The Institution That Trained Half of SA Specialty
Founded in late 2005 by Joel Singer, a Montrealer who arrived in SA in 1997, had his first good cup at David Donde's Greyton hotel in 2003, planned to open a bakery, and ended up starting a coffee roastery instead. The accidental nature of it is part of why the place feels — even on the website — like it's still figuring things out 19 years later.
The Origin Barista Academy trained 3,500 baristas before handing the baton to the African School of Coffee. That's a remarkable institutional handoff from a private business.
A Hall of Fame
Joel Singer
Founder & GM
Montrealer-turned-Capetonian
Willem Pienaar
First barista
SA's first Barista Champion
Jorge Alberto
Product Quality Manager
Joined 5 Jan 2007
Jose Vilande
Barista trainer (alum)
2nd SA Barista Champion
Wayne Oberholzer
Barista
Past SA Champion
Lovejoy Chirambasukwa
Barista
Past Champion Barista
The 2023 Merger — Origin + Truth + Tribe
"We realised that we are all one Tribe."
The wholesale sides of Origin (2005), Truth (2009), and Tribe (2010) merged. All three brands continue to operate their own cafés independently. What changed is the green-buying and wholesale infrastructure — three of SA specialty's most influential roasters now share supply-chain depth and variety.
Lalesa Black Honey — The Cross-Roaster Thread
Lalesa Black Honey
Gedeb, Ethiopia · 2150 masl · Heirloom · 900 smallholder farmers · Ephtah
Guava · Dark Chocolate · Pineapple · Jasmine Tea
Three roasters, same washing station: Humble (Lalisa Natural), Brüder (Lalisa Black Honey), Origin (Lalesa Black Honey). R430/250g.
Where to Find Them
28 Hudson Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001
+27 21 421 1000