Whether you’re a flat white fundi, a double cappuccino drinker or a lover of lattes, there is no doubt that the person behind the coffee machine can make or break your daily dose of happiness! Here are the stories behind some of the friendliest and most enthusiastic baristas at the Ballito Lifestyle Centre.

KHAYA HLAMBISA – COFFEE LAB

Never without a smile, Coffee Lab head barista Khaya, is humble, appreciative and passionate about great coffee. His full name – Khayalami – means ‘my own home’, “but everyone calls me TK,” says the 33-year-old.

Although he had a difficult childhood (and lost both his parents by age 14), Ndwedwe-born Khaya completed high school while being looked after by his grandmother.

A month after matric, he started his first job with a Durban North garden service company, earning just R40 a day. Khaya worked his way up in the business over the next eight years until he met his Waterloo neighbour who would one day be the founder of Coffee Lab, Sbu Nkolothi
“Sbu was working as a barista at Private Property in Umhlanga at the time. We had an immediate connection and I felt like I had known him my whole life. Sbu encouraged me to do my barista training and promised me that we would work together one day. When he opened Coffee Lab in 2020, he gave me a call and said, ‘we start tomorrow.’ I left the place I was working and joined him immediately. I have never looked back.”

What do you love about being a barista?
“This job has made me into the man I am. I was shy at first, but I soon realised how much I enjoy working with people. I love making great coffee, but I love the people more. Sbu is a great man and mentor who just wants to see everyone happy and successful.”

What do you think makes a good barista?
“Being friendly and able to communicate with people. Our team is really close – we even finish each other’s sentences – and this is important! A good barista needs to understand and love coffee and treat it like their best friend.”

What makes Coffee Lab a great coffee shop?
“Definitely the beans we use – a local brand called Genesis Coffee. Also, coffee always comes first to us, and we value it above everything else. Every January we do a training recap to make sure we are still on track. Our small food menu means we are able to keep the focus on the coffee as well.”

What’s your most popular order and what’s your personal favourite coffee?
Our most popular order these days is a Flat White. My favourite is a Cortado.

SPHIWE MHLONGO – SCIENCE OF COFFEE

Science of Coffee head barista Sphiwe was destined to work with people. “I have always loved working with customers and giving people good service – it makes me happier than anything else,” says the 49-years-old Doringkop father of three.

Growing up in a rural village, Sphiwe is seventh in a family of 10 and his first job was at a fast-food shop in Stanger when he was just 12-years-old. That, he believes, is where he started learning the ‘tricks of the trade’ for good customer service. After school, Sphiwe got a job as a gardener in Zinkwazi. “I was good at it, but I missed working with people, so I started helping out at the Zinkwazi Beach Café. The owner saw my potential and hired me full time. She let me run the small coffee section in the café and I fell in love with the job.”

When the café sold a few years later, Sphiwe moved to Sugar Rush Park just outside Ballito where he furthered his training and experience. He worked at various spots around Ballito before being approached by Yoli’s and Science of Coffee owners, Nicky and Coops. “They believed in me before they even really knew me and I’m very proud to be the head barista at Science of Coffee now.”

What do you think makes a good barista?
“Love and care. You have to add it to every single cup. It doesn’t matter how good the coffee is, if it doesn’t have those ingredients, it won’t taste right.”

What makes Science of Coffee a great coffee shop?
“Our interactive, ‘roast your own’ experience is different to anywhere else. Also, the coffee we use is really amazing and sourced by our founder.”

What’s your most popular order and what’s your personal favourite coffee?
“Our most popular order is a Flat White or a Cappuccino. My favourite is my own ‘magic mix’, which is a combination of a Cortado and a Flat White.”

What do you do when you’re not at work?
“I’m usually at my home in Shayamoya. I have three children and three grandchildren, and I like relaxing during my time off. I reflect on the week that passed so that I can start each week fresh and enjoy listening to gospel music.”

THANDO KHOZA – TOAST

A busy mother of four, 34-year-old Thando is the senior barista at the popular Toast Coffee Shop. One of three children herself, Thando was born in Stanger and says she had dreams of being a social worker when she grew up. When she got her first job at a takeaway restaurant in Ballito, Thando had every intention of going back to school to become a social worker one day. “It just didn’t work out though,” she says smiling. Her first barista job was at BBM Café at Tiffany’s Centre in Salt Rock. “I heard they were looking for staff and I went for an interview. I wanted to work with customers, but I didn’t want to be a server. I decided to try being a barista.”
Thando fell in love with the job after completing her training. “It was challenging, but I really enjoyed learning to make coffee.” After working at a few places in Ballito, Thando got a job at 45 on Eat Street in 2022. “I really enjoyed it, but because I am a mom, I needed a job that didn’t require me to work at night.” She got the job at Toast a year later and is now the senior barista.

What do you think makes a good barista?
“I think you have to have experience at various places. You have to have a passion for coffee and enjoy making different drinks, and you must be able to interact with customers.”

What’s your most popular order and what’s your personal favourite coffee?
“Our most popular order is definitely a double cappuccino. My favourite is a black Americano because you can really taste the coffee!”

What makes Toast a great coffee shop?
“The coffee we use – Douwe Egberts – sets us apart. It’s such an excellent product. And then my team, of course. We work well together to ensure the best customer experience possible.”

What do you do when you are not at work?
“I am a mom to four kids, ages 15, 14, 8 and 4 years old. It’s chaotic and busy, but I love it. I really enjoy eating out and trying different restaurants and coffee shops to see what it out there and what we can improve on or introduce at Toast.”  

PHILLIP MTHEMBU – ZARAS CAFÉ

He may be young, but Zaras Café head barista Phillip is more grounded and focussed than most 24-year-olds. Born in South Africa to Mozambiquan parents, Phillip spent his childhood travelling between his home in Etete and Mozambique. He is the eldest of five children and finished high school in Groutville in 2019.
After school, Phillip joined the Work 4 A Living programme at Linc Church, where he trained to be a barista. “It was amazing, especially when I realised there is art involved in making coffee.” When Phillip got a call from Zaras owner Maro in 2022, his life changed forever. “This job is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Miss Maro has pushed me to be a better, healthier and happier version of myself. For the past two years I have lived a clean, healthy lifestyle and her ‘grandmotherly’ advice and sometimes tough love have helped me to grow in so many ways.”

What do you love about being a barista?
“I love the challenge that comes with making different drinks quickly and that I can express myself with coffee art. I never really enjoyed work until now – but I genuinely love working here. Even when we are really busy, it doesn’t feel like work because I’m having fun!”

What do you think makes a good barista?
“You have to be a happy person. Similar to the way chefs put their emotions into their food, if you are negative, sad or grumpy, it will come out in the coffee. You have to put a smile on your face and do what you do out of love. You also have to have patience and understand how outside elements can affect the coffee beans.”

What’s your most popular order and what’s your personal favourite coffee?
“Our most popular order is a Cappuccino – especially ‘Maro’s Cappuccino’ (equal parts coffee, milk and foam). My favourite is a Double Flat White. I don’t like too much milk, I’m here for the coffee!”

What makes Zaras Café a great coffee shop?
“The Coastal Coffee Roasters beans we use – and our consistency. Consistency is something that Maro insists on, and it is what sets us apart. Our customers always know they are getting excellent quality, and exactly what they are expecting.”

What do you do when you are not at work?
“I enjoy working out at gym, more for my mental health than my physical health, and I am passionate about music. I’m teaching myself to play the guitar, write songs and sing. It’s my way of healing myself. I also enjoy reading.”

SIMPHIWE NGCOBO – WOOLWORTHS CAFÉ

Friendly, bubbly and always with a spark in his eye, Ballito Lifestyle Centre Woolworths Café barista, Simphiwe set himself on a path to success through hard work and determination. The 26-year-old Seatides resident is one of six children. Growing up a sporty and active child who loved surfing and music, Simphiwe first job after matric was as a mechanic’s assistant.

“My sister had a tuck a shop in Inanda, so I went to work with her out for a while, but then I got a job at a liquor store in Umdloti.”
After the disastrous flooding and riots Simphiwe found himself out of a job and, never one to sit at home and do nothing, Simphiwe contacted a friend who was a barista. “I looked for courses in Durban, but they were really expensive. Then I heard about the Work 4 A Living programme at Linc Church in Salt Rock.”

After his month of barista training and practical experience at different coffee shops in Ballito, Simphiwe got the job at Woolworths Café. He is now one of the head baristas in the store, and absolutely loves what he does. “I’ve learned so much here and have even been able to help other guys I know get jobs, too. It’s a wonderful place to work.”

What do you love about being a barista?
“I love the coffee art and seeing customer’s faces when I hand them their drinks. They really enjoy seeing the effort we put in, and often take photos – sometimes with us in them! It makes you feel like a celebrity, ha-ha!”

What makes a good barista?
“Energy! You have to have a cheerful outlook and be able to be in a good mood all the time. You have to love what you do and be a really good listener so you can make sure your customer always gets what they want.”  

What’s your most popular order and what’s your personal favourite coffee?
“Our most popular order is without a doubt the Cappuccino. My personal favourite is a Mochachino, which is a combination of coffee and hot chocolate.”

What makes Woolworths Café a great coffee shop?
“The beans we use (100% African organic coffee beans) and, of course, the baristas! Our team is full of energy and fun, and always smiling and ready to give our customers great service!”

What do you do when you are not at work?
“Because I work with people all day long, I really enjoying spending time alone at my home in Shakaskraal when I have time off – just watching television and relaxing.”