According to a local newspaper, The Rising Sun, three coffee connoisseurs, all of whom grew up in Scottburgh, identified a niche for a quality coffee shop that serves world-class coffee and grab-and-go style food.

The idea was sparked in Ethiopia in 2020 where Matt Matchell-Cox, one of the partners, was working. The intrepid adventurer, who founded WildED adventure education, said he got a call from his two good friends – and now his partners – Stephen Morris, a local businessman, and Gavin Roberts, a top South African surfer.

According to the Rising Sun,  Matchell-Cox explained:  “They called me up and said that considering I’m in a country that produces some of the best coffee in the world, we might as well start a coffee company – so we did. We started importing sustainably sourced coffee from Ethiopia to South Africa and morphed into a wholesaler, eventually supplying locally roasted coffee to coffee shops, restaurants, and individuals around South Africa.”

Inspired by Ethiopian coffee, the coffee shop serves Ethiopian Wolf, a single-origin coffee, the Savannah Blend – with Tanzanian and Ethiopian beans – and the Rainforest Blend.

The menu is simple and includes the likes of muffins, sweet and savoury, soaked oats, yogurt, muesli and health wraps.

Wild Cafe has a clean and contemporary look with colour derived from local artist Travis O’Sullivan’s vibrant murals. Wi-Fi is available.

The coffee was a vibrant surprise, but then one would expect nothing less from the world’s best beans. I was served a full, rich and rounded cappuccino after a bold espresso hidden beneath a delicious layer of crema.

Great venue and vibe.

Frank Chemaly