Espressolab Woodstock

10 Best Coffee Shops in Cape Town

"These days, the Old Biscuit Mill complex in Woodstock attracts diners and shoppers throughout the week—not just on Saturdays, when the well-known food, drink, and fringe markets are in full swing—and many of them swing by Espressso Lab. The space looks exactly like an alchemist’s might: Down a couple of stairs in a basement level shop, there's a sign that says "coffee spoken here," and you enter a brightly lit, stark, white-tiled laboratory that oozes warmth and life despite its clinical, orderly appearance. Most customers are here for a cup of coffee on the go, for which there is a choice of two blends, featuring beans from Costa Rica to Ethiopia, roasted along equally globally diverse principles to extract their best qualities. Pick your blend, then peruse the dozen different options written up on the wall like elements from the periodic table—"E" stands for Espresso; "La" for latte, "Ca" for capuccino, etc." - Jane Broughton