Truth Coffee Roasting

Truth Coffee Roasting is a steampunk-themed roastery cafe at 36 Buitenkant Street in the City Bowl of Cape Town, South Africa. The cafe roasts its own coffee on site and has become one of the city's most recognisable coffee venues, drawing travellers and locals for its industrial, Victorian-futurist interior of brass pipes, gears and machinery.

The menu combines single-origin coffee with a breakfast and brunch offer of eggs on toast and sandwiches, as well as pastries and light meals. The coffee is roasted on the premises, and visitors can watch the roasting machinery at work in the building. A range of brewing methods and espresso drinks is offered, along with tea and cold drinks. Prices are low, at roughly R80 to R200 per person, which makes it a cheap and quick stop.

The atmosphere is quirky, steampunk and busy, with staff dressed to match the theme and a constant flow of customers. The room is noisy during peak hours, particularly at weekend brunch and mid-morning, and seating can be limited, so groups should expect to share tables or wait. Despite the crowds the service is quick and the cafe is suited to a short, energetic stop rather than a long, quiet meal.

The cafe is open daily from approximately 7AM to 5PM, and hours should be confirmed before going. No reservations are taken, so visitors simply arrive and order, with the best chance of a table early in the morning or mid-afternoon. Buitenkant Street is a short walk from the Castle of Good Hope, the Company's Garden and the District Six Museum, so the cafe fits easily into a morning of sightseeing in the central city.