It is passion that has seen his fledgling coffee shops develop into a rich roast of their own, but now recognition by national coffee masters is the cream on top for a Port Elizabeth barista.
Mike Chizeya, 39, has caused a stir in the coffee industry by winning the “Coffee Personality of the Year” award at the first awards hosted by Coffee Magazine at Durban’s uShaka Marine World Aquarium late last month.
The award, according to the magazine, is made to coffee business owners who “create a happy, respectful and creative ethos to the staff who live the brand daily”.
It continues: “The successful team is one in which all the people in the space from the lowest to the highest uphold the same values and consistently serve with excellence and are rewarded well for doing so.”
Owner of two Micoffee shops in Hurd Street, Newton Park and Main Road, Walmer, Chizeya could not hide his elation, saying being recognised by frontrunners in the industry is overwhelming.
“Winning this award is the best moment of my entire career so far,” he said.
All has not been frothy for the Zimbabwean-born, qualified accountant who could not find employment in the finance sector in SA.
Chizeya and his wife, Florence, 33, relocated to SA in search of greener pastures in his field of expertise.
Through unforeseen circumstances, he began working as a barista for Woolworths nine years ago where he fell in love with coffee-making.
Since opening Micoffee in 2015, he has acquired two trailers and a mobile van for out-oftown and local events.
“It was not easy but I can say that passion drives you more than anything to succeed in whatever it is you want to achieve,” he said.
“There were lots of obstacles, such as finding funding.
“I knocked on every door of people who were already in the industry to try and get them to believe in my brand.“Since I started my coffee business, I have seen many coffee businesses come and go because they were in the business for money and are not passionate about making coffee.”
The nomination for the award does not come as a surprise to customers and local business owners.
Chizeya has trained unemployed youth as baristas at his business since it first opened.
“I think I have trained between 45 and 50 people as baristas and I have ensured that they all find employment around Nelson Mandela Bay.
“I think the nomination may have been sparked by this,” he said.
Chizeya is training two baristas in partnership with Coffee Magazine and Selati, which provides the trainees with a stipend.
At the end of the training, the graduates get Unisa accreditation for customer service skills learnt at Micoffee.
One of the baristas doing his practical training, Monwabisi Nohase, 35, said Chizeya’s selflessness and patience were among the many lessons he would take with him with him wherever he went.
“[With] the skills I have learnt here I can go on any side of the business.
“I have also learnt how to handle customers and how to manage a shop,” Nohase said.
Customer Wayne Burton, 46, says he is a regular because of the friendly, personalised service he receives.
“I love stopping here. In the afternoon I come here [Walmer branch] and in the morning I go to Flo [Newton Park],” Burton said.
“I get a free coffee for every 10th coffee I buy so I make sure I come all the time.”