As Battle of the Beans hots up, here's your chance to celebrate coffee

The Battle of the Beans, an annual coffee competition, is underway in KwaZulu-Natal, recognizing and honoring the province's top independent coffee shops. Known affectionately as BOB, this competition is now in its third year and is sponsored by Selati Sugar. The Coffee Colab, a team of six coffee enthusiasts and media/marketing professionals, is hosting the event.

Marketing expert Bongani Mthiyane emphasizes the province's role in developing South Africa's coffee culture, from the hardworking farmers to skilled roasters and baristas. The competition features a panel of over 30 judges who will visit independent coffee shops across the province, scoring them on the quality of their beverages and overall coffee experience.

Regional judging panels will select the top three coffee shops and one To-Go outlet and one regional barista winner in each region. The top three coffee shops in KZN, the best To-Go outlet, and the province's top barista will be chosen by a specialist team. The competition also includes an updated guide to good coffee drinking in KZN by founder Ingrid Shevlin, encouraging coffee lovers to explore various exceptional coffee shops across the province.

In September, coffee drinkers will vote for their favourite coffee spots, with the most popular shop winning a trophy and those nominating the best spots winning exciting coffee hampers. For more information, visit www.battleofthebeans.co.za or the Battle of the Beans pages on Facebook and Instagram.