Johannesburg coffee drinkers will finally get a chance to "espresso" their caffeine tastes this year. The first Paint the Town Blue Coffee Route will give us an opportunity to experience coffee shop culture the way Cape Town has been doing for decades.
For some, coffee is the new whiskey, wine and tea rolled into one and it's all about the taste. For others it's the fashionable thing to do, with the social aspect of coffee drinking forming the cornerstone of the modern-day lifestyle.
Between October 25 and November 3 dedicated coffee drinkers can follow the Coffee Route to try out the different array of coffees being offered at 73 participating coffee shops.
Coffee shops in suburbs around Gauteng will be trying their best to entice you into voting their store the best at the Good Food and Wine Show (Gallagher Estate, Midrand between November 1 and 4). You can vote for the best cup of coffee, the best vibe and the best store window by picking up an entry form when you enjoy an espresso, cappuccino, latte or frappe at your favourite coffee shop.
Visitors who vote for their favourite coffee shops can get R10 off the entrance price to the Good Food & Wine Show by taking along the entry form on November 1 or 2. You will also stand in line to win a state-of-the art, fully automated Sprada Future espresso machine with a year's supply of Lavazza coffee and Illovo sugar and get your home kitted out with wireless internet connections and electronic gadgets from Telkom and Samsung.
The coffee shops will also send their best baristas to take part at the Barista Championships at the show and the winner will take part in the SA National Championships.
nEntrance to the Good Food and Wine Show is R60 for adults and R30 for children under 12 and pensioners. Tickets can be purchased at the door or through Computicket. Check www.gourmetsa.com or call 084-565-0069 for more information.
There are more than 70 coffee shops participating, from the following suburbs:
JOHANNESBURG: Benmore, Bryanston, Brightwater Commons, Craighall, Central Johannesburg, Ferndale, Fourways, Greenside, Greenstone shopping Mall, Hyde Park, Illovo, Kelvin, Kensington, Melrose Arch, Melville, Montecasino, Northcliff, Parkmore, Parktown, Parkwood, Rosebank, Riviera, Sandton City, Sunninghill.
PRETORIA: Arcadia, Brooklyn, Centurion, Central Pretoria, Menlo Park, Lynnwood, Richmond, Villiera, Waterkloof.