Well-known coffee brand building its own Academy in South Africa

·11 Jul 2025

Platō Coffee, a South African coffee brand founded by brothers Stephan and Petrus Bredell, is building and launching its own training academy in Cape Town.

The new facility, Platō Academy, is scheduled to launch in early September 2025 on Canterbury Street in District Six.

According to CEO and co-founder Stephan Bredell, the academy will serve as a training centre for franchise partners and baristas, while also being open to the public.

It will offer barista courses, coffee workshops, and practical training for people at all skill levels. “Platō Academy is a space built for coffee excellence and connection,” said Bredell.

“From foundational barista training to latte art workshops and sensory experiences, each session is crafted to elevate your understanding and appreciation of coffee.”

The space will also feature a showroom for professional coffee equipment and serve as a meeting point for professionals and casual coffee enthusiasts.

“This is more than a school, it’s a community hub for individuals who value quality, curiosity, and craftsmanship,” Bredell said.

Platō Coffee started in December 2019, when Stephan, who had launched Moonshot Cafe, noticed the strong profit margins of coffee and pitched the idea of a new venture to his brother Petrus.

They opened their first shop, a container in Centurion, and began trading under an informal licence, taking advantage of foot traffic during relaxed Covid lockdown periods.

In the early days, Petrus ran most of the operations while Stephan continued working in corporate. “If it weren’t for him, Platō wouldn’t have been able to operate in the beginning,” said Stephan.

From there, they began opening shops nationwide, focusing on areas that larger coffee chains tend to overlook, such as lifestyle centres and smaller towns.

This approach helped the business build a loyal customer base and create a recognisable brand without relying heavily on advertising.

Many customers shared their experiences online, which helped boost visibility and growth.

First coffee shop to launch bank card-linked loyalty programme

In 2022, Platō introduced a franchise model. Today, the company operates 98 locations and is on track to expand to 150 by the end of 2025. It employs over 500 people.

To support this expansion and maintain consistent quality, the company launched its own roastery, Blank Supplies, in March 2022. Petrus now runs the roastery, which supplies coffee to all Platō locations.

According to Stephan, hiring the right people has played a key role in their success. “A massive contributor to our success has been our heightened focus on employing kind, friendly people,” he said.

“That’s what anchors the customer experience, and then we focus on barista training.”

The new Plato Academy will now formalise that training and support further expansion. “We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome you in,” said Bredell. “More details and class schedules [are] dropping soon.”

Platō Coffee was also the first company in South Africa to roll out Yoyo’s bank card-linked loyalty system in partnership with Yoco. Customers can now automatically earn rewards every time they tap to pay.

Effective 1 June, every time a customer taps their bank card to pay at a Platō café, a 5% cashback is reflected in their Platō App.

This cashback can be used at any Platō store in South Africa. Unregistered users are invited via SMS to download the Platō App and unlock any cashback they’ve already accumulated.

Yoyo’s platform integrates with Table by Yoco, the point-of-sale and payments solution that powers all Platō stores.

Rewards are embedded in the payment process, meaning customers just pay with their card or smart wallet on the payment terminal and earn rewards without the need for loyalty cards.