SIKI’S KOFFEE KAFE

Siki’s Koffee Kafe is a co-working environment infused into a coffee shop that offers a variety of coffee drinks plus eats to round off their menu. In October 2018, they raised funds for a new coffee machine, grinder and branding. The campaign managed to reach R40 000, showcasing Siki’s Koffee Kafe at the first Cape Town Coffee Festival.

They’re at the forefront of the current coffee conversation in Khayelitsha as the only coffee shop serving a unique blend of coffee with room for reading, meetings and meetups.

On the coffee shop’s bucket list is the Barista Academy, training, grooming and providing a platform for the graduates to thrive in this growing industry. They’re also looking to consolidate the coffee shop by revamping it with an inclusion of a mini restaurant f

Tell us a bit more about your business and what it offers?

It’s a co-working environment infused into a coffee shop which offers a variety of coffee drinks plus eats and a few summer choices to round the menu off.

What important role does your company play in Cape Town, and abroad?

We are the fore front of the current coffee conversation in Khayelitsha as the only coffee shop serving a Unique blend of speciality coffee with room for reading , meetings and meet ups ,While also providing a unique coffee experience for nationalities alike who range from a multitude off different colourful countries in, around plus out of Africa

When considering Cape Town, what factors made you choose to start here? Why Cape Town and what prompted the decision.

Firstly is the fact that some of the various procedure where not part of my requirements set by the City of cape town as the area is Industrially zoned for businesses Plus it is looking away from the busy Ntlazane street providing for a quitter environment .Firstly Is because Khayelitsha is my home and I wanted to expose my community to great bean to cup coffee.

What do you enjoy most about operating your business in Cape Town? What are the benefits of running a business/investing in Cape Town?

The Interaction and coupling of organic relationships through coffee and a great atmosphere ,More operating hours during summer Variety of business opportunities now availing within our communities is also another reason why Cape Town as an investment opportunity .

What are the highlights/success stories you can share since starting your business in Cape Town?

The platform to create a blend unique to the coffee shop it’s self during the 2017 Another would be the crowd funding campaign we ran October 2018 to raise money for a new coffee machine, grinder and branding which we managed to attain as the campaign managed to reach R40 000 ,Showcasing SIKIS KOFFEE KAFE at the very first Cape Town Coffee Festival

In collaboration with YOCO, hosting JIM HAMILTON while he was shooting his show in Cape Town .Having our infamous rugby South African rugby captain Siya Kholisi

What challenges, if any, have you experienced in setting up your business?

Not having the funds to do it right from the beginning, having to deal with the conversation of people not warming up to the idea of coffee as two or no customers would make a turn at the shop. Creating a space out of the garage trying to curve all and any constructions in order to capture the image I saw when I first opened ,Providing a consistent service because with no customers there no coffee .

Have you had any interactions, positive or negative, with the City of Cape Town in setting up or running your business?

Everything from their side was handled according to procedure no hick ups .

How has doing business in Cape Town, or with City of Cape Town, been different to anywhere else?

In my view it is a bit of a challenge to open a business in Cape Town as customer believe in loyalty and a great relationship which means you need to build a strong firm foundation for your brand to gain loyal customers in order for you to have a successful business

What’s next? What is the future of your business?

Barista Academy would be the first stop in the ‘Next Big Thing ‘ on the bucket list which would include , Training ,Grooming and providing a platform for the graduates to thrive on in this growing industry or those who’d like a more intimate setup..Consolidating the whole property in order to revamp the premises with an inclusion of a mini restaurant for those who would like to enjoy more the intimate setup .However the overall outlook is to encourage and provide opportunity in the community to be trained or employed as most of the youth do face challenges relating to the unemployment within the educated youth .

If your best friend was on the fence about opening a business/investing in Cape Town, what would you tell them?

Do It .