Home Slice, which was started by two friends in 2020, is housed in what was once a mushroom growing tunnel, meaning it has a dome-shaped ceiling and rustic, face brick walls. The interior is dark and there are no windows as such, but large glass doors at the entrance do let in some light. The interior lighting is good and interesting, though.

The surroundings are open country. There is also a kids play area on the grounds, which includes other retail outlets.

The barista at Home Slice was engaging, friendly, and obviously knew what he was doing.

Other pluses are wheelchair access, free Wi-Fi and useful plug points for laptop use.

Food is available and includes breakfasts, brunches and a few sweet treats. There are also deli items for sale.

The unusual structure of the venue, its quirky and friendly atmosphere, not to mention the mouth-watering smells of fresh baking that hit you when walking through the door, all add to the appeal.

But it does set up a high expectations when it comes to their coffee – and you won’t be disappointed. The barista was engaging, passionate and very experienced, which was clearly evident in the perfectly balanced cup of coffee he served me! Using Blue Bird coffee beans, the espresso was virtually perfect – very aromatic, slightly fruity, slightly acidic with a beautiful balance of bitter and sweet. The same bean being used for the cappuccino meant that, although it was an excellent cup of coffee, it did lack a bit of the deeper earthy, nutty flavours that produce the best results. The foam texture and temperature was spot on!

Paul Russell

** Home Slice Cafe  was judged as one of the three best coffee shops in the Pietermaritzburg/Midlands areas in the 2024 Battle of the Beans Coffee competition.