📖 First-hand story — Read Bibi's full Humble Coffee roaster spotlight →
The Short Version
Amy Gardiner founded Humble Coffee in Durban in 2017, at the age of 23. Eight years later, after almost six years on Churchill Road in Morningside, Humble has moved to a beautiful 100-seater venue at 222 Lilian Ngoyi Road (Windermere). The team is still entirely women. The motto is still “Be Nice, Stay Humble.”
I met someone from Humble's team at the Jo'burg Coffee Festival in May 2026 and walked away with two bags — a natural Ethiopian Lalisa and a Colombia single origin — plus a strongly endorsed recommendation for the Timemore Sculptor 078 grinder.
The Founder
Amy Gardiner is from Edinburgh, Scotland. She moved to Durban, worked four years as a barista locally, fell in love with the city, and at 23 decided to build something of her own. She started small with roasting — not a café — and grew the business from there.
A wee Scot, a four-year barista grind in a city that wasn't hers, and the conviction at 23 that she could build a roastery in a market that didn't really have a women-led template to copy from. That she's still here eight years on — and just opened a 100-seater — is worth pausing on.
The New Home — 222 Lilian Ngoyi Road
In April 2026, Humble outgrew its Churchill Road shop. The new venue on Lilian Ngoyi Road is airy, sun-kissed, and seats around 100 people. It's a meaningful step up from the original Morningside neighbourhood café — but the team didn't move far, just up the road. The Churchill Road regulars have followed.
The Women Behind the Bar
A member of Humble's all-women team at the festival counter. Photo: Bibi Burness
Humble is all-women. The team is around 20 staff across roastery, café and bakery. In an SA specialty scene where most of the visible owners and head roasters are men, that's not incidental — it's a statement.
Amy has spoken publicly about wanting Humble to be a place where women can build full careers in coffee. The team trains internally and Humble actively recommends other KZN roasteries for anyone wanting to deepen their barista skills further.
Current Coffee Offering
Roasted in-house in 4kg batches on ‘Big Rosie’. All available at humblecoffee.co.za.
| Coffee | Origin | Price |
|---|---|---|
| House Espresso | Blend | R145 |
| Love Blend | Blend | R145 |
| Huila Select | Colombia | R210 |
| Vunga | Rwanda | R190 |
| Las Nubes | Nicaragua | R205 |
| Avatara | Indonesia | R315 |
| Lalisa (Natural Ethiopian) | Ethiopia | Festival |
Nespresso-compatible pods also available (R110). Prices as of June 2026.
At the Jo'burg Coffee Festival
Photos: Bibi Burness — Jo'burg Coffee Festival, Fourways Mall Rooftop, May 2026
Awards & Recognition
Café of the Year
Coffee Magazine Awards · 2023
A Shot in the Dark
Coffee Magazine Awards · 2024
Beyond Coffee
Roastery
Small-batch, in-house roasting on 'Big Rosie'
Café
Full vegetarian brunch and lunch menu with vegan options
Bakery
Fresh daily, baked on-site
Co-working
A quiet, beautiful spot to get work done
Where to Find Them
222 Lilian Ngoyi Road, Windermere, Durban
Open daily 7:00 am – 4:00 pm
Formerly at 21A Churchill Road, Morningside — closed mid-2026 after almost six years.
Source
I met Humble's team at the Jo'burg Coffee Festival 2026, Fourways Mall Rooftop, 31 May 2026. This page also draws on Humble Coffee's own website, Coffee Magazine SA features, and verified social media. Photos are my own.