Chris Pefanis and Highland Coffee Roastery have been part of the fabric of the coffee community for many years, exploring and learning and always ready with a smile and an opinion. We love to visit him in Clarens, Free State and are pleased to see they have found an awesome new space to call home, can't wait to visit again soon! We caught up with him to hear about the new developments.
When did Highland Coffee start and how did you get into coffee in those days?
We started Highland Coffee Roastery at the beginning of 2010 as an add-on to the bakery we were already running. The previous owner of the bakery had suggested a coffee roastery to compliment the bakery after having visited île de Pain in Knysna.
When my wife and I decided we would buy the bakery business, my motivation was literally “I love bread, so how hard can it be?”
Deciding to start roasting coffee was motivated by the same attitude: “I love coffee, so how hard can it be?”
Over time, I learned there was a lot more to it than just tossing green beans into an oven and taking them out once they’re done! It’s been a rewarding journey of learning and craft.
The town of Clarens has grown up around you, what has the shift been like for you as locals?
It definitely has been a notable transformation over the past 15 years.
In the early days there were times that we would not sell a single item all day! But now, Clarens attracts visitors all week, and buzzes with art lovers, nature lovers, boutique browsers every weekend! Clarens also hosts many festivals and sporting events throughout the year.
Since Covid, there are many new residents that have moved to Clarens, either working remotely or having set up shop in town, so everything is busier than it was.
For longtime residents, the increased variety of restaurants and shopping has been a welcome development, enriching our community and its vibrant atmosphere.
Tell us about this latest move to a new location (the last and final you say?!)
Our previous move from a prime location facing the Clarens town square was necessary for survival as a business after Covid. We were made an offer we couldn’t refuse to move to our previous location, and because of the uncertainty at that time, we had to accept.
Unfortunately business also declined due to the nature of foot traffic around the town square.
The new space is much larger than our previous locations, and we were able to move our roastery into it from a separate facility, making it the true heart of our operation.
What are some of the highlights of the new space?
The new location is a beautiful, brand new sandstone building in a prime location facing the town square, with a large raised and covered veranda, perfect for watching the town go by.
The building construction with extra insulation, double glazing and a cosy fireplace make it perfect for the chilly winter days.
Integrating the roastery into the cafe once again has made our roasting setup a functional and prominent part of the decor. People love watching and learning about the process from green bean to cup!
We also have a kitchen space we are busy setting up for light meal offerings, which we have not had suitable facilities for since the days of running the bakery.
When visiting Clarens what are the places (other than Highland Coffee every morning for a cuppa!) that you would say are the Must Do experiences for tourists?
Definitely the newly opened Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretive Centre in Golden Gate! It is a very impressive journey back in time.
Hiking in the Clarens Village Conservancy – make sure you purchase a permit & map of the trails at outlets such as Highland Coffee.
Fly Fishing is a popular pasttime during the fishing season.
Quad biking, an all year round adventure, is available both in Clarens and on farms in the surrounding area, as well as other extreme adventure pursuits such as rock climbing and abseiling.
Hot Air ballooning over the valley is a spectacular option, if you’re an early riser!
Live music every weekend all over the village – Clarens has always been home to great musicians, but the music scene has experienced a renaissance since Covid and is more of a prominent feature than ever before.
And finally, the art galleries, which Clarens has always been known for - an enduring hallmark of Clarens’ artistic spirit.
