Savour coffee on a fine day to the hypnotic soundtrack of the incessant surf just metres away. Do not expect china or finery –  this is paper-cup country, dispensed from a cart adjoining the lifesavers’ clubhouse. As beach coffees go, though, the Ethiopian/Ugandan blend is prepared with care and produces a superior offering in both the espresso and cappuccino, which were served at the right temperature. Reasonably priced at R20 for the espresso and R32 for the cappuccino.

The tasting took place on a sunny, windless, winter day; the North Coast at its finest. The cart is 25m from the beach, providing an inadequate two tables and nine chairs on the promenade. But pick a good day, seat yourself on a compact, decked amphitheatre metres away, and enjoy a glorious natural setting. It’s a great place to sip.

Alan Dunn