Truth Coffee

Overview

Truth was founded in 2009 by David Donde — co-founder of Origin who left to do his own thing — with partner Mike Morritt-Smith, moving to its iconic Buitenkant Street headquarters in 2012. The Haldane Martin-designed steampunk interior, built around a vintage 1940s cast-iron roaster called Colossus, was named the world's best coffee shop by The Telegraph in 2015. Donde, credited with co-founding SCASA, runs a relentlessly quality-driven program — sourcing rare lots like Coffea racemosa (only 14 kg harvested globally in 2024, Truth secured five) and using stethoscopes to pinpoint first crack.

Known for

• World's Best Coffee Shop — The Telegraph (2015) and MSN Travel (2013)
• Steampunk-themed interior designed by Haldane Martin, won Gold Loerie award
• Vintage 1940s 'Colossus' cast-iron roaster as centerpiece
• Sources rare Coffea racemosa — 14 kg total global harvest in 2024
• African School of Coffee (formerly Truth Coffee Academy) on premises

Why it matters

Truth is what happens when an obsessive operator gets the venue and brand to match the ambition. Donde's coffee craft was already established at Origin; Truth let him build the immersive cafe experience that made specialty coffee a destination in Cape Town.

Production

roaster machine

Vintage 1940s cast-iron 'Colossus' (rebuilt by Donde) and 3-tonne Probat

roastery location

36 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town

Café

36 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town 8001

Recognitions

• World's Best Coffee Shop - The Telegraph (2015)
• World's Best Coffee Shop - MSN Travel (2013)
• Gold Loerie Award (interior design)

Sources

• https://www.capetownccid.org/news/cape-town-entrepreneur-david-dondes-new-business-pursuits
• https://www.dezeen.com/2013/02/26/truth-coffee-shop-haldane-martin-cape-town/
• https://www.matiemedia.org/the-purveyor-of-truth-coffee/
• https://haldane.co.za/2012/01/12/truth-coffee/
• https://www.localspecialtycoffee.com/specialty-coffee-place/truth-coffee-cape-town