Coffee farm tours are becoming popular tourist attractions for coffee lovers.
Friends joined me on a recent visit down the Kwazulu Natal South Coast. The only thing that would draw me away from the sound of the ocean is the aroma of coffee.
Beaver Creek Coffee Estate & Roastery is a mere 12km drive from Glenmore Sands where I spent a weekend with some of my favourite gals.
We drove down to Port Edward and turned off onto the Izingolweni Road, a tad nervous because it wasn't peak tourist season so the road was relatively quiet. We need not have feared; it was a pleasant drive, with stunning scenery.
Young and older coffee trees grow alongside the driveway, and a large gazebo attached to the coffee shop greeted us.
Winter is the best time of the year to visit our coastal region as we have mild winters and it's not our rainy season, so we mostly have sunny days; perfect for sightseeing, and the ideal climate for coffee farming.
We paid our ZAR85 for the coffee tour, which included a choice of Beaver Creek Coffees before the tour started, and a cappuccino afterward; excellent value I would say! I enjoy a dark roast, so I chose No. 4 - Espresso.
I also bought coffee to take home; freshly roasted this month!
This coffee estate was founded in 1984. Our knowledgeable tour guide was the grandson of the founder, he also grew up on the farm.
Interesting to learn that one could eat coffee cherries; they are sweet and quite delicious, but do not have much pulp.
We walked over to a shade house where they propagate young saplings from the seed, and from there walked around the orchards where a couple of different variants grow.
Various processes are done before the final product; it is no wonder good coffee is so pricey!
A pulping machine removes the outer pulp of the ripe coffee cherries.
We did not get to see the fermentation process which is done after pulping, but once that is done the beans go into washing channels to give them a good wash.
They're placed on drying beds to dry out in the sun, or by using large fans.
The hulling machine plays a vital part by removing the layer around the dried beans, and also removing the husk, leaving just the green coffee beans within.
The beans are graded according to size as well as quality before the roasting process.
This shows the different levels of roasting.
Our tour was complete, and it was time for a good cappuccino. We could have sat outside under the gazebo, or inside the coffee shop and ordered a bite to eat, but we had to return to join the rest of our group back at Glenmore. We were admiring the decor of the area behind the main coffee shop; old coffee grinders from yesteryear, paintings, and other artwork.
It brought back happy memories from our childhood days when Moms and Grandmas used to roast their coffee beans and grind them in the old hand grinder.
The very best cappuccino, filled with the rich aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans!
Clearwater MTB, as well as walking/hiking trails, are found on Beaver Creek Coffee Farm; from the 50metre Babychino, 400metre Chocochino routes, 2.2km Clearwater Trail, 2.5km Espresso route, 5.7km Crags View route, and then the serious stuff, from 7.5km right up to 13.5km!
Views of the Umtamvuma River, a waterfall from the top of the gorge on the other side of the river, and a couple of dams.
We certainly will do one of those next time.
We drove back and stopped one last time to admire the view of the little seaside town of Port Edward and its lighthouse way in the distance!
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