Olympic Rowers, YouTube Tutorials
Sandro Torrente and Henry Torr are South African rowers who've represented the country at Olympic level and still race competitively. They learned to roast off YouTube tutorials and Giesen forums.
"I actually didn't have any roasting experience, just a lot of tutorials and seminars through YouTube platforms and Giesen forums." — Sandro Torrente
That is one of the most honest founder admissions in SA specialty. Olympic-level rowing discipline applied to roast profile development. The blend names — Timeless, Steady State, Flow State — are a rower's life translated to a coffee shelf.
Three Blends, All Named for Rowing States
Timeless Blend
R139 / R435The day-in, day-out cup that doesn't change. Omni-roast · Brazil + Colombia + Honduras.
Steady State Blend
R129 / R359The endurance cup. Named for the cruising heart-rate zone where rowers log base mileage.
Flow State Blend
R135 / R405The performance cup. Peak focus, peak performance — when the boat does the work.
Plus single origins: Dark Peak (Yirgacheffe) and Brazil Sweet. And Nespresso-compatible compostable pods — SA roasters who handle the pod question seriously are still in the minority.
Olympic discipline applied to every shot
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded YAAWK Coffee?
YAAWK was co-founded by Sandro Torrente and Henry Torr, South African Olympic-level rowers who taught themselves to roast using YouTube tutorials and Giesen forums.
Why are YAAWK blends named after rowing terms?
The three blends — Timeless, Steady State, and Flow State — are named after rowing training zones. The founders translated their athletic discipline directly into their coffee brand identity.
Does YAAWK Coffee sell Nespresso-compatible pods?
Yes — YAAWK offers Nespresso-compatible compostable pods, making them one of the few SA specialty roasters to handle the pod format seriously.
Where is YAAWK Coffee based?
YAAWK operates from 84 Western Service Road, Wendywood, Sandton, Johannesburg. They also have a wholesale portal at taste.yaawkcoffee.co.za.
Where to Find Them
84 Western Service Road, Wendywood, Sandton, Johannesburg