Our Upcoming Speaker

Coffee Time

When you sip your first aromatic cup of the day or enjoy a convivial cup with friends at a favourite venue, do you ever wonder where your coffee comes from?

From its almost serendipitous discovery in the 850s in the highlands of Ethiopia, coffee has warmed its way into the hearts of beverage drinkers throughout the world.

It’s the second most consumed beverage after water in the world. And yes, it originated in Africa, in Ethiopia.

On 18 November 2026 at 10.00 at the DR Church Helderberg, 82 Firmount Road, Monte Sereno, Somerset West, Jonathan Robinson, founder of the Bean There Coffee Company, will take the audience on a fascinating journey into the world of coffee entitled ‘Beyond the cup’. His talk will cover the origins of coffee in Africa and proceed to the remarkable impact of his fair trade approach on small-scale African farmers.

From the 9 -16th centuries, coffee was confined to the Arabian world, but arrived in Europe in the 17th century, and spread to the Americas in the 18th century where it became extremely popular especially after the Boston Tea Party and then took root in Brazil. The last two centuries have seen exponential growth in the coffee industry with innovations such as vacuum packing, industrial roasting and instant coffees, as well as the coffee shop boom.

Jonathan’s talk will cover some of the stories related to the industry as well as the science, and will provide surprising answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about coffee.

Jonathan is the founder of the Bean There Coffee Company, which he established in 2005 after leaving a career in IT to pursue his passion for Africa, people and great coffee. Over the past 20 years, he has pioneered a direct fair trade approach to coffee in South Africa, building lasting relationships with small-scale coffee farmers across the African continent.

Bean There became South Africa's first roaster of Fairtrade-certified coffee and has been recognised for its commitment to ethical sourcing, sustainability and excellence. Jonathan is passionate about the power of business to change lives and believes that a business can do well and do good!

His address promises to be a heart-warming, enlightening, entertaining and insightful look at the drink that connects millions of people around the world!

Members enter free of charge; visitors pay R20 at the door.

Enquiries: Denise Fourie 0722111173