The "truth" about Starbucks

Motherland's 100% Arabica, medium roasted, Rwandan and Ethiopian blend.

 "Dear me"

The “truth” is a war is coming. Our territories borders are being breached. Colonization has happened before we’ve “bean there” as a nation. Our “motherland” isn’t safe. We “knead” to stand together as a “tribe” our “origin” after all is the same.

Starbucks is coming for us. 

I have seen the caffeine fueled buzz on social media. It's like in the Lego movie where the masses are indoctrinated to drink over priced coffee. If I am being completely honest I am disappointed. I feel I over estimated the South African consumer. 

My greatest heartache is the way hospitality industry in this country often functions without humanity.  It is an ever growing industry yet it's leaders are all about generating the most cash in the fastest time. They never consider sustainability in all senses of the word. Often the environment suffers but especially the workers. 

In South Africa we have harbored a culture of complaint. Yet what I have come to realize is that the individuals that try to make a difference, for instant hospitality workers are the ones who are oppressed the most. Radical ideas that bring in fair means of making money are laughed out of the boardroom. These hospitality workers, who are trying to raise families without depending on government grants,  that are paid minimum wage  (R2500 a month) or worked into the ground in dangerous and demeaning environments.On the surface it shines but behind the scenes...

The consumer demands therefor it is enforced. The consumer spends enough to pay a whole months salary of a worker in one go so why should they not get away with murder? My question is simple why does the consumer enjoy it? They bully, they swear,they yell, some even try to touch you. Why are there occupations where you have to let things happen to you and detach yourself from your sense of self? 

The consumer has all the power. In this case we are the consumers.

We live in a country which shares a continent with the greatest coffee producing nations on the PLANET!

In Cape Town we have so many wonderful coffee outlets. Places that offer single origin beans that come with the assurance of ethical trading. The coffee industry has been built on personal relationships, my favorite barista asks me about school, I ask for hearts on my flat whites. It comes from a real place, the connection with their customers is true. The workers know all there is to know on their products. It goes beyond being just a beverage, it is liquid art. There is a symphony of flavors each note carefully picked.

We have finally pushed the envelope of what was expected from coffee.For example truth makes coffee with orange juice. The juice is frothy. It's sweet, bitter brilliance! It's literally a sunrise in a cup. Africans drinking incredible African coffee.

Now

Starbucks has indoctrinated the masses using the consumers addiction to sugar to corrupt the flavor profiles of coffee. We don't need hazelnut or caramel sugared drinks thank you very much.We don't need major corporations coming into our country telling us what to drink and putting pressure on the little guy. The coffee industry is good for our economy and ultimately will help in stabilizing the Rand. Major corporations inject money but the suffocate smaller enterprises. It's the port jackson tree situation on our natural vegetation all over again.

We have brilliant coffee here at home. Don't be that guy that buys into Americanism with their expansive capitalist ideals and their placid pallets. I will not be won over by my name misspelled on a cup or the novelty that #starbucks that probably trends on Instagram.

“yours truly”

H

* all quoted words are names of coffee shops and distributors

Hey yo(u) ghurt(good)?

"How are you?"
We ask people this all the time and are asked too.
But do we even care about the response or care to respond with the truth?

Sometimes it's difficult to put into words how we feel. I have been experimenting with making frozen yogurt as of late. So here is life lessons in frozen yoghurt form. 

DRIVE: Frozen yoghurt is an emulsion and a foam. It needs extreme temperatures to solidify it however needs constant movement in order to break the icicles. This creates a thicker, smoother product. Drive is similar in the fact that its continuous work through extreme conditions. Complacency are icicles we need to work at remaining humble so that we will actively pursue our dreams.

For me personally I do not want to make yoghurt like that which you buy in the shop. What's the point in that? Why should I put in colorants, flavoring and preservatives when I'm at home. That's a perfect metaphor for life. No drama, stuff falseness and negativity. I'm at home with who I am. Some people are going to think you are fake because they honestly cannot understand your pursuit to be irrevocably happy. Those that understand are rare, kindred spirits.

Life has the potential to be magical if you just open your eyes. Allow the small thing to make you happy. Like someone opening the door for you or a cloud shaped like a dinosaur. I actively search for happiness.

I saw this in the company gardens. Living in Cape Town the wind is intense, like it will blow you over(especially if you are small)! A gust came up and everyone ducked and some even cursed(hair styles were ruined), but this child riding on his father's shoulders just laughed and it echoed everywhere like music. It was like the universe was telling me that I should laugh at things that bother everyone else. That hardship and challenge is an opportunity to grow so why not enjoy that process. We think that life is breaking us down. Breaking is a horrible world. We are being crafted like the statue of David. Chipping away all excess slowly. You chose to either be art or a tool( like a pestle and mortar also made from marble).

Toppings, I love savory flavours. My new favourite thing is to have double cream frozen yoghurt with cayenne pepper. The cold temperature with the heat from the roasted spice is extraordinary. It's like watching a 3D movie but with taste. 

Double cream frozen yoghurt with roasted cayenne pepper

Toppings are friendships to you the yoghurt. We are different and complex in our own rights.Put us together and we have something amazing. Why should we not try fish or hummus in yoghurt?The people that mean most to me do not make any sense in societal(key word) logic. That's what makes it even more valuable and precious. It's about finding the guardians who will wait at the edge when you have to climb out of the holes of depression.

Double cream frozen yoghurt paired with sour fig jam and dried snoek in a munch bowl (which has a flavor profile to a provita)

Like with yogurt we can strip away the bad and add something strange and wonderful to our lives. That what we least expect can be the most wonderful thing. This applies to many thing like friendships, work or even places.

We are only limited by our fear. I'll admit I'm braver with food and my career than anything else. I lack a certain balance. However I'm challenging myself to be more brave. To stop hiding behind humor or even a crazy jersey.  To explore life completely.