DENNIS NGXONGO
Sias du Plessis and I meet at The Grind in bustling Melrose Arch in Johannesburg. This place serves good coffee and great food for people on the move, so it is apt that l meet him here.
I am lucky to have known Sias since he was a wee second former, far away from home and first-time boarding at Glenwood High School. A firm friendship was established and, although we don’t talk often, we keep tabs on each other, and I have enjoyed watching his star rise and rise.
He has had an extraordinary career in broadcasting and media. We know him best for his roles at 5FM and Supersport, which led to his current passion, The Sias Du Plessis Show https://youtube.com/@siasduplessis?si=OBgckg2jz9a8kBBF. I love the title and the content of the show and as we chat about this, we touch on matters coffee.
“I have always had an interest in coffee. In my days at 5FM, I was the guy guaranteed to bring good and special coffees into studio for the breakfast show and to acknowledge and give shout outs to great coffee houses and baristas,” says Sias over a very good Urben Grind cappy.
This interest led him to tinker with a few coffee brands and beans, and, pre-Covid, an opportunity to do small roasts came up. Ginger Fox was born. “Well,” he says, “the name is self-evident, being a proud Ginger the term is always being applied and I decided to own it and make it associate with good quality and a little bit of fun.”
Sias’ brand of coffee uses a blend from Africa and South America to create a wholesome full-bodied taste. The blend was inspired by the team at TriBeCa coffee with an African inspired flavour from the Ethiopian and Colombian beans to give it a lively yet smoothly rich flavour.
“Easy to drink and yet it is strong enough to get you out of bed in the morning,” quips Sias.
He continues: “Darling Coffee has assisted me to fine tune the blend and I am extremely proud of the coffee. Ginger Fox Coffee is a brand I’d like to expand and share with as many South Africans as possible.
Currently, he services office parks and small chains but the plan is to expand and move the coffee at least, home to KZN. Who knows, he, wife Nat and their dog may follow…
“If ever I had triple passions it would be sport, Newcastle United and coffee. At this stage in my life I am happy to indulge all three while I figure out my work life balance,” he says.
One would think that, with all that he has achieved, Sias has a full plate, and is looking to rest on his laurels, but this is not so. “My future plans definitely involve my three passions and I would like to explore as many opportunities as possible, especially in the podcasting space. That something that has re-invigorated my passion for broadcasting and I owe my team of Ray and Steve a great debt for getting me to start the Sias du Plessis Show.”
Sias is one of a few personalities that have found a home in coffee culture and I am sure you join me in wishing him, The Sias Du Plessis Show and the Ginger Fox brand every success going forward.