Profiled by de Groots MediaThe Toby’s Estate journey is so far a feel-good success story. Starting out as a small independent roaster with a commitment to quality and sustainability (vis-a-vis fairtrade, rainforest alliance and organic avenues), the Estate has since grown to encompass two further outlets, a barista training school, a comprehensive tea catalogue, a retail division, and of course the wholesale supply of beans to a large number of cafes and outlets. City Road is the headquarters insofar as the office is concerned, so Toby Smith himself will often make an appearance when he’s not upstairs doing his thing. At the cafe/shop there’s a lot to entertain the eye. One wall is covered with coffee and tea paraphernalia, from percolators and teapots to books and chocolates. A variety of whole beans are available to buy (rest assured they are freshly roasted and never more than a few days old) as is a huge selection of leaf tea, the tea and coffee menus listing about 40 different blends each. Choosing will take some time, so sit down and have a snack while you figure it out.
The cafe serves breakfast and lunch seven days, so start off your day with a flat white and a slice of fruit and nut bread, or a poached egg with bacon and hollandaise on sourdough if you’ve a long day ahead. Veggos will be beaming at lunch time, with a choice of three salads, the daily frittata and a honey roasted pumpkin burger on the cards. A large selection of gourmet sandwiches and pies will satisfy everyone else. Peruse the sweet things in the display cabinet when you’re feeling peckish round 3pm. A slice of raspberry buttermilk tart might just hit the spot.
Sarah Theeboom