“Origin, is fast becoming the new star child of the coffee crowd in Cape Town. Kim, Kate and Hannes – coordinators from our sister company Wedding Concepts, decided to investigate and find out what all the fuss was about. Kate writes of their experience.”

Friday mornings in Cape Town tend to be a slow start for most. Usually preceded by a “Phuza Thursday”, a solid cup of coffee before work is essential! Located in the trendy Waterkant area, one such coffee haunt, Origin, is fast becoming the new star child of the coffee crowd in Cape Town. Kim, Kate and Hannes – coordinators from our sister company Wedding Concepts, decided to investigate and find out what all the fuss was about. Kate writes of their experience.

“After having heard so much about Origin through the Cape Town “grapevine” I could barely wait for our meeting! Once I had managed to find parking in Hudson Street I noticed only a few lonesome little tables outside the front door. I remember looking at Kim with a “Is this it?” look on my face. I was sorely mistaken. Once we walked in we were greeted with the buzz and noise that one expects from a coffee hotspot. I immediately felt at home once I walked in – the urban and industrial décor suits the brand completely whilst the aromas floating in the air literally pull you in by the collar! Luckily Hannes got there a little before us because there wasn’t a free table in sight! I was craving a strong cappuccino after having hosted a wine fuelled dinner party the night before, so Kim went to the counter and placed our order. Not more than 5 minutes later Björn Salsone, who heads up Special Events at Origin, joined us – along with our cappuccinos. To say Björn is passionate about what he does is an extreme understatement! His knowledge and noticeable enthusiasm alone made us sit up and take notice. We discussed Origin’s origin and their boutique offering for weddings and events. I was amazed to learn the unique story and concept about Origin – there is more to it than just coffee! Origin is on a mission to change the coffee culture of South Africa.

Their head quarters in Hudson Street spills over three storeys, stretches between two streets, and opens onto three outdoor areas. They’ve combined coffee roasting with a courtyard, a coffee lab with a meeting space, a professional barista school with a warehouse and a tasting room so that you can do more than sit down and sip the best coffee in Africa. Origin believes that success starts at the source. They sample, roast & taste before they buy. Importing beans that they have handpicked from all over the continent, the unbelievable selection of coffee on the menu is a testament to the fruits of their labour. They know who grew their coffee, and where, and they refuse anything but the best.

Whilst learning all this I was curious as what exactly was behind the floor-to-ceiling glass doors at the back of the coffee shop. I could see something was going on but wasn’t sure and wrote it off as offices or storage space. Björn sensed my curiosity and proposed that we move to Nigiro for a tea tasting. Another “What is going on now?” look was sent in Kim’s direction and she shrugged and followed Björn towards the glass doors. As we entered, I ate my words – again. With peaceful Asian–inspired music playing, a unique water feature on the floor and a fusion between Asian and African decor, a tranquil environment is effectively established through the use of sound, scent and carefully placed lighting. This is a calm, serene space away from the hustle and bustle of coffee shop.

Nigiro is simply ‘Origin’ spelt backwards and is a great representation of the synergy that the well established ‘coffee guys’ are hoping to achieve by having the two ‘opposites’ under one roof. Yin and yang, Origin is to coffee as Nigiro is to tea. Housing over 100 specially blended fine leaf teas, Nigiro is the top destination to enjoy the ambience and tranquillity of the ancient Eastern tea ceremony. Like one would when wine tasting, we relied on alternate senses to determine which flavours of tea were being offered to us – sight and more importantly, smell. We must have sampled about 10 different bouquets of tea, all the while our fascination with tea growing and growing. One can choose from the already extensive selection of teas provided, or ask for your own specially blended combination. We were given an Orange and Cinnamon blend as well as a green tea to sample. Both equally delicious and brewed to perfection.

I returned eagerly the next day with a friend from Durban to brag about this Capetonian hidden gem. Little did I know that Nigiro has a regular Saturday morning crowd of its own and was packed with people sampling tea, buying tea and enjoying their unique tea experience! Being in the wedding industry I have to applaud the guys from Origin for this unique marriage of tea and coffee – a brilliant concept that not only strives to educate the uneducated but also allows people to experience the best of both tea and coffee – all under one roof!”