We carry on the tradition we started last year with The Coffee Magazine Honour Roll. This recognises the humans who have helped to sustain an entire industry, including maintaining a globally recognised magazine focused on coffee culture and the amazing humans in it. Each of these people have played a critical role in our community.
Erina Nigrini
Erina Nigrini was born and raised on a coffee producing farm near Chipinge in Zimbabwe. In 2003 Erina started Stil.Coffee (Pty) Ltd and established the coffee brand AfricaBlack. Erina has been involved with the World Barista Championship competitions since the very first event held in Cape Town. Her dedication to elevating the craft led her to her certification as a WBC Judge in Kenya in 2009, after which she proudly represented South Africa by judging at the World Barista Championship in Atlanta, USA.
In 2010, Erina purchased her first Probat roaster and established a barista training centre — a milestone that marked the beginning of her deep commitment to training and transformation. After all these years, Erina still approaches coffee with the same curiosity and passion she had when she started — continuing to learn something new about coffee every day.
Peter Howie
After completing a BCOM at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, Pete Howie travelled to London to gain work experience. While there, he responded to a job ad in the newspaper, and found himself working as a barista in a Seattle Coffee Company café - this is where his story started. A few months behind the bar convinced Pete that this was something he had to pursue, and by 1997 he had secured company rights and opened up his first South African store in Cavendish Square.
Since then, Seattle Coffee Company has grown to over 325 stores across South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Pete has been a pioneer in the South African coffee industry, and his passion for people, community and upliftment is evident in all the work he does.
Jonathan Robinson
Before Bean There existed, South Africa’s coffee culture was largely shaped by imported Italian blends and generic coffees with little connection to origin, people, or place. Twenty years ago, Jonathan Robinson helped change that.
Guided by a belief that great coffee begins with great relationships, Jonathan founded Bean There on a radical idea for its time: that African coffee deserved to be celebrated at origin, that farmers should be paid fairly and consistently, and that transparency and quality could — and should — go hand in hand.
Under his leadership, Bean There became South Africa’s first roaster of certified Fairtrade coffee, pioneering a direct fair trade model that placed farmers — not markets — at the centre of the supply chain. Long before it was fashionable, Jonathan was building deep, long-term relationships with small-scale producers across Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo — a journey that began in 2004, even before he owned an espresso machine or a roaster.
At the same time, Jonathan consistently pushed the industry forward through innovation — from purchasing the very first Ikawa sample roaster ever sold worldwide, to becoming Africa’s first Cropster customer, and introducing South Africa’s first La Marzocco Strada EP, unlocking new flavour potential for single-origin African coffees.
What ultimately defines Jonathan’s impact is his belief that coffee is about people — not only the farmers across Africa whose lives have been strengthened through long-term partnerships, but also the incredible team at Bean There who have been supported, developed, and grown over the years.
For two decades, Jonathan Robinson has shown that coffee can be a force for good without compromising excellence — that ethics, innovation, and exceptional flavour belong together. Celebrating the legacy of Jonathan Robinson!
Ishan Natalie
Ishan has spent a career in coffee elevating standards—from his early leadership at TriBeCa Coffee, where he started as a barista back in 2001, growing into the beverage and coffee leadership role, to his influential role at Starbucks Coffee Company, Ishan celebrates 10-years with Starbucks come January 2026, after a significant 14-years career at TriBeCa Coffee.
He is also one of the country’s most decorated coffee champions. The first person in South African history to win three South African Barista Championship titles, as well as two All-African Barista Championships, the first South African Aeropress Championship, and a Regional Cup Tasters Championship.
Ishan cares deeply about supporting and influencing others, and the South African industry towards coffee and craft excellence, and lives by a personal motto of ‘Live to Inspire; Leave a Legacy’.
Cuth Bland
Cuth started her coffee story as a barista working for Seattle Coffee Company back when they only had two stores. She was definitely coffee-*curious* but the bar environment was more like an extreme sport and it was the adrenaline rush she got addicted to. Her serious coffee journey started properly when she started working at Origin Coffee Roasting and tasting coffee sourced by the Coffee Hunters at Mercanta. When she moved to Bean There she was given the opportunity to dive head first into African coffee and all its wondrous chaos. The move to Zuka was about exploring the potential in other producing countries and while that journey has in no way disappointed she will consistently choose African coffees to drink at home, or on the beach, or the side of the road, or to share with friends and family. Cuth, a judge of A Shot in the dark for 7 years, we love you for so many reasons, but mainly because you aren’t afraid to ask the hard questions!
Michael MacDonald
Mike has been in the coffee industry for 16 years. He is Coffee specialist and Q Grader for Green Coffee Supply where he handles quality control, and assists with lot sourcing and selection. He also handles sales and after sales support which includes blend development , roast analysis with technical feedback and advice on anything coffee.
He is also Head Judge for the Middle East Division for A Shot in the Dark.
One of Mike’s main drives is to help roasters become specialists at their craft and to improve coffee quality as a whole. We could not have achieved success without you Mike, and we’re very grateful for the coffee person you are! And we are ever impressed by your multiple talents, including roller blading!!!
Nicodemus Nabakwe
Nicodemus has been in coffee for over 20 years. He grew up in Kenya and started in coffee with Dormans LTD before coming to South Africa. He worked for Avanti for 5 years, Sevenoaks for 7 years and is currently at Zuka – he is one of SA’s most respected Q Graders and has been a ASITD judge every year for the last 7 years! Nico is a high level soccer coach and mentor to many on and off the field and we are truly inspired by him! Plus, he's an excellent dancer! Welcome to the Honour Roll Nico!
James Masterton
James started in the coffee and tea industry as a Shipping Clark at Glenton and Mitchell in Port Elizabeth, now Joko, in 1962. He then moved to Cape Town and was the Production Manager at their factory in Epping. Then joined the family business in 1969. James recalls that from the 60’s they mostly sold filter coffee, while he and Jock used to import Mellita's from Germany. As time passed, he witnessed the developments and changes across all aspects of the coffee industry, from advances in brewing technology, notably the development and rise in popularity of domestic electric coffee makers, as well as the changes in consumer trends and the significant growth in the varieties of available coffees from around the world. James has witness South Africa’s coffee industry develop from its infancy into what is it today.
Personal highlights for James were his son Ryler joining the family business, and last year reaching the milestone 100th Anniversary of the business that his father started.
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