David is the founder Crawl.
David won “Excellence in Coffee 2022” on his own (the highest individual prize at our National Coffee Awards).
His journey began in 2015, when coffee trades for less than a dollar, and saw a first -hand difference paying a premium for farmers’ life in Burundi, so his journey began.
He was a pioneer of coffee in a carton (angled coffee provides coffee in milk cartons with one road valves, the first in the world) and was the first to introduce a recycling pack and shipping neutral in terms of carbon dioxide for special coffee in South Africa. The seam is also the only burning in SA, which baked on LaxieHe also established the distribution of South Africa Raw material.
Seam Coffee has a baristy program because employment in South Africa is a huge problem. The idea is to go on six in the adverse situation of adolescent people at the same time and pay them a monthly scholarship, while giving them all the skills necessary for becoming great specialist barists of coffee. He organized himself to start vocational training in one of the best cafes in the country where they provide wholesale coffee, providing them with real experience. Until now, over 58 barists have received full -time positions and they were allowed to enter the game in respected cafes/restaurants/hotels – something that they would never have access to if it wasn’t for their barista program.
He always helps and leads everyone who wants to enter the game in coffee and expects little in return, but during this process he built and enviable reputation as one of the best coffee minds in the industry along with the best innovations and deserves recognition.
How many years have you worked in the coffee industry?
10
Has he experienced the life of coffee revelation at the beginning of his career?
I was the owner of a security company before I got involved in coffee and traveled a lot east to the technology fair and fell in love with coffee there – at a time when coffee culture in South Africa was still developing. In a petite cafe in Taipei, a barista had to notice that I had a hand, and when he brought a cup to my table, he put him, turned the handle and smiled – a basic gesture of Omotenashi, which made the first bitch quto I ever tasted even more amazing and at that moment I was sold on the side of coffee hospitality. A real change for me was a visit to coffee farms in Burundi and Rwanda, where I experienced potential coffee in agricultural communities, if the right people started behind it and this is how my journey to coffee began.
Is there a person or a person who served as your mentor at an early stage of a coffee career? How did they affect you?
I never knew that I had a coffee hero until I met Matt Graylee from the raw material on the beach in Puducherry, his knowledge about the economics and the possibilities related to the social influence of coffee forever changed my journey to coffee and since then I have been learning with him.
What aspect of the coffee industry has changed the most during your career?
The specialization of technology around espresso machines is finally changing to ensure better consistency. Many believe that this will be the existing skills of the barista, but we believe that this will aid to improve the industry and professionally create a recent race of hospitality – which engage the community and accept technology to escalate human experiences.
What still surprises you on coffee, does it give you joy?
A recent customer who could drink average coffee throughout his life, sipping something amazing for the first time – his face lights up and this is a special moment. This is something that I will never be tired of vision.
What’s in the coffee industry that you would like to see most?
My good friend John Sanei has the saying: “They work at the top, they compete at the bottom”, so we honestly would like to see how much greater cooperation between petite and huge brands takes place in our industry, as well as local roasts and corporations/hotels, because we saw huge benefits.
What is your most valued coffee memory?
Some time ago it was about winning in South Africa of the year, but nowadays more about our ownership wholesalers are successful in their companies and our people who stand out in selected fields – we have an amazing team of the best coffee professionals in South Africa, so more moments.
Do you make coffee at home? If so, tell us how you are brewing!
I have access to one of the best coffees in South Africa and I really like to have/share them in our flood, wholesale customers or cafes. We have our own capsule plant, so when I have to make coffee at home, I just exploit our home capsules – it’s swift and uncomplicated.
What is your favorite song/music for coffee brewing?
At the moment, everything from Gidge.
What is your idea of coffee happiness?
We have a saying that if coffee can create a community where it is consumed, we think it should aid build a community where it is grown. My idea of happiness of coffee would be to make sure that we create valuable career paths for individuals, aid create economic freedom at the farm level (something will soon watch this space) and start a day off for thousands of people, serving the best coffee – satisfying!
If you could drink coffee with anyone, living or dead who would be and why?
It would have to be Anthony Bourdain on a petite plastic chair down the lateral alley in a shade of Phin coffee. Anthony remains a huge inspiration, and his love for Vietnam lit the same spark in me.
What is one advice that would you give someone who would start in the coffee industry today?
With an additional benefit of artificial intelligence, it would be still acknowledged that you have a decent understanding of business, finance and related skills, no matter what aspect of coffee you focus on. These skills will be necessary, especially if you think about doing your own things. Find a good mentor or a respected coffee business in which you can improve your skills, while understanding as many aspects of the company as possible – even the best barists in the world must be great in business regardless of direction. Most importantly, invest in yourself – well -being, health and internal room. Losing any of them and nothing else will matter.
