What a gorgeous spot for a roastery! Tucked away in Ceres, this passionate team have built a destination to yearn for. Introducing Alcove Roastery...
When did the Roastery Start?
We’ve been contract roasting since 2017, and in 2025 we took things in-house by building our own 15kg roaster. Since then, we’ve been roasting ourselves and really enjoying the hands-on process. We’re a small roastery tucked into a beautiful old 1930s building in the heart of Ceres, but our story really starts out on the gravel roads of the Koue Bokkeveld. Back in 2017, there simply wasn’t access to fresh, quality roasted coffee where we lived. So we started small—connecting with friends in the industry who roasted for us while we focused on getting good coffee into the hands of our local community. It was never about being fancy, just about making sure people could enjoy a proper cup, even off the beaten track. That idea shaped everything. My wife named it “Grondpad Coffee” (gravel road coffee), and it stuck—because serving those off the beaten path became our heartbeat. Not just coffee lovers in the farming areas, but also being part of something bigger. We got involved in a local community project supporting children who didn’t have access to quality education or healthy environments, and coffee became one of the ways we could help fund that. Somewhere along the way, we built a proper off-road mobile trailer—the Gravel Café— and started showing up at local events. What began as a simple idea slowly grew into what we have today.
Grondpad now lives as a brand under Alcove, but the heart hasn’t changed. We keep things simple—approachable, honest coffee. Our house blends lean on Brazil and Ethiopia, and we love showcasing African single origins that express the complexity of altitude and seasonality. And for those who want to explore a bit more, we play with seasonal offerings too.
Who are the people in the business?
Brett, Lize, Gary, Franeego, Adelia and Tannie Nisha are all actively involved in the day-to-day running of both the roastery and the coffee shop. Behind the scenes, there’s also a solid team supporting us with finances and offering guidance on long-term business and investment decisions.
Why did you choose the Roastery name?
We chose the name Alcove because it means “a space set aside for a specific purpose.” That’s exactly what this place is—especially in the setting of a beautiful old house that’s been set apart to serve the community with quality coffee. The name just stuck, and we ran with it.
How did you learn to roast?
Trial and error… and a bit of maths — that’s really how we learned. Along the way, especially during the days of contract roasting before we had our own machine, we were lucky to meet so many people in the industry who were willing to help, teach, and point us in the right direction. The coffee community really is something special.
What kinds of coffee do you like to roast and sell?
Consistent coffee. We focus on keeping our coffee fresh and reliable, roasting our beans between 212°C and 218°C—a medium roast leaning slightly toward dark—to suit our local market. Being in a small rural town, more expensive and complex coffees haven’t always taken off. So we went back to basics: keeping things simple, consistent, and fairly priced. We focus on Arabica beans at high altitude and bringing it slightly down with Brazil’s to suit the small town palates. Over time, we’ve slowly introduced higher-end beans and more complex blends to gently expose our community to the wider world of coffee.
What is your coffee community like in your area and tell us about the role the roastery plays in that?
Community is everything in a small town where everyone knows everyone. Around 90% of our customers are locals, and many of them are friends—or parents of our kids’ friends. That’s something we genuinely love. At the end of the day, we’re still about serving people well—wherever they are.
The Grondpad Bokveld House Blend
"Our coffees are rooted in consistency and approachability. Our house blend brings together Brazil’s creamy body, nutty character, and dark chocolate notes with Ethiopia’s bright, altitude-driven vibrancy. Alongside this, we showcase seasonal African single origins—Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda—celebrating coffees grown along the equator. Our focus is simple: fresh, quality coffee that remains accessible and affordable for our local community."
