From a coffee shop that employs deaf baristas to a bakery that honours refugees, these spots in Cape Town serve more than just delicious treats:
Cape Town, South Africa (2 April, 2023) —Cape Town is known for its coffee culture, cafes and unique treat experiences. However, you may not know that some of your favourite spots (or soon-to-be favourites) are actually social enterprises set on serving communities in need. Here are the sweetest Cape Town Treats:
1. I Love Coffee
Don’t we all! Still, between the lines of ‘I Love Coffee’ reads I love the hearing impaired community. Beyond some of the best cappuccinos in town, 70 % of this cafe’s staff are deaf or hard of hearing.
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That means you can enjoy trying South Africa’s 12th official language (sign) when you visit. Ever thought you could uplift the deaf community just by enjoying your favourite beverage? By integrating more deaf South Africans into the work force, I Love Coffee gives more than it serves up.
- Find them: 103 Garfield Rd, Claremont, Cape Town
2. Gangstar Cafe
Many coffee lovers believe that the beverage is life-changing. However, when it comes to Gangstar Cafe, this sentiment has never been more true. Gangstar Cafe trains and employs youth who broke out of gangsterism in Cape Town, offering them a new coffee-empowered path.
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Here, you’ll get more than just a ‘cuppa —life lessons are on the menu too. By listening to ex-offenders’ stories, you’ll learn how tough it can be to shuffle the cards dealt to you. And, how empowering it can be when you do.
- Find them: 61 Main Road, Mowbray OR Shop 8A, Wellington Road, Durbanville Town Centre, Cape Town
3. Khayelitsha Cookies
Over 50 women are changing their lives, one cookie at a time. Khayelitsha Cookies is a delicious social enterprise that employs and trains one woman from an informal settlement per 1000 cookies sold daily.
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Started by a handful of women baking their way out of poverty, Khayelitsha Cookies soon became a Cape Town favourite.
- Find them: 52 Beacon Way, Beaconvale, Cape Town
- Or order online
4. The Wild Goose Artisan Bakery
The Wild Goose Artisan Bakery and Artisan Baking School is a social enterprise baking its way into South African hearts.
Young unemployed people from the Cape Flats are trained and empowered through the love of freshly baked bread and opportunity. In partnership with the Sozo Foundation, the Wild Goose supplies some incredible Cape Town treats at favourites like Oude Meule in Stellies and Bob’s Bagels in Kalk Bay.
But, you can order from them too. All proceeds go to supporting the work of artisan training.
- Find them: 1115 Vrygrond Ave, Muizenberg, Cape Town
- Or, order online
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