Local coffee shops thrive in failing economy

THERE was a time when spending $100 on a tee shirt was considered daring- either you had money to burn or you were prepared to sacrifice a month’s groceries on an item of designer clothing. Today $100 will buy you two cappuccinos at any of Harare’s coffee shops, with a mere $4 left over to tip the waiter.

Strawberry muffin at The Shop Cafe at Amanzi

While a failing economy and the cost of living continue to force us to tighten our belts and to reduce shopping lists to bare essentials, local coffee shops have never been busier. This can easily be explained. I can get as high as a kite on two espressos, rendering myself temporarily oblivious to the rate of the day. Secondly, the availability of really good coffee beans and the skill of local baristas means that whether you order espresso, a flat white, a macchiato or a cappuccino, it will be good. The days of being served a cup of bitter, over-brewed coffee anywhere in Zimbabwe are well and truly over.

A great way of keeping up with friends is to meet for coffee and cake. Caffe Aroma, at 167 Enterprise Road, serves illy coffee, made from Arabica coffee beans sourced from Colombia and Brazil, and a favourite world wide with coffee connoisseurs. Delicious cakes at Caffe Aroma are made by Chef Marina, and sold by the slice for $84. A large slice of chocolate mousse cake was luscious, rich and surprisingly light. Attractively presented on a swirl of chocolate, the cake was garnished with a small, edible purple flower, a raspberry and a sprinkling of icing sugar. My guest chose a slice of carrot cake, flavourful, moist, and perfectly spiced with cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg.

Turning into 167 Enterprise Road can be tricky, depending on the density of vehicles queueing for fuel, stacking up on either side of the road. Once inside, choose a table on the lawn, alongside a well-tended herbaceous border shaded by mature trees, and enjoy the authentic Italian taste of a cappuccino ($48) made from illycaffe’s roasted coffee beans.

A few days after visiting Aroma Caffe, I caught up with friends at The Shop Cafe at Amanzi. It was Friday, and the Farmers Market was in full swing. Which is to say that there were long queues at the organic vegetable stands, and the occasional customer at stalls selling ready-made food, cakes, biscuits and pickles. Late in the morning, large bags of macadamia and pecan nuts remained unsold, and quantities of specialist artisan bread, usually a quick seller, were still available. Disposable income didn’t appear to stretch beyond buying a few necessities.

And yet, as is usual on a Friday, the verandah at The Shop Cafe at Amanzi was busy. illy was again the coffee of choice, and I ordered a macchiato ($48), a delicious Italian coffee classic. Served in a small cup, a macchiato combines espresso coffee with a topping of steamed and foamed milk. Both the carrot cake and the chocolate cake looked particularly good, but I decided on a small strawberry muffin ($24). Presented with a strawberry, a yellow daisy and a shower of confectioners sugar, it tasted as good as it looked. My guest chose homemade lemonade ($48) and scones with jam and cream ($72).

Cappuccino coffee at Caffe Aroma

Both Aroma Caffe and The Shop Cafe at Amanzi are surrounded by green lawns and tranquil gardens, but if you’re not averse to the sight of traffic and the occasional puff of diesel, visit The Bistro at Groombridge Spar. The waiters may be laid back and the view distinctly urban, but the cappuccino ($33) is great, and the lemon cake ($38.50) something special.

Even if you can no longer afford to buy designer clothing, try and budget, at least once a month, to meet up with friends for coffee and cake.   Charlotte Malakoff A Matter of Taste

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