From the very beginning, the founders of First Light coffee bar had a clear vision to become an organic gathering space for people from all walks of life. Joané Azenha visited them and spoke to Fred Euvrard, one of the partners, to find out more about this unique space in Jeffreys Bay.
THE heart of First Light was initially, and still is, to reach out to and connect with people. Coffee was simply the best way to do so and the business grew from there.
First Light started in 2015 as a takeaway coffee counter in The Office for You, a print and copy shop in the town centre of Jeffreys Bay. From the success of this small start, it became clear that they would need a more dedicated space to fulfil their vision.
They tried out one or two different locations down town, all the while developing and improving their coffee roasting and barista skills, before settling into their current location on the corner of St Croix and Jeffrey streets.
Their head roaster, Ansophe Louw, roasts their coffee on site, and every blend is named after the country that the beans were sourced from.
“It is important to us that we look at the coffee process as a whole, and not just focus on the beans when they reach our shop. We make sure that the products we source have been cultivated through sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices.”
The owners and partners of the business are all from different backgrounds, ranging from nature conservation to mathematics.
They have also travelled to more than 50 different countries collectively and one can only imagine that this contributes to the eclectic flavour and atmosphere experienced in this unique space.
For the owners of First Light coffee bar, it is important to be true to their name and open at 07:00, to serve the early bird customers who are on their way to work, or simply out and about for an early morning stroll or surf.
Their signature drink, a peanut butter Affegatto, which consists of handmade peanut butter ice-cream, topped with a shot of espresso, is a taste experience that cannot be overstated – a simply must-try. This is a wonderful accompaniment to a breakfast bun, which is freshly baked on site.
They also provide a space for local entrepreneurs to showcase their products.
While waiting for your coffee, a browse around the shop yields a wonderful collection of local products, including art, jewellery, clothing, rusks, organic balms and soaps and musical instruments.
Lunel Botha, a qualified and practising dietician in Jeffreys Bay, is in charge of the kitchen, ensuring that everything that comes out of it is not only delicious, but of nutritional value. Something new to their repertoire, is a once-a-month exclusive dinner evening for eight to 10 people, where a group of friends can experience a totally unique menu, designed specifically for them.
The partners will also be drawing on their vast travelling experiences by hosting international Fridays, when they will showcase food and drinks from the countries they have visited, which is a welcome event for the adventurous at heart.
Each cup of coffee served has a unique, handwritten, encouraging message on it, which will provide the customer not only with physical sustenance, but spiritual fulfilment as well.
First Light is definitely one of the most unique coffee spaces in Jeffreys Bay, which is reiterated by the eclectic mix of customers, friendly staff and interesting menu items.
There is no doubt that a visit to this space will leave you, as it did me, wanting more. What an unexpected delight it was!
