PhillipaRowney

Starbucks - Florida Road

9th February 2018

I had a meeting this morning at Starbucks on Florida Road, so of course, I arrived early so I could get a good look at this infamous coffee shop and how it translated into the Durban coffee scene.

I had heard about the Reserve Coffee Bar at Starbucks Florida Road, and so I walked straight in towards this section of the coffee shop. The barista was incredibly friendly and helpful, talking me through which beans worked well with which drink. The origins were on the counter for reference and each one had ample information about tasting notes and a bio about the coffee. It was pretty epic. The attention to detail on the packaging and origin info cards was absolutely gorgeous!

I kept thinking how the bags of beans would make such great gifts, purely because the designs are so pretty. Well done Starbucks!

Starbucks Packaging

Anyway, back to actually drinking the coffee. So I was boring and just ordered a cappuccino. I opted for the Ugandan Sipi Falls. I was a bit worried as I am not a huge fan of fruity flavours but I was encouraged by the guy who had just had the same coffee that it wasn’t overpowering. All in all, it wasn’t a bad coffee. It was probably a bit strong/dark for me. But I really enjoyed my experience at the Starbucks on Florida Road.

The interior is sophisticated and trendy. The use of space is so great, creating corners to get work done in, as well as open spaces to grab and go. The Starbucks Florida Road location is just stunning anyway. As you walk in there is ample space to sit whether you’re alone or in a group. It’s a great meeting spot!

Inside seating at Starbucks

Outside seating at Starbucks

I will be adding this coffee shop to my map because I love that it caters to a wide variety of coffee drinkers. Those who love the idea of ordering a fancy Starbucks coffee with cream toppings and all, all the way to those who want to learn about different ways of drinking coffee and the flavours different beans have and all that fun stuff too.

It’s a really good looking space, the people are super friendly and because coffee is such a personal experience Starbucks is definitely worth a try when you’re on Florida Road next.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog - head over to my map for more great coffee shops to visit. You can also follow my adventures on Instagram.

Love Coffee - Florida Road

29th September 2017

So back in 2012 I wrote about Love Coffee, which I happened to work 100m away from. Every day I would walk to Love Coffee, during my lunch break, and I would buy a flat white and a peanut butter biscuit (they were incredibly delicious). Whenever we are driving along Windermere Road we stop in for a coffee, it’s that reliable for good coffee.

Can you imagine my excitement when I learned that Love Coffee had opened a second cafe just off Florida Road?!

Love Coffee Florida Road

Well when I parked the car and stepped out to see Love Coffee, all of me trembled with excitement. I have been lucky enough to travel the world visiting coffee shops and this coffee shop is like something I’ve stumbled upon abroad.

They are still serving Colombo Coffee and it’s as tasty as ever. There is a seat inside and an outside bar to take a seat at while waiting for your coffee. The navy and white tiled floor is the perfect backdrop to that Instagram pic I know you’ll have to share. See… even I couldn’t resist.

Love Coffee Florida Road

So the next time you’re on the Berea PLEASE make a little pit-stop at Love Coffee. Amy will welcome you in with her Scottish accent and friendly smile, and go ahead and order the coffee that will make your day.

Check out @lovecoffee.dbn on Instagram for more details.

Moto Cafe

26th September 2017

Moto Cafe is a relaxed, Durban coffee shop in uMhlanga. Serving Colombo Coffee and a table of rich, decadent cakes and pastries, this coffee shop is definitely one of my favourite Saturday hangouts.

As I write this (on a Saturday morning) I am sipping on a single cappuccino while my baby sleeps next to me. Jack Johnson is playing in the background and the buzz of people in the cafe below calms my soul.

Moto Cafe

Moto Cafe Cake

There is a life to this coffee shop that is fresh and exciting. The staff are awesome. The atmosphere is inviting and the menu covers breakfast, lunch and snack time. This morning I had a flapjack stack with bacon and banana, drizzled with syrup. YUM!!! Also, their cheeseburger OMGooossssshhhhh.

Moto Cafe is in the Outlet Park on Meridian Drive, uMhlanga. You’ll spot the motorbikes in the carpark and the yellow umbrellas outside.

My favourite thing about the interior of Moto Cafe is the bright yellow bicycle hanging on the wall upstairs. I’m looking at it now, as I sit up here on the couch.

Moto Cafe

Open Monday - Friday | 7am - 5pm
Saturday/Sunday | 7am - 2pm.

Contact: 031 007 0376 or [email protected].

Find Moto Cafe on Facebook & Instagram.

Coffee Shops to visit in Australia

26th July 2016

We’ve been back for a month and I have finally got my head around the many amazing coffee shops in Australia. From Sydney to Perth and back to Brisbane, here is a list of coffee shops I recommend you visit when you go to Australia.

SYDNEY COFFEE SHOPS

Our coffee adventures began in Sydney. A busy city, bustling with commuters, workmen, and tourists… all in search of a good coffee. Coffee is not a luxury in Australia, it is a daily lifestyle, a necessity that is easily accessible on most streets.

We spent a lot of our time in an area called Surry Hills. I fell in love with the quaint streets and architecture of this city suburb. The coffee shops were also just incredible so you will notice a few listed below from the area. When you visit Sydney don’t be afraid to extend your range outside of the inner city vibes. We found incredible coffee roasters and cafes all over the Sydney landscape. So here are a few you MUST get to when you visit Australia.

Artificer | 547 Bourke Street, Surry Hills | Facebook

Neighbourhood by Sean McManus | 16 Buckingham Street, Surry Hills | Instagram

Reuben Hills | 61 Albion Street, Surry Hills | Instagram

Mecca Coffee Roasters | 26 Bourke Road, Alexandria | Facebook

Single Origin Roasters | 28B Cranbrook Street, Botany | Facebook

Paramount Coffee Project | 80 Commonwealth Street | Facebook

The Copper Mill | 338 - 356 Mitchell Road, Alexandria | Facebook

PERTH COFFEE SHOPS

The next stop on our trip was to visit family in Perth. Obviously I had scouted some places out before hand but with a bit of help from a few locals we ventured upon some absolutely incredible coffee shops.

Just down the road from where we were staying was our first coffee stop and from Nedlands, we found some winners in Subiaco and then a whole bunch in the city. We also spent two days in Freemantle, where we spent many hours huddled in the warm cafes of this Uni and Harbour town.

Elixir | 145 Stirling Highway, Nedlands | Facebook

Felix & Co | 160 Hampden Road, Nedlands | Facebook

Architects & Heroes | 25 Rokeby Road, Subiaco | Facebook

Small Print Baker & Coffee Maker | 125 St Georges Terrace, CBD | Facebook

DuoTone | 313 Hay Street, East Perth | Facebook

Max & Sons | 140 Perth | Facebook

Willie Wagtail |131 William Street | Facebook

Tiisch | 9B 938 Hay Street | Facebook

The Attic | 16 Bannister Street, Freemantle | Facebook

BRISBANE COFFEE SHOPS

After a brilliant week in Perth we jet set back to the East Coast, this time up to Brisbane. Our time in Brisbane was not all our own, as Paul was working for a lot of it but we managed to get in some good coffee between meetings and on the road in the morning. Brisbane’s coffee scene made me very excited. Again with the coffee lifestyle, there is an evident grab and go culture.

Coffee shops are smaller, not your regular spot to sit and get work done, but rather grab a quick coffee and a snack before heading back to the office. There certainly are those coffee shops on the outskirts of town, towards the suburbs, that you’ll find more moms with prams taking it easy in for the morning. Some of my favourite coffee shops around Brisbane are listed below.

John Mills Himself | 40 Charlotte Street, CBD | Instagram

Bunker Coffee | 21 Railway Terrace | Facebook

Morning After | 57 Vulture Street, West End | Facebook

The Single Guys | 2/2051 Moggill Road, Kenmore | Facebook

Blacksmith Specialty Coffee | 8 Bothwell Street, Mount Gravatt | Facebook

Dovetail On Overend | 85 Overend Street, Norman Park | Facebook

Dandelion & Driftwood | 45 Gerler Road, Hendra | Facebook

We also spent a few days North on the Sunshine Coast in Noosa, and we then went down to the Gold Coast for a long weekend with family to end our 4 weeks. Here are some spots not to miss in those areas of Australia.

Padre | 10 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville | Facebook

Clandestino Roasters | 59 Rene Street, Noosaville | Facebook

Espl. Coffee Brewers | 4 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise | Facebook

All in all we had a phenomenal, coffee fuelled trip. Pregnancy did not stop this coffee blogger from getting around to as many great Australian coffee shops as possible. Paul and I shared coffee, bonded over delicate flavours, and marvelled on a new part of the world. All the above coffee shops welcomed us in with friendly faces and delicious coffee. Thank you to all the baristas, managers, owners, and coffee friends we spent time with in Australia, you made our trip so worthwhile.

I hope this list sends some more traffic to your coffee shops, from around the world!

Mandela Day Coffee Challenge

22nd June 2016

I am extremely excited to share this Mandela Day Coffee Challenge blog post with you, as it includes two of my favourite aspects of life… generosity and coffee. As many of us know the 18th of July is Mandela Day and each year we are encouraged to spend 67 minutes giving back or making a difference generously. This year a few of the coffee shops around Durban, Upper Highway and PMB have hopped on board with Ingane Yami Children’s Village to make a difference throughout the month of July.

Yes you read right; for the whole of July, when you buy a coffee at one of these coffee shops, 67c of the cost will be donated to Ingane Yami as part of the Mandela Day Coffee Challenge.

The coffee shops to get to are…

Upper Highway
Lineage, Hillcrest & Waterfall
Jooma, Kloof
Caffe Mobile, Shongweni Farmers Market
Sprigs, Kloof
Sam’s Cafe, Kloof
Bellevue, Kloof
Stretta, Hillcrest
Oscars, Hillcrest
Juice Kitchen, Hillcrest
Go Coffee Café, Assagay
I Love my Coffee, Kloof
Assagay Coffee, Cato Ridge/Inchange
Curro HCA School, Hillcrest
Market Cafe, Hillcrest
Highbury School, Hillcrest

Durban:
Jacksonville
The Boiler Room

Durban north:
Zucca
Colombo (July 18 only)

PMB:
Empire Coffee

How awesome is that! Come on KZN, let’s support this generously and make a difference to the lives of the children at Ingane Yami. This is our challenge for the month of July, not just Mandela Day. Get yourself a coffee at one of the above coffee shops and you’ll be supporting a great cause.

A bit more info about Ingani Yami

Ingane Yami Children’s Village is just over the hill, in Shongweni, and has a powerful impact by rescuing and restoring the lives of previously orphaned and abandoned children. Ingane Yami is bringing change right on our door steps.

For more information about Ingane Yami have a look at their website: www.inganeyami.com. To enquire more about this initiative, you can contact Patricia Deacon on [email protected].