Karin Brynard writes: The magic in a cuppa

"Seriaas?” The young barista at our neighbourhood coffee cart frowned when the sudden impulse to ask for a cup of tea overcame me.

This was a coffee stand, after all, and I’m a regular customer for a shot of va-va-voom. At daybreak each day, our barista arrives in his little tuk-tuk, a makhulu espresso machine installed on its back. He comes put-putting from somewhere to park near the entrance to the river behind my house. His coffee is world-class. He’s our very own Starbucks-on-wheels. Before long, a steady crowd gathers round on their way to drop the kids off at school, before going to work or when out for a stroll with the dog.