Bootlegger Coffee Company
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Bootlegger | |
| Industry | Coffeehouse chain |
| Founded | 2013, in Cape Town, South Africa[1] |
| Headquarters | Cape Town, South Africa |
Number of locations | 80+ (2025)[1] |
Areas served | South Africa |
| Products | Coffee beans, capsules, and equipment |
| Services | Coffeehouses |
| Website | bootlegger |
Bootlegger (officially Bootlegger Coffee Company) is a privately owned South African café franchise, and supplier of beverage products.
Headquartered in Cape Town, Bootlegger operates over 80 stores in South Africa, across 5 provinces, with a majority of stores being located in Cape Town.[1]
History
[edit]Bootlegger was founded when it opened its first store in Sea Point, Cape Town, in 2013. The company was started by 3 friends - Pieter Bloem, and brothers De Waal and Antonie Basson. The friends opened the café chain as a result of not being able to find enough quality coffeehouses open early enough to enjoy during their morning run.[2]
The first Bootlegger was a rebranding of an existing coffeehouse called Go Gos, which the trio bought and rebranded to the name Bootlegger, which was inspired by the spirit of 1920s America.[2]
In 2017, Bootlegger opened its first BCG (Bootlegger Café and Grill) outlet in Constantia, Cape Town. The new format store was built to have a more sophisticated feel, and a menu created by chef Eric Bulpitt, who heads up FABER, a restaurant in Paarl. The first BCG took over the location of the old Greens restaurant in High Constantia.[3]
Also in 2017, the company opened its first Bootlegger Coffee and Ice Cream Parlour, at Surfer's Corner, in Muizenberg, Cape Town.[4]
In 2023, Bootlegger moved its Cape Town headquarters from Sea Point to Ndabeni. The new site was redeveloped into a mixed-use facility, including the company's headquarters, its coffee roasting facility, a flagship restaurant, and its sister company; Ou Meul’s Central Bakery. The new building, called The Coffee Depot, also includes office and retail space for other companies.[5]
Operations
[edit]As of 2025, Bootlegger owns over 80 stores, located across 5 South African provinces.[1] The company operates as a franchise, offering two formats; a larger All Day Café and smaller XS Café.[6]
The company also operates a grill in Constantia, and an ice cream parlour in Muizenberg, both in Cape Town.[3][4]
Bootlegger sells a variety of coffee products, including beans and capsules under its own brand name. Its cafés also serve food throughout the day. The company also sells coffee equipment, such as grinders, kettles, espresso machines, french presses, and capsule machines, from brands including Sanremo, Bialetti, AeroPress, and Nuova Simonelli.[7]
The company roasts its beans in-house, at its roastery in Woodstock, Cape Town.[8] One of the largest micro-roasteries in South Africa, the facility produces between 350 to 400 tons of coffee per year.[1] Its beans are sourced from Central Africa and South America.[9]
Sustainability
[edit]Since 2022, Bootlegger has partnered with food waste management specialist company Ywaste to turn café waste into compost, using an eco-friendly method for the management of food waste through off-site composting. Bootlegger-branded top soil is sold in South Africa using this waste, and for every 10 bags bought, the company donates a bag to a local community food garden.[8]
Bootlegger uses beans that are 100% sustainably sourced, and the company is 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified, meaning all products and ingredients have been produced using methods that support the 3 pillars of sustainability; social, economic and environmental.[8]
Accolades
[edit]In 2022, Bootlegger was voted first in the Best Coffee category of South African radio station Kfm's Best of the Cape Awards, for the second year in a row.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Bootlegger - Our Story". Bootlegger. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ a b Nick Pawson (July 31, 2025). "The coffee takeover: Bootlegger's plan to have 200 stores by 2028". MSN. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ a b Katharine Jacobs (August 30, 2017). "Bootlegger to open a café and grill in collaboration with top chef Eric Bulpitt". Eat Out. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ a b Nikita Buxton (February 24, 2017). "Introducing the icessant: Bootlegger Coffee's new creation is the breakfast of your dreams". Eat Out. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ "Bootlegger Coffee Company set to Establish Headquarters at the Coffee Depot in Cape Town's Thriving Urban Hub". Swindon Property. July 26, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ "Bootlegger - Franchise"". Bootlegger. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ "Bootlegger - Home". Bootlegger. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ a b c Schalk Burger (April 21, 2022). "Bootlegger Coffee turning its food waste to compost that customers can buy". Engineering News. Retrieved August 3, 2025.
- ^ a b Robyn Simpson (August 17, 2022). "The best coffee in Cape Town, voted by locals". CapeTown ETC. Retrieved August 3, 2025.