One can say that coffee runs through his veins.
Albert Junior Cornelissen has a great passion and love for coffee roasting. So much so that he is now the proud owner and coffee roaster of Columbine Co. in Velddrif.
Albert says his love for coffee started in his school days, working part time as a barista at The Coffee Roasting Company at Lourensford Wine Estate where he went on to be the head barista.
Spending a year in Israel also afforded Albert the opportunity to work in a kosher restaurant where he too had the opportunity to make coffee.
On his return he then ventured into manufacturing his own coffee roasters and roasting coffee at his parents home. Dedicated to his passion for coffee, Albert put everything in to introduce his coffee to the greater market.
He purchased Columbine Co. from the previous owner in 2020 in what was a natural next step and dream come true for him.
“I was not a stranger to the shop as I used to drink coffee here all the time,” he says.
After finding out that the owner wanted to sell he jumped at the opportunity and made it his own.
One of his highlights and yet another dream come true was the arrival of his Oztürk coffee roaster which allows him to make coffee on a bigger scale. The start of the pandemic did not make it easy for the import and export of the coffee which was one of the challenges he faced, but this did not get him down.
“Making use of the best quality beans and blending the right flavour profiles together is essential. What makes coffee so special is the variety of Arabica bean flavours and the intense labour involved. There is always a story behind coffee.”
The job as a coffee roaster also has its highlights as Albert explains. “Working alongside and networking with people and engaging with customers.”
Albert’s vision going forward is to expand into the rest of the West Coast, as there is a market.
Going into business Albert says one should be consistent, persistent, dedicated and work hard at all times.
