Cool Spaces: Bean There Coffee

INTERVIEWED BY Michaela Stehr IMAGES Supplied

We chat to owner Jonathan Robinson about Bean There Coffee, the first Certified Fair Trade Coffee Roasters in South Africa. He spills the beans about his stores, the drink and what’s happening next.

What is the concept behind the cafe?

We worked with Meg Vaun Interiors in 2008 to create the initial interior at Bean There roastery at 44 Stanley. We worked with Meg and her team again for a redesign which was part of a full rebrand in 2020. The space was completely reconfigured by creating a central coffee bar island. In doing this we created an element of drama, by playing with scale and putting the coffee and baristas at centre stage.

What is the inspiration behind the design? Any local designers/artists used?

One of the standout features of our interiors has always been the lighting. It was important to carry this through in the re-designed space. Meg Vaun Interiors designed and custom-made the huge lampshades that hang over the coffee bar. You’ll see that the colour palette used for the lampshades is carried throughout the space. The bar itself is tiled in beautiful handmade ceramics from Akashic Tiles in Knysna. Above the 5.5m long leather diamond buttoned chesterfield sofa, Coote & Wench brass wall lights highlight the collection of photographs taken by us while on visits to the countries we source and buy coffee from. These images play an important role in showcasing the Bean There ethos, taking the viewer on a journey to meet the people and visit the places where our coffee is directly sourced from. Wherever possible we decided to re-use and recycle items from the previous interior. Tabletops were replaced with beautiful terrazzo tops from Notation Design in KwaZulu Natal and pewter lights hanging over the boardroom table received a new brass coating upgrade.

Who was in charge of the decor/interiors?

Meg Vaun Interiors took charge of the interior.

Tell us a bit about the brand and its ethos?

Bean There Coffee is South Africa’s first roaster of Certified Fairtrade coffee. We work with small-scale farmers in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and the DRC and strive to make a sustainable difference in the lives of African coffee producers by personally sourcing speciality coffee through our direct fair trade model. We are committed to roasting and distributing this incredible coffee in Southern Africa and are seeking to expand internationally. Bean There is committed to paying a living wage and creating an environment in which employees are seen, appreciated, and rewarded.

READ MORE: Cool Spaces: Plato Coffee

A history of the owners?

Bean There was established in 2005 in the garage of our founder Jonathan Robinson. Jonathan was captivated by the Fair Trade model in 2002 when he left Dimension Data to travel for a year with his wife Nicole. While embarking on a 27000km road trip through the USA and Canada they were introduced to Level Ground Coffee in Victoria Canada. Here Jonathan felt he had discovered the perfect business model which combined his two key passions, the desire to impact the African continent, and coffee (which he had been introduced to by his grandmother at 12 years old).

What are some key/standout features and elements?

The Cafe

The shelving behind the island draws people into the space through the use of greenery and interesting accessories, as well as allowing people to explore every coffee-related gadget conceivable. Meg Vaun Interiors is all about creating comfortable spaces that evoke a sense of calm but are at the same time interesting and thought-provoking. We wanted a cosy space – a space where you want to work, socialize and spend time. For Meg it’s always about spaces that have a soul and feel loved. She thinks about how the space will be used and who will be using it. It’s about connection.

The Company

The distance we’re prepared to go to source the earth’s best coffee knows no bounds. This is how we found the farmers of the finest coffee in the world, who we pay directly ensuring a fair trade that keeps their business sustainable and ours meaningful. When you drink a cup of Bean There coffee, you’re not only enjoying the world’s most exclusive coffee, you’re helping to make a sustainable difference in the lives of these African coffee producers. Direct fair trade means producers receive a fair payment for their coffee through equal engagement, regardless of market fluctuations, which ensures their community development and empowerment. Our single-origin coffee beans can each be traced back to one country and region. To bring the best out of these beans, our optimal roasting process ensures the key coffee elements of aroma, body, acidity and flavour meet in perfect harmony. By seeking the best, we explore, learn, and discover the best for ourselves. This makes every cup of Bean There coffee an adventure, transporting the taster from the misty slopes of Mt. Kenya to the fertile rolling hills of North Kivu while always delivering the taste of Africa’s coffee heritage.

Plans for the future?

Bean There is primarily a wholesaler of Fair Trade African coffee and we are constantly looking to grow our footprint in Southern Africa and most recently in the US. We are privileged to work with some incredible customers across the hospitality, corporate, café and retail sectors.

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