Origin Coffee Roasting started in late 2005 with the aim of bringing coffee in South Africa up to the standard of the best in the world, “poured by professionals” and roasted with pride. It opened in De Waterkant, roasting in a working warehouse that is still its home, and every Origin coffee is hand-roasted there. By its own account it helped start a new specialty coffee scene at the southern tip of Africa, and it belongs to the OTT Coffee Group.

Many of its coffees come from Africa, alongside lots from other origins, and the team travels to producing countries to meet growers. The current releases include two Yemeni lots, Al Mahjar Peaberry and Maghrib Ans XV. Origin also sells teas, from oolong and green tea to rooibos and fruit infusions.

The flagship café in De Waterkant pours brews across “the widest range of brewing methods”, with coffee, tea, food and bakery menus. Origin also supplies cafés, restaurants, hotels and offices across the country, promising partners the same pour as in its own café.

From the start Origin trained baristas. Its academy qualified 3,500 baristas and five South African champions before handing over to the much larger African School of Coffee, where Origin’s barista and coffee courses now run.

Coffee on the shelf

Photograph: Origin Coffee Roasting