Early last month, we went café-hopping in the South African city. Today, we’re highlighting four of our favorite spots.
BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Cover photo courtesy of Father
When I visited Johannesburg, South Africa, in early October, the city felt alive in that in-between season—not quite hot, but full of light and movement. It seemed like the perfect excuse to spend a day café-hopping, from Rosebank to Maboneng and beyond. I wanted to see what Joburg’s coffee scene really looked like on the ground, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Father Coffee
I started my morning at Father Coffee in Kramerville, a sleek space that feels like a cathedral for caffeine: light oak, clean lines, and the scent of fresh beans roasting somewhere just out of sight. The baristas here move with quiet precision, carefully dialing in espresso shots. I ordered a flat white, smooth and balanced, with notes of caramel and orange zest that lingered after the last sip.
What surprised me was how much more Father offers beyond coffee. Their bakery counter could easily stand alone, with trays of still-warm pastries and layered cakes displayed with understated confidence. I tried an open mushroom sandwich on toasted sourdough, earthy and buttery in all the right ways, followed by a honey cake made with spelt and orange that tasted like autumn captured in a bite. A small doughnut, impossibly light and dusted with sugar, rounded things off in quiet perfection.
Later, I noticed how seriously they take their wine. They had a curated list of natural and minimal-intervention bottles that mirrors the same care they bring to their coffee. Father isn’t just a café, but a place that understands flavor as a craft across categories.
Home of the Bean
From Kramerville, I drove to Maboneng to visit Home of the Bean: a café that feels like a conversation between art and community. This spot is all sunlit corners, potted greenery, and the soft hum of creativity. The air smells faintly of cinnamon and roasted beans, and the staff greet everyone like they’ve known you for years.
I ordered an espresso, sharp and bright, followed by one of their famous carrot-cake brownies: decadent but not too sweet. The owner, Leroy Kgopa, offered to walk me around the neighborhood, pointing out the murals painted by some of South Africa’s most celebrated street artists, a few of whose works also hang inside the café. The short stroll turned into a kind of informal art tour, each wall telling its own story. It felt like stepping into a different part of the city—one that was warm, creative, and full of life.
Bean There Coffee Company
By midday, I was at Bean There Coffee Company in Milpark. The café hums with the scent of African beans being roasted just meters away, and sunlight pours across the long communal tables. There’s a sense of purpose here: Bean There was South Africa’s first roaster to commit fully to fair-trade coffee, and that ethos runs through every cup.
I ordered an Ethiopian pourover and a slice of cheesecake. The coffee was bright and delicate, full of citrus and honey notes; the cheesecake, rich but light, somehow made it better. I lingered for a while, watching the roasting drum spin through the glass wall, feeling that quiet satisfaction that only comes when people truly care about their craft.
Seam Coffee
The afternoon led me north to Seam Coffee in Maxwell Office Park, a space that feels half lab, half living room. It’s understated, full of light, with the sound of grinders and quiet conversation filling the air. Seam has built its name on transparency and relationships with farmers, centered around the idea that coffee should connect people—not just caffeinate them.
I ordered their flagship roast, the Campbell Road blend, as a double espresso. It’s designed to capture Seam’s vision of what coffee can be: consistent yet full of personality. The barista described it perfectly: adventurous, fruity, and bold, using beans from some of their favorite producers.
The espresso lived up to that promise, hitting with layered acidity and a smooth finish that left a faint sweetness at the back of my tongue. By the time I’d finished, I realized Seam’s appeal isn’t in showmanship, but in its steady focus on doing coffee really, really well.
After a full day of caffeine and conversation, I left with the sense that Johannesburg’s cafés reflect the city itself—creative, ambitious, and unpretentious. Each stop felt personal, shaped by people who care deeply about what they serve. It’s definitely a scene worth exploring and I’m already looking forward to going back.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior online correspondent for Barista Magazine and a freelance copywriter and editor with a primary focus on the coffee niche. She has also been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, providing content to help educate people about baristas and their work.
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