Apr 2021 Ballito Umhl

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Bold brave barista For the past three months, self-taught barista Sbusiso Nkolothi has been whipping up cappuccinos and lattes while simultaneously winning the hearts of all those who meet him at his Ballito coffee shop. We got to know the man behind the counter of the Coffee Lab at the Lifestyle Centre. Text: Leah Shone | Photograph: Mary-Ann Palmer People, personality and a positive attitude are the things that 33-year-old Sbu says have gotten him to where he is today … and he’s determined to help others find the same success. Life hasn’t been easy for the Zimbabwe-born barista, who ended up living on the streets of Durban after moving to South Africa in 2010. Despite the adversities he’s faced though, Sbu has managed to use every opportunity afforded to him over the past 11 years, in pursuit of his dream of owning his own coffee shop. Sbu grew up in Victoria Falls and was exposed to the hospitality and tourism industry from a young age. He worked as a golf caddy and waiter and ‘hustled’ curios in his youth. When he heard about the World Cup, he decided to take a chance and come to South Africa. But things didn’t turn out as planned. “That’s how life goes. Sometimes you make plans and they don’t work out. I ended up in Durban, knowing no one and with nothing. I had a choice - I could go home with nothing, or make it work here.” Sbu spent five, hard months living on the streets, but says he learnt so much about himself and others during this time. “Most people who on the streets have bigger hearts than you realise. They aren’t all bad people. Life and situations have led to them being where they are and doing things they don’t want to in order to survive. It’s easy to point fingers until you’re in that same position,” he says. When he finally landed a job at a takeaway spot called Gallito’s, Sbu’s life finally 30 Get It • Ballito Umhlanga April 2021 started to turn around. “I had been so desperate and was grateful to wake up and have a purpose every day.” Within weeks he earned the owner’s trust and was given a key to open up the restaurant. “I was living in a shelter at the time and kept getting sick because it was so dirty, so I started living in the restaurant without anyone knowing.” Doors started to open for him and when Sbu landed a job as a runner at well-known Durban North restaurant, Mamma Lucianas, his life started improving. “I had friends and a community. Marco, the owner, helped me change my life by pushing me to do better and building me up.” Sbu was soon made barman and it was then that he started discovering
more about coffee. He learnt how to use the machine and read books about coffee. It was also here that Sbu met chef Ray Friedman. “Ray spent time teaching me and, everything I know about food, I learned from him.” Sbu was offered a barista and management position at The Sett, a shared workspace in Umhlanga, by owner Travis Gale. Here, he says, he was given access to a computer and discovered Youtube. “That was a game-changer for me. I watched videos about and taught myself to be a barista.. I realised that coffee is about building community and connecting with people.” When The Sett closed, Sbu joined the Private Property team as their in-house barista. Then Covid hit and he was retrenched. “Last year was actually really good for me. It brought me opportunities like never before. I started working on my real dream – of opening my own coffee shop and simultaneously offering barista training to people who need it the most. The guys who haven’t finished school and have no opportunities lined up. I am passionate about helping others grow now. A friend put Sbu’s photograph on Facebook offering his barista services and his phone rang off the hook! Despite being offered tons of jobs, Sbu was determined to start his own brand. Then he got a call from Murray Loader at the Lifestyle Centre. The next day he got another call from artists Jane Digby. The team were launching a pop-up art gallery at the Lifestyle Centre and were looking for a someone run a coffee shop. “From the moment I met Jane I knew this was right for me. Her passion is contagious. It was the perfect space, the perfect time and the perfect person. She is a believer and she helped me to set up the Coffee Lab. I don’t think I could ever thank her enough.” That was three months ago and Sbu and his Coffee Lab have grown from strength to strength. Although the Gallery has now closed, Coffee Lab will remain in place and become a part of The Studios, a space that will incorporate an eclectic mix of bespoke stores and personalised shopping areas. ““I am where I am because of the people who have come into my life. So many people have impacted me and given me opportunities and believed in me. The Gallery was amazing for me and gave me such great exposure. Things are changing now, but I’m very excited and I know it’s going to be good fun!” Details: Coffee Lab, Lifestyle Centre Ballito @coffeelab2020
Page 1: BALLITO • UMHLANGA Pukka Indian c
Page 4 and 5: 14 YEARS EXCLUSIVE MANDATE R 12 000
Page 6 and 7: IT’S JUST THE BEGINNING What does
Page 8 and 9: Wish list Go on, spoil yourself thi
Page 10 and 11: Meet the ‘real’ housewife Text:
Page 12 and 13: Eyes on the ocean Sometimes you jus
Page 16 and 17: Celebrating 15 years It seems like
Page 18: Make it permanent Hair removal tren
Page 21 and 22: Build from the ground up (30’s to
Page 23: Never before has there been a shopp
Page 28 and 29: Text: Kym Argo 26 Get It • Ballit
Page 30 and 31: Promotion So long summer We’re re
Page 34 and 35: Promotion 32 Get It • Ballito Umh
Page 36 and 37: Chef stepping up From washing dishe
Page 38 and 39: Indian cuisine … street style! Vi
Page 40: Promotion Spicing 38 Get It • Bal
Page 43 and 44: For quiet evenings or slow weekends
Page 46 and 47: Led by nature Text: Leah Shone | Ph
Page 48: Promotion Reaching Their Potential
Page 52 and 53: Text: Bronwyn forbes-hardinge & Tee
Page 54 and 55: Promotion Bub & Co Mum and Baby Lif
Page 56 and 57: Autism … awareness and acceptance
Page 58 and 59: Text: Leah Shone Crossfit for Kids
Page 60 and 61: Treat April It’s every little gir
Page 62 and 63: Posh pooches Most people regard the
Page 64 and 65: Perfect for pet parents From Irish
Page 66 and 67: Tango’s turnaround Tango, a two-y
Page 68 and 69: Coastal paradise Miles and miles of
Page 70 and 71: Spoil April It’s our 15th birthda

Apr 2021 Ballito Umhl

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?