I haven’t always been a huge coffee fan; but burning the candle at both ends, as well as smelling the delicious scent of my husband’s coffee in the morning has made me brave & want to finally “grow up”. I still don’t know if I am brave enough to try some without sugar & milk, but it is definitely a taste that I have come to enjoy.
My husband, friends, family & co-workers are nearly all addicted to coffee & practically cannot function without at least 1 cup in the morning – don’t tell anyone but my best friend has 3 cups before she even reaches the office…
On my quest to find Proudly South African gifts for family & friends for Christmas, I came across this company called Lingo Coffee. The names of the different strengths of coffee made me snort through my cup I was drinking & I was immediately drawn to find out more.
Your name: Donovan Walshe
Business name: Lingo Coffee
Social media handles: Facebook & Instagram
Why are you proudly South African: It is quite ironic how this originally came about, I have always been passionate about good coffee and sitting at a restaurant one day I just became GATVOL of being served cr@p coffee, and always sending it back, only to have it return tasting just as terrible, so that day I decided I was going to make a really good quality coffee for everyone, that is also GATVOL of bad coffee and call it GATVOL.
That where it all began and hat night my head was racing with ideas and I realized that we as South Africans have such an amazing choice of Lingo to choose from and I wanted to make a coffee for all of them, so I chose all my favourite words, and since it was based on our LINGO, I decided to call it Lingo Coffee.
What makes your coffee different: Firstly I believe we have the most unique packaging, and secondly we are an extremely high end coffee, yet we add a twist of the down to earth South African culture in our branding, which I believe is missing from the coffee industry as a whole. . I am also fortunate to have a highly experienced team behind me, however I do recall feeling like a Guinea pig in the beginning, and spent many days getting a “buzz” from tasting far too many coffees and having way too much caffeine, however it was important for me to find the perfect blends, and I am confident enough to say that we currently have the best coffee roasted in South Africa.
Where can people buy your coffee from: Online from our website
We also have a coffee shop at the ROOT 44 market in Stellenbosh, and our latest coffee shop that recently opened in the BMW dealership in Stellenbosch, and also in the Duty free store in Cape Town, and the Slim Suite wellness store in Big Bay Blouberg.
What are your different strengths (of coffee!):
Our Befok coffee is made using a blend of Brazilian and El Salvadorian beans. A rich and dark well-balanced roast, this is a full-bodied coffee that produces intense flavours. Starting with a nutty tone and ending on a chocolate aftertaste.
Strength 7/10 Klaps
Our Mamparra coffee is made from a selective combination of beans from three different origins. This is our ultimate premium-grade, dark roast, and full-bodied coffee, producing an array of flavours that roll onto the tongue with a slightly fruity base and then end on lovely notes of chocolate that linger in the aftertaste.
Strength 9/10 Klaps
Our Jou Ma Se coffee is slapped together using a mixture of beans from Brazil, El Salvador, and India. A well-balanced dark roast with a slight hint of nuttiness and smokey dark chocolate afternotes. Lively, with a sweet biscuit aroma.
Strength 5/10 Klaps
Our Gatvol coffee has a rich fruited aroma with hints of cocoa powder and a fantastic medium body. Beautifully sweet fruited undertones with an aftertaste dominated by dark chocolate notes.
Strength 4/10 Klaps
Our Babelaas coffee is made using a combination of Brazilian, Ugandan and Indonesian beans. This premium- grade coffee is sleek and sultry. A full-bodied dark roast coffee with wild fruit, light hints of spice and strong dark chocolate notes in the aftertaste.
Strength 6/10 Klaps
Our Snot Klap coffee is made using a single origin Brazilian bean and is a premium-grade dark roast. Beautifully smooth and light on the palate, with low acidity and a pleasant fruity undertone, it is often bittersweet with a chocolaty roast nuance and a great crema.
Strength 8/10 Klaps
Our Chommie coffee combines beans from Kenya, Ethiopia and Brazil. Like three good chommies from different countries getting together to party. This creates a smooth, vibrant coffee with a really good body, subtle winy flavours, complemented by a full, fruity aroma and a lovely Kenyan, earthy, cherry aftertaste.
Strength 6/10 Klaps
Our PK coffee is made from a single origin Indonesian bean. This is our premium-grade, ‘no nonsense’ strong coffee – dark roasted, with full aroma. Mild cocoa notes and subtle, complex fruit flavours roll into a lingering, rich, dark chocolate aftertaste.
Strength 10/10 Klaps
What quote do you live by: My own quote -We have one life, one chance to make it count, so if it excites you then go for it, commit 100% and never compromise on living a life of quality and a quality life.
If I hadn’t started drinking coffee of my own accord, then these would definitely give me that extra push I needed to give it a go! I think they would be such a great talking point (I want to collect them all & perhaps even frame the empty packets as a fun form of decor) & the flavour is incomparable.
Let me know what you think once you have tried some!
