Life and coffee brews at Maerua Mall

Windhoek’s coffee scene welcomes some new beans with the arrival of Vida e Caffè at Maerua Mall.

Serving a selection of hot coffee, iced coffee, matcha, smoothies and frios, the popular South African franchise is, in fact, returning to the city.

Seasoned coffee lovers will remember that Vida e Caffè took pride of place at Grove Mall over 10 years ago.

While that one seemed to disappear without a trace, the new iteration, which opened on 10 February, revives the café’s minimalist red-and-white aesthetic, quick service and energising vibe.

Amid couples, corporate types and the coffee curious, the café was inundated with highschoolers during its opening week.

Judith Katjiri, Vida e Caffè’s assistant manager, was quick to tell me what they were after.

“Matcha!” she says.

“Every day, it’s just matcha. There’s a normal matcha, a frio which is ice blended and then there’s the strawberry matcha and that’s the one they like.”

Matcha, a Japanese beverage made from finely ground green tea powder, is one of Vida e Caffè’s bestsellers alongside their iced Spanish latte which blends condensed milk, milk and coffee.

The café’s spicy or classic chicken mayo, bacon and cheese and beef Prego toasties are also popular. “Vida e Caffè means life and coffee,” says Katjiri translating the Portuguese name of the franchise.

“Our busy hours are generally in the morning. When people are going to work, they grab something to go but later everybody enjoys the place. Families, friends, anybody. Everybody wants to be here, especially because it’s new.”

The Maerua Mall location marks Vida e Caffè’s expansion into eight African countries and the store is their 42nd international establishment.

On a recent Monday afternoon, Vida e Caffè bustles with fresh-faced professionals, playful students, cheerful mothers, chatting elders and two journalists awaiting their next appointment, myself included.

The clientele is diverse and, if you want to work, comfy seating, multiple plug points, free WiFi and friendly, unobtrusive service make it easy.

While much has been said about Matcha, which has recently been all the rage, Katjiri says Vida e Caffè serves some great coffee with an indulgent square of dark chocolate to ramp up the flavour.

“We have the best coffee beans, Estrela and Obrigado,” says Katjiri.

As a longtime Vida e Caffè patron, originally frequenting their Cape Town locations, I can attest to Katjiri’s praise. I also look forward to trying their instant coffee which is on sale at the café.

My journalistic colleague picks up a jar on his way to a press conference and agrees to let me know if it’s any good.

Katjiri, ironically not a coffee drinker, assures me it will be and ends our interview with a recommendation for first-time visitors.

“I recommend the barbecue chicken wrap,” she says.

“If you’re not having coffee or matcha with a chocolate croissant as your sweet, have the mango passion fruit frio.”

Now brewing at Maerua Mall, Vida e Caffé is open Monday to Friday from 07h00 to 20h00 and Sundays from 07h00 to 18h00.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com

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