This cool Instagrammer is putting East London coffee shops on the map

Uhuru Plaatjies

7 years ago

Are you a coffee lover based in the Eastern Cape? For those who enjoy trying out new coffee shops or just keen to try something new, you need to follow the dynamic Mbulelo Ntlonti and his hashtag, #TheCoffiendDiary.

Every two weeks, Mbulelo gives his followers a short but relevant coffee review on his Instagram page. Based in the Eastern Cape, he is one of the first to create a review platform for coffee, and it gives us a good idea of what the coffee shops in the Eastern Cape are all about. More importantly, the coffee shops in East London, because most Instagrammers post from Johannesburg and Cape Town, so Mbulelo is a breath of fresh air as he gives us a better look at East London and their coffee shops. One could say he’s putting his city on the map.

#TheCoffiendDiary has grown during the weeks since Mbulelo started. Since May, he’s managed to rake up hundreds of Likes.

When asked about the reason why he decided to take on coffee shops, it was quite simple. Other than his posts being the only of its kind in the country, he wants all coffee lovers to share the same experience he does. While he is only just experiencing each and every restaurant in hopes of finding his perfect cup, he still wants to share his journey with his followers.

We took some time out to speak to the man behind #TheCoffiendDiary and find out more about him. So sit back and take a sip of your coffee, you just might like him more after this.

ALSO READ: Coffee made by SA’s first blind barista

Hi all! Welcome to the first segment of The Coffiend Diary. HMC (hand made coffee) produces one of the best hand crafted coffee beverages in the Eastern Cape, it all started in the little village of Hamburg and is quickly making its way across the Eastern Cape with stores in Grahamstown, and plans to expand to Port Elizabeth.. hmc has grown exponentially since its birth in 2007. With over four outlets in east London and two in Grahamstown, including two roasteries. hmc is definitely a force to be reckoned with. hmc baristas are completely committed to excellence in the cup. They also have a strong Artisinal approach to roasting. Everything is Hand Made! hmc is very strict on the beans they use and they only use beans from within the tropics and only High Grown Coffees. “There are 2 considerations in coffee bean choices:- Altitude and Latitude” – said Garvey owner of HMC. The customers’ choice of drinks is mostly the milk-based beverages (i.e Lattes and Cappuccinos). My favourite has to be their Mochaccino. You guys have to taste it, not only because I say but because it’s really amazing. The establishment is looking to opening a third roastery in Grahamstown sometime this year. “We at HMC feel that with our coffee the taste in the cup IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LOOK and feel of the brand. We want the people in stores not on the web” said Garvey when asked about the various social media platforms for HMC. However, they do have an active facebook page: Hand Made Coffees Address #1: 8 Bowls Rd., Arcadia, El Address #2: Beach Rd. Between The Cow Shed & Sugar.com Address #3: 16 Pearce Str., Corner of Pearce and Chamberlain Streets, Berea, EL Address #4: just inside the main entrance to Spargs SuperSpar in Beacon Bay. You guys can inbox me if you have any questions relating to the above and also, your feedback will be highly appreciated. ???? #TheCoffiendDiary #YoursinCoffee

A post shared by Mbulelo Ntlonti (@ta_nme) on May 10, 2017 at 4:20am PDT

1. He actually hated coffee
“My love for coffee started a few years ago”, Mbulelo told us. “I used to hate the beverage and didn’t understand how anyone could enjoy such a bitter tasting drink, until I got introduced to French press coffee. It literally changed my life.”

Welcome to the fourth segment of #TheCoffiendDiary. A few weeks ago I visited Urban Junction, which is situated at No. 46 Beach Road, Nahoon. Urban Junction was established in October 2016 and is already looking to open another branch in Beacon Bay. They offer a unique barista brewed coffee which is found solely at Urban Junction. Using a rather unique blend of beans from countries like Guatemala and Colombia. Their customers (also known as the Urbanites) can’t seem to get enough of their cappuccino and Americano. I personally enjoyed their White Mocha, it literally felt like a hug in a mug. “Urban Junction is committed to deliver a premium coffee experience through innovation and dedication, creating vibrant cafes that reflect, improve and inspire our community” – Janine Brink, the General Manager said. Do pop in at Urban Junction for a cup of coffee & their delectable gourmet sandwiches; and enjoy their amazing rustic and raw concept like decor. Not to mention their exceptional customer service. #TheCoffiendDiary #YoursinCoffee

A post shared by Mbulelo Ntlonti (@ta_nme) on Jun 12, 2017 at 2:32am PDT

2. He’s a lawyer by trade
When he’s not sipping coffee, he’s a man of the law. Mbulelo graduated in his LLB in 2014. He now works at a law firm in East London.

3. He is a huge Kanye West fan
The man is such a huge fan that he actually feels some type of way about the recent events between Kanye and Jay Z. He used to be a big Jay Z fan as well, but he says he’s cut by what the mogul did to his favourite rapper.

#TheCoffiendDiary: Father Coffee If the scent of their coffee does not tease all five of your senses, the clean textured decor will have you wondering more. I initially heard about the popular coffee shop on Social Media and when I made a trip up to Johannesburg I had to experience not only the coffee but the culture that makes Father Coffee a remarkable establishment. Their simple and unique approach is evident not only in their coffee making process but in the overall look of their stores. You might wonder what makes this establishment stand out from the many Braam pop-up coffee shops, two words: quality and consistency. Stringent measures are put into place to ensure quality and consistency in every cup, every step of the way. Speaking about the process, partner and roaster, Chad Goddard said, “We’re really strict, from the way we brew, to how we roast, and of course all the way back to the type of green beans we buy—sourcing intentionally to offer a unique range of taste profiles and exposing coffee drinkers to the best specialty coffee has to offer. Currently we offer a rotating series of single estate and microlot coffees, as well as one blend. Our signature Heirloom Blend is our take on how a traditional espresso should taste: warm, comfy, and easy drinking.” “Though components in this coffee are seasonal, the intent always remains the same: great flavour, body, and balance.” – said the passionate coffee connoisseur. Father Coffee not only offers your everyday cup of coffee but also takes you on an experimental journey into the specialty coffee world. Make sure you do visit their Braam and Rosebank branches for a dose of your own poison and trust me you won’t be disappointed. Social media links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FatherCoffee/ Twitter: @fathercoffee IG: @father_coffee Web: www.father.coffee #TheCoffiendDiary #YoursInCoffee ??

A post shared by Mbulelo Ntlonti (@ta_nme) on Jul 3, 2017 at 11:43pm PDT

4. He is also a co-founder of an events company
2 Kings Africa was founded by Mbulelo, Lungile Mpharu and Fezile Moyana. Every year they host the second biggest event in East London, Cruel Summer, which turns six years old this year.

Be sure to follow Mbulelo’s #TheCoffiendDiary journey on his Instagram, and Twitter.

Are you also a Coffee fiend? Where is your favourite coffee spot? Tell us more in the comments below!

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