Words by Monique Bennett, PhD Candidate, Regular Republique Customer and Coffee Magazine Reader!
Republique Café, winner of Coffee Magazine’s Best New Café in 2024, is striving for excellence in the service, education, and connection building of their community. Just over a year old, Republique is quickly becoming a favourite for locals not just in Stellenbosch, but across the Cape Winelands too. Whether you drink coffee or not, the way in which the founders and their baristas have approached ‘café culture’ is something you can’t ignore. From the moment you step inside, you can’t help but be inspired!
As someone who previously shied away from the coffee industry due to fear of sounding ignorant and clueless, Republique has been a place where all my questions and curiosities around coffee are welcome. I grew up drinking instant coffee (a familiar experience for most South Africans), and for me, instant coffee is connected to a nostalgic and comfortable feeling. It’s a reminder of weekends at my grandparents’, dipping rusks into my mug or eating freshly baked vetkoek. And that’s just it: coffee has the potential to be meaningful in many ways. More than just a warm drink, it can be a moment where connection begins or deepens.
I sat down with a few members of the Republique family to find out what lies behind the genesis of the café and how its values have developed since opening. I’ve admittedly become a very regular customer since moving from Gauteng.
First impressions count and you can’t help but notice the incredible mural that colours the wall behind the bar as the baristas—Simnikiwe, Shalom and Keagan—like to call it, you might know it as the counter. The mural is riddled with symbols that relate to South Africa but, more importantly, it pays homage to coffee farmers. The founders of Republique sought to bring the farmers to the forefront of people’s minds and help generate conversation around the meaning of specialty coffee. The second thing you’ll notice is what initially looks like a tap for pouring beer. Amazingly, there is no huge coffee machine in sight; instead, you’ll find a La Marzocco Modbar. The café was among the first in South Africa to install it. This quiet under-counter coffee machine gives baristas and customers the chance to interact whilst the espresso shot is pulled. I often find myself drinking my coffee “at the bar” whilst I chat about my weekend plans or stress at work.
Connection and community are central to Republique’s raison d’être. Co-founder Mandi felt that COVID had left people lonelier than ever before, so she wanted to create a space where people could find connection again. No matter the time of day or occasion, coffee always seems to be the perfect way to connect with someone new or someone you love. “All the highs and the lows in one’s life you can celebrate around this table, and you get to share this beverage with one another and without realising it. This commodity is what connects people,” one of Republique’s co-founders, Tim, told me.
The café’s design really does represent this, with a comfortable variety of seating and tables to accommodate all sorts of coffee dates. Creativity and beauty are key values that guide the café’s customer service, with each drink and food order decorated with intention—a fresh flower delicately placed on their most delicious sandwiches, or incredible latte art that some customers dread to ruin. These generous details have made me, and many other customers come back regularly and helped have facilitate connections between strangers. The café’s baristas are among the most friendly, generous, and warm coffee professionals I have ever come across, and because of them I’ve finally been able to call Stellenbosch my new home. What’s more, each member of the Republique team is a creative in their own right—Keegan’s flair for innovative cocktails on display at their Apero evenings, Shalom’s talent for music, and others who paint and sing. This creativity lies at the core of Republique’s ethos.
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The final aspect that Republique centres themselves around is their single-origin coffee, offered through what they call their “alternative brew bar.” Here, customers can select between a V60, AeroPress, or one of my favourites, the Kyoto Cold Brew Tower, to truly enjoy speciality coffee (or tea) at its most fragrant and flavourful. It takes a little more time and effort, so the coffee has a real chance to shine. The alternative bar changed my perception of how extraordinary coffee can taste. Cedar Coffee, based in Cape Town, is the roastery of choice for Republique’s single-origin beans, and they too are making waves within the South African coffee scene. Apart from having an unbelievable range of South American and African coffees, they hope to give African roasters more agency and influence within the global speciality coffee industry. Both Republique and Cedar Coffee seek to make speciality coffee more accessible to a larger audience who may not otherwise care for it. In fact, my introduction to Cedar’s coffee at Republique through their regular cuppings completely changed my attitude towards making coffee at home and prompted me to buy a burr hand grinder. Safe to say my instant coffee days are behind me.
Coffee farmers are a major concern for both Cedar Coffee and Republique. Coffee is the second most valuable commodity exported from developing countries. More than 80% of the world’s 12 million coffee producers (predominantly women) live below the poverty line, but there is hope that some aspects of speciality coffee can improve their situation. Unfortunately, only a tiny fraction of what your cup of coffee costs in most cafés finds its way back to the farmer. Republique, through its regular public cuppings and home barista trainings, aims to educate consumers on what speciality coffee really means, the difficult reality for farmers, and how their choices as consumers of coffee can make a difference. Speciality coffee is by no means a perfect solution to the unsustainability of the larger coffee industry, but it does help create a more ethical and transparent relationship along the complex value chain. There is an intrinsic connection between farmers and roasters—one which speciality coffee can deepen—allowing for a more mutually beneficial relationship that is resilient to ongoing changes in the environment and the global market.
Now, if you’re not a coffee drinker, Republique offers premium matcha by Ceremony from Uji, Japan, as well as loose-leaf teas by Nigiro. Their toasted sandwiches already have a cult following among the regulars, especially The Caprese (if you know, you know). Although the café welcomes those of us who need to get some work done, it’s really a place that encourages conversation and connection between new or old friends. The baristas view their role as more than just serving coffee; it’s about creating a relationship with the customer that goes beyond a simple transaction. They are especially skilled at guiding those who feel nervous or unsure about speciality coffee, offering knowledge and confidence with every cup. Follow them on Instagram or pop into the café to find out about their next upcoming events. I highly recommend the coffee cupping if you would like to experience what it’s like to smell and taste coffee from all over the world.
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