KwaZulu-Natal’s coffee royalty gathered at the historic Grande White recently for the Battle of the Beans Awards, an annual competition sponsored by Selati Sugar. The event celebrates the province’s finest coffee shops, recognising the top three across seven regions, from the South Coast beaches to the Drakensberg. In the second half of last year, 26 independent judges visited 330 coffee shops incognito, sampling cappuccinos and espressos to evaluate the overall coffee experience. The awards also highlighted the province’s top coffee-to-go outlet and crowned a winning barista and runner-up from six finalists. Adding a flavourful twist, KZN’s most popular coffee shop was revealed following a public vote on the Battle of the Beans social media pages between August 2025 and January 2026. The event celebrated the province’s thriving coffee culture with energy, enthusiasm and a whole lot of caffeine.
