Cats

Telling the difference between a coffee shop that's merely open and one that genuinely cares shows up in small things. Fresh pastries arrive daily or they don't. The grinder is cleaned between shots or it isn't. Staff remember regulars' names and orders, or they treat every customer as anonymous. Cats demonstrates what experience looks like: someone who understands that reputation in a neighbourhood like Soweto spreads through word-of-mouth, not advertising. Consistency matters more than flash. The ability to source reliable suppliers, manage inventory so nothing goes stale, and maintain standards during busy periods—these are the marks of an operation that's been thinking seriously about the work. When you visit repeatedly, you notice what separates competence from corners being cut.