From single shots and filthy chai to chilled coffee with an extra kick and chocolate in a slush, two good mates are selling coffee with a mission.
It all started over drinks. Timothy Talbot and Brandon Mills, both in their early 20s, finished their postgraduate studies at VEGA Durban last year, and thought about how many students would go off-campus during their breaks and in between lectures to buy quality coffee.
“When we joined campus there was nothing in this space – no sound, no vibe – and we wanted to change the atmosphere.”
With this in mind, the two created a vibrant student-centric brand called BeanBoet, a brand that listens to the caffeine-related needs of students and directly caters to them without exception. Quite surprising since Brandon’s never been a big fan of coffee and, as a student, Tim used to survive on two-spoons-in-a-mug standard coffee. But they were both dedicated to bringing something new to the campus and something even more adventurous to the palate, so they learnt a whole heap and, with the help of their barista, Nduduzo Prince Artizim, they’re knocking out really brilliant stuff in their happy place.
“We offer a substantial range of both hot and cold beverages that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and we are committed to serving the kind of high-end beverages that are both wallet and eco-friendly. Our brand is rooted in South African culture with aspirations of providing a unique and proudly South African experience.”
From the classics to caramel and mint-infused beverages, coffee lovers are spoilt for choice with the BeanBoet menu that features Hot Boets, Chilled Boets and everything in between. They’re also vegan friendly – which is a big thing among varsity students – so are armed with almond and oat milk for those who need it.
And what’s most popular on the menu?
“This is an extensively debated topic and opinions seem to range from our Mint Hot Chocolate with frothed milk for those who wanna lay off the caffeine to our substantial iced range. On paper, our Salted Caramel Pour Over is our most popular drink – think espresso and milk poured over ice cubes, with a shot of delicious caramel, for the boets who love to chill the authentic way.”
While the boys are currently trading from Vega, inside the Glades Office Park in Umhlanga, they are officially opening a BeanBoet outlet on September 1 at Fit24 at the Park Square next to Gateway, that will be fully open to the public! They are also mobile and cater to events, festivals and even weddings.
“We could not be happier with the growth we have seen in the past few months. The feedback from our customers has been overwhelmingly positive and we’ve already started to accumulate a loyal customer base, even from outsiders. Students have loved having us here as they no longer have to go off campus to get a decent cup of coffee. Being able to communicate with them daily also allows us to uncover what they want so we can cater to their needs and wants more efficiently.”
While BeanBoet at Vega is open to the public – not just varsity students – visitors do need to sign in when coming into the office park, but it doesn’t take long and the coffee is definitely worth it!
“We are pulling out all the stops to open franchises in other suburbs of Durban that are more easily accessible to the public because we feel like we have something special and cannot wait to share it with the rest of the country.”
Details: You can follow BeanBoet on Instagram: @beanboet
PHOTO CREDITS
Product Shots: Mickey Burnett
People shots: Caleb Kozlowski
