About Us

Nestled in the heart of Knysna, South Africa—where ancient forests meet the turquoise embrace of the Indian Ocean—Bean Collective was born from the serendipitous union of two passionate artisans with a shared love for flavour, craft, and community. We're Joe Foster and Gerhardt Janse van Vuuren, fellow dreamers who cut our teeth running a coffee roaster and beloved local bakeries and cafes. For years, we poured our souls into rising doughs at dawn, handcrafting pastries that whispered of vanilla dreams and buttery bliss, roasting beans for customers and cafes, while our cafes became sanctuaries for locals and wanderers alike, fuelled by steaming brews and heartfelt conversations.

But as the aroma of fresh-baked goods mingled with the earthy notes of single-origin coffees, we felt a deeper calling. What if we could capture that magic in every bean and pod? In 2025, we traded our ovens for roasters, blending our bakery precision with a newfound obsession for coffee and cocoa. Bean Collective is our love letter to the slow art of roasting—sourcing ethically grown beans from distant estates and heirloom cacao from sustainable farms, then coaxing out their hidden stories over small-batch flames right here in our Knysna workshop.

We're not just roasters; we're storytellers, turning golden arabica into bold, fruit-forward elixirs and rich criollo cacao into velvety chocolates that melt on the tongue. Every sip, every bite, is a nod to the hands that nurtured them—from the misty hills of Ethiopia to the sun-kissed groves of Ecuador. Join us in celebrating the collective spirit: where two worlds collide to create something extraordinarily simple yet profoundly delicious. At Bean Collective, we're brewing connection, one bean at a time.