Having one foot in the past and the other in the present, Richmond Hill is a wonderful suburb in which one can reminisce about what’s gone before, as well as enjoy present-day trends.
Richmond Hill’s restored late Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian houses and buildings are offset by busy and popular Stanley Street that runs through the heart of the suburb.
Known for its live music, restaurants, bars, cafes and coffee shops, Stanley Street is the perfect place to visit and enjoy, among other things, a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.
Behind its vibrant atmosphere and warm hospitality there are the numerous men and women who toil away and keep the vibe going.
Eddie Mponda is one of these hardworking individuals.
Eddie has made Richmond Hill his workplace and his home away from home since 2010. He is a man of many skills and has a strong sense of determination. Possessing an endless amount of energy, a strong work ethic and a heart for people, his job experience is varied and impressive.
From having worked as a waiter, a baker and a manager, Eddie is well-versed in the food and beverage industry. But it was his search for a day job that led him to one of his main enjoyments in life: coffee.
“It was when I became a barista that I ended up falling in love with coffee,” he says with a smile and talks enthusiastically about his adoration for coffee.
“I prefer to always roast my own coffee beans to make espresso. The aroma is just awesome. It really is something else!”
It is clear that Eddie puts his heart and soul into his work. He is also someone who doesn’t shy away from working long hours. You can find him next to Groundfloor’s Cafe’s coffee cart or inside the cafe from early in the morning, supplying not only hot drinks but also warmth and kindness.
Even though Eddie works more than one job in Stanley Street, his enthusiasm never seems to falter.
“What I enjoy most is serving people coffee. I believe that a bright day starts off with a good coffee. I always see myself as that guy who lightens people’s day with a good coffee served with a smile.”
I don’t have to remind Eddie that I would like an Americano with hot milk as Eddie knows his regulars’ choice of drinks, as well as he knows the people he serves. Making coffee is not only a job, but it is also an art, and Eddie enjoys honing his skills creating coffee designs using steamed milk, also known as latte art.
“Many of the residents of Richmond Hill know each other. And this suburb is made extra special because of the love that the residents have for their area, the way in which they take care of it and watch out for each other.”
Eddie doesn’t originally come from South Africa. But he’s found a second home in Richmond Hill: a place that helps to keep homesickness at bay and connects him to two countries in a special way, a bit like Stanley Street that seems to bring together the old and the new.
A famous Turkish saying springs to mind as I say goodbye to Eddie and hurry down Stanley Street on my way to work: “One desires to talk with others; coffee is merely but an excuse.”
Perhaps, I contemplate, we all rescue each other day by day, kind word for kind word, coffee by coffee. But of one thing I’m certain: Eddie’s skills lie not only in being an adept barista, but, above all, by being a friend to many and using his expertise to bridge the gap between people.
