Ground UP Academy is a Learn to Earn initiative to train and equip unemployed people in becoming entry level Baristas. Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world and is one of the fastest growing sectors in the South African economy. In the Western Cape alone, there are more than 180 micro-coffee roasters, in addition to the main stream coffee suppliers. The explosion of coffee chains, independent operators and retailers developing speciality in-store departments underscores the growth and development of this area. As the coffee culture in SA matures more and more companies are requiring skilled Baristas.
With this in mind LtE established the Ground UP Academy in 2015. All training is conducted in line with LtE’s approach to holistic human development, covering social, economic, emotional and spiritual development. With the result of a well-rounded Barista who can work in any coffee environment. Training includes coffee theory & practical, job shadowing at local coffee shops and Life Skills. Ground UP entrepreneurial activity is through Ground UP Mobile.
Speciality Coffee Association Training:
The Ground UP Barista Academy offers training that is accredited by Specialty Coffee Association of Europe (SCA). When training is offered in a commercial setting, the already employed, entry-level employee is given an opportunity to improve their skill set. B-BEEE Application: Through contributing towards the skills training for the unemployed, formal & informal training scorecard requirements can be met, together with training offered to selected own/existing employees (as relevant). Additional points available for training and subsequent employment of previously unemployed people, as per target specific EAP demographic requirements.
Donate a once-off or a monthly amount to the programme (donations are tax-deductible)
Purchase Bean There fair trade coffee from Learn to Earn – not only is the coffee ethically produced, but all revenue generated through sales goes back into the Academy.
Contact person: Imile de Villiers
Email Address: gubevents@learntoearn.org.za
Contact Number: +27 (0)21 671 2230
Website: https://www.learntoearn.org.za/index.php/ground-up-2/ground-up-about
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GroundUpAcademyCafeSouthAfrica?ref=hl
We spoke to Frederick Hartsuiker, the founder, and asked him about the secret to their success. "For us, processing and making coffee is not a job. It is a way of living of doing what we love. It is a privilege to share with you the alchemy of witnessing the turning of these little seeds called coffee beans into real sweet-smelling treasure chests filled with aromatic flavourful oils. The mysterious coffee bean is the divine ingredient of coffee. As an Aurora Challenge gold winner, we thank you for adding value to our business in terms of credibility and opening new doors of opportunity."
Frederick further explained "Some products are perceived as generic, and quality should not vary much. Nothing can be further from the truth. The value of professionally evaluated products opens a whole new world to consumers. Awarded products help the consumer to make better-informed decisions. An award is a tool for producers, wholesalers, distributors alike."
Contact person: Frederick Hartsuiker
Email address: info@earthen.co.za
Webpage: https://earthencoffeeroasters.co.za/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earthencoffeeroasters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthen_coffeeroasters/
We asked Christo König a few questions about their history and success after König Coffee was awarded multiple times at the 2021 Coffee Awards.
Christo König, I started my working life as an accountant but soon realised that I need to be creative. We tried the life of a restaurateur for a while, then ERP Consultant/Project manager for ten years, and then I “found coffee” where I could live my creative dream.
“The Coffee Co” was founded in 2001. I bought it in 2003, after many years of drinking bad coffee in the corporate offices where I worked. The idea to rent bean-to-cup machines to the workspace and then sell great coffee was born. Over time I wanted to find new solutions for clients ranging from the coffee machine through freshly roasted coffee and all the related soluble and consumables to service and support through our Franchise Network. König Coffee as a Brand was launched in 2016, and we are COVID survivors...so far.
Coffee is “personal” for everyone, but we wanted to make it easy, so we started to supply coffee through super-automatic coffee machines to anyone in SA via our Franchise Network. Way back in 2003, I was told we will never build a Company with automatic machines only. I beg to differ. Today we have more than 30 Franchises, and we sold more than 7,000 fully automatic machines. Before this pandemic, König Coffee exceeded a million cups per month, mostly in the workspace.
We offer our own “König” coffee machines. We just launched our new Single Serving Coffee Bags, filled with our Gold Award Winning coffee.
What are some of the unique features of your manufacturing process and your manufacturing philosophy?
Our Philosophy is to sell smiles in cups through quality products and sustainably. We just roast coffee and blend it to be Award-Winning, Consistent, and Loved by most. König Coffee is a small private company, and we can adjust and adapt for customers and make it work for each client.
To me, this is not work. It is what I do every day because I love the result of winning a new client over with a single cup of coffee. After 18 years, it still excites me, and I cannot stop talking about great coffee. I share the experience with as many people as possible, from partners, staff, and customers. You only have one life, so do not waste a day with bad coffee.
We keep innovating and building products and systems to get our coffee to the people. We just launched coffee in a bag!
Consumer demographics is a question I get asked often, and my answer stays vague. Every person I can convince to demand great coffee and not to settle for anything less is part of our demographic.
We are a proudly South African story, but I would like to get an opportunity to export more, and our newest lines might open that door.
In which countries can your products be found?
South Africa and then small orders go to Namibia, Zambia, Mauritius.
Yes, we are looking to expand the coffee in a bag, and then we have an “award-winning coffee” infused with CBD on the close horizon.
Contact person: Christo König
Email address: christo@konigcoffee.co.za
Contact number: 082 498 0298
Website address: https://konigcoffee.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KonigCoffee/
Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/konig_coffee/?hl=en
We asked Diederik and Marietjie Niehaus a few questions to find out about their success.
Tell us when your company was founded and some of its history?
Our passion for artisan coffee roasting started in 2014 when visiting a coffee roastery in Mosselbay, South Africa. We love family, and we love coffee, so we knew that this was something we as a family wanted to pursue.
In 2017 we approached Kevin Nicolas from Mechanical Concepts in Cape Town and asked him to build us an artisan coffee roaster without some of the bells and whistles of modern-day roasting machines. They presented to us a roasting machine of pure craftsmanship. It is a classical double drum design that uniquely roasts coffee.
Tell us about some of the unique features of your company.
We are a small family business (if you can call us a business) with a big heart. We are in a very fortunate position where our focus is on quality and not just quantity. We also love to get communities involved and empower people, even if it is on a micro-scale. One of the NGOs we support is the Basadi Skills Project that equips African women in the Fobeni Village with skills to create a livelihood for themselves in difficult circumstances.
What do you think are some of the special products you have?
Singing Beans Coffee prides itself in the fact that we are unique in the way we do coffee. Two of our coffees that illustrate this fact are our Allegro Blend and Magoebaskloof Blend.
Our Allegro Blend, Singing Beans Coffee’s flagship blend for the past four years, won the Gold and Double Gold awards at The Aurora International Taste Challenge. We think it makes the Allegro Blend special.
Our Magoebaskloof Blend is rare and unique. This fact was highlighted towards the end of 2019 when we came across a rare selection of arabica coffee beans.
Introduced to a coffee farmer in the Magoebaskloof region by a mutual friend, we soon discovered that what we stumbled upon was something unique in the context of South African coffee. Arabica coffee beans of the highest quality growing on the slopes of Magoebaskloof!
We are grateful to say that Singing Beans are one of only a handful of artisan roasters that use these specific Magoebaskloof coffee beans, and only a limited quantity is harvested and used in our Magoebaskloof Blend. Truly a rare South African find!
What is unique about your manufacturing process and your manufacturing philosophy?
We believe that our manufacturing process is unique and is one of the reasons for our success. Our artisan roasting machine can roast coffee beans at various temperatures and lower drum speeds, without surface burn. We believe that this feature, together with our old fashioned hands-on approach brings out the best in our coffee beans.
We believe true artisan roasting is not only a skill but an art. And by using one’s artisan skills, one can create coffees that reflect this art form.
Our manufacturing philosophy is quite simple: Use what the Lord has given us to the best of our ability...and to do it with a thankful heart.
What is the consumer demographic of your products, and what feedback are you getting?
With 2.25 billion cups of coffee consumed worldwide daily, coffee has a wide spectrum of consumer demographics, and so do our coffees. We don’t just want to roast pallet pleasers, we want to roast the best quality pallet pleasers.
We don’t just want to roast unique coffees; we want to roast it uniquely for coffee lovers searching for that unique cup will find it in a Singing Beans Coffee cup.
Over the past few years, we had very positive feedback from long standing clients as well as first time tasters. Being awarded a gold and double gold at the Aurora International Taste Challenge is cementing the feedback we have received from our clients.
What innovations do you have in the pipeline for the future?
Our dream is to make coffee roasting accessible and affordable for more people. We have approached the guys at Mechanical Concepts in Cape Town to make the roasting machines available and affordable to roasters in South Africa. It is exciting to be part of a coffee roasting journey that enables roasters to hone their artisan skills.
Contact: Diederik & Marietjie Niehaus
Email: singingbeanscoffee@gmail.com
Phone number: +27 82 940 6523
Website: www.singingbeanscoffee.co.za
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Singing-Beans-Coffee-2387431424627174/