey & Cake of course. I’d love to hear your favourites so comment below 🙂

Father Coffee (Johannesburg)
Another visit to JHB this year reminded me of how much I appreciate these speciality coffee roasters. Their coffee shop is small but their coffee quality, knowledge and service is down right awesome. Father Coffee roast their own coffee, and currently have 3 options to buy…

• Father Heirloom Blend, or Father Christmas pack, sold in 250g bags.
• Konga Natural Yirgacheffe from Ethiopia, also available in 250g bags.
• Finca El Morito from Guaeamala in 250g bags.

Duke & Duchess (Durban)
My hometown has had coffee shops popping up all over the place in 2014, especially in Umhlanga. Duke & Duchess has been a favourite of mine over the years, however in 2014 their quality rose to the top of my books once more. Duke and Duchess serve some of the best coffee in Durban. They use Colombo Coffee single origin coffees, mostly from around Africa.

Jozi Blue PTY Ltd (Johannesburg)
2014 introduced me to one of the most incredible coffee experiences I’ve had in a long time. Meeting Shmeul and his team at Jozi Blue, I was quickly acquainted with the true meaning of coffee aficionado. Yes you can drink a cappuccino blend from over the counter, OR you can enjoy the real deal as Shmeul talks you through the extraordinary beans he has purchased, to be enjoyed by coffee lovers visiting his cafe.

Rosetta Roastery (Cape Town)
Still a favourite of mine on CT, Rosetta Roastery have a coffee shop in Woodstock but their coffee is available at cafes around the city too. I love the commitment that Rosetta show to coffee, as they source and roast their coffee, making sure the flavour is perfectly identified and extracted for the very best drinking quality. Rosetta Roastery definitely make it into my best coffee of 2014 list and I reckon i’ll find it hard not to include them as the years go by.

Terbodore Coffee Roasters (KZN Midlands)
There are few words to describe spending an afternoon drinking coffee in the garden, smelling the glorious flavours pouring out of the Terbodore roastery. Terbodore has become a retreat for me, to the point where we plan our Midlands trips around the days this coffee roastery is open. Terbodore do tend to serve darker roast coffees but the whole experience of being out in the countryside, coupled with their amazing menu and wide variety of coffee, cannot be beaten.
*Coffee Hint: Their Fairtrade, Malawi Mzuzu bean in AMAZING when made with an Aeropress.

So there you have it, The Best Coffee of 2014. South Africa really is growing in leaps and bounds when it comes to speciality coffee. The Speciality Coffee Association of South Africa (SCASA) is working hard to produce platforms for coffee knowledge and skills to be recognised, not only in SA, but around the world.

What a super year it has been, but until 2015… keep drinking great coffee and sharing your favourite spots with me on Coffey & Cake or on the Facebook Page. All the best for the new year!