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Carry a bottle of water. That’s rule number one when visiting this year’s Coffee & Chocolate Africa expo at the Ticketpro Dome in Randburg.
If you have a sweet tooth or an affinity for caffeine, or both, then this is a must-see expo with chocolate delights that include ice cream macarons, Belgian chocolate, the “mankind’s strongest coffee”, and even cannabis coffee.
“There’s a lot of interest in coffee and chocolates and we celebrate both. People’s interest in coffee and chocolate just grows and the more that we can offer people to celebrate their interests, the more they will come,” Jason Gunn, an event organiser, said of the expo which is in its seventh year of existence. Having previously been an outdoor event at Monte Casino, Gunn says that due to the growing interest in coffee and chocolates they needed a bigger venue as well as an indoor venue due to the expo being held in winter.
With 189 exhibitors, the most it has ever had, there’s something for everyone.
Chocoloza’s chocolate art exhibition, the first in Africa, is one of those that is a fusion of art and chocolate. The outline of Africa is made from chocolate crafted by an all-woman team, while the painting of the Johannesburg skyline, on a white chocolate background with different coloured chocolate dyes used as building outlines, is a masterpiece that you just want to eat.
“No, you cannot eat that,” Bronwyn Mushonga, chocolatier at Chocoloza, tells us with wry smile.
“It took us almost five days to make with the whole team helping out.”
Mushonga, who hails from Zimbabwe where she managed a night club, says three years ago she knew nothing about chocolate but working with Chocoloza has made her a “chocolate snob”.
“I rarely eat chocolates now and when I do, I look at the ingredients because all our chocolates are made with no preservatives, no palm oil, and no artificial flavours. I think that’s why I consider myself a chocolate snob.”
Dr G, barista at 7th Psychopath Coffee, says what makes their coffee “mankind’s strongest”, is three components: the beans they use, the roasting of the beans and, the most important, how the coffee is made.
“From the heat of the equipment, to the pressure of the equipment, to the settings and the energy equations. From start to finish it has to be perfect. It’s a massive chain of events,” he says.
Most exhibitors won’t divulge their trade secrets off hand but if you are interested in how the world champion baristas make their coffee, the expo showcases some of the best in the world at its all-star demonstration hubs. Here you can see, and taste, some of the most full-bodied and flavourful coffee made right in front of your eyes with an explanation to boot.
Michalis Karagiannis, a champion barista from Greece, says that it takes just over three minutes to create the perfect cup of espresso.
“I warm all the components first, measure the water out to 250ml exactly and make sure the beans I used are all measured too,” he says as he slowly pours the water over the beans and let’s it slow drip into a warm container.
There’s also the Chocolate Academy of South Africa, who have live chocolate demonstrations and all the chocolatey goodness to nibble on, made fresh on the spot.
There are also a few cannabis stands that sell infused chocolate delights while the Canna Coffee Company sells CBD-infused coffee.
“First off, THC is illegal in South Africa, while CBD is regulated to 20mg. Our coffee beans are made so that a cup will have 10mg of CBD. This has been lab tested too,” Wayne Farrell, co-owner of the Canna Coffee Company says.
Many patrons, and even some exhibitors, do a double take when they see his stand. He says: “it’s because of the cannabis leaf”.
The Dome offers a large area for patrons to move around, with numerous seating areas to chill and have a cuppa and nibble on the treats bought.
And if you feel like it’s a sugar overload, then there are food stalls selling everything from crunch burgers (which are Halaal) to nachos and even the traditional slap chips.
For those who enjoy a bit of liquid courage, there are alcohol stands selling wine and craft beer to please everyone’s appetite.
The Coffee and Chocolate Africa expo is open this Saturday and Sunday from 9.30am to 7pm. Tickets are R120 a person.
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