Where Coffee, Flowers and Community Meet

Some places are designed for speed. Others are shaped by how people actually want to spend their time. The Daily Coffee Café Homestead Hartbeespoort belongs firmly in the latter category; a relaxed farm style coffee destination where guests are encouraged to sit down, stay a while, and enjoy the space around them.

Situated on a spacious property with a distinctly rural feel, The Daily offers something that feels increasingly rare. Dogs are welcome and often found resting under tables, children move freely, and a hiking trail winds through the property for guests who want to explore before or after their meal. It is not a café built for rushing in and out, but one designed around presence, connection, and comfort.

Behind The Daily Coffee Café Homestead Hartbeespoort is Chris, a man whose journey has been shaped by curiosity, adaptability, and a deep respect for people. Known by both staff and customers as a true gentleman, Chris leads with calm assurance, treating everyone he works with dignity and respect. This quality quietly sets the tone for the entire space.

His sister described him perfectly; “Chris is cheeky and genuinely funny, sharp as a razor with a quick, witty comeback. Yet, with staff and customers alike, he remains calm under pressure, able to absorb stress with ease. He is approachable, solution-focused, and always sees possibilities rather than problems.”

Chris was born and raised in Johannesburg, growing up in a close-knit family with three older sisters in the suburbs of Houghton. He attended St David’s Marist Brothers until Standard 5, enjoying a structured upbringing grounded in strong family values. But it was time spent visiting his eldest sister in Grahamstown that quietly shifted his outlook on life.

“When I spent time visiting her, I fell in love with the small-town atmosphere,” he says, “and decided to ship myself off to boarding school. I studied Economics at Rhodes University, completing a Bachelor of Business Science with an Information Systems major and Economics Honours. I was always drawn to the intersection of technology and human behavior, which shaped both my academic focus and career direction. Alongside my studies, my love for the outdoors played a significant role in my development. I was actively involved in the Rhodes University Mountain Club, Exploration Society and Underwater Club. These experiences, often spent in demanding natural environments, reinforced the values of responsibility, trust, and resilience, continue to influence my professional approach till today. “

“I may have given a lot of teachers additional grey hairs,” he admits, “but we had a lot of fun in the safe environment of Grahamstown.”

Chris’s academic interests reflect a balance that continues to shape how he approaches business today, a love for technology paired with a fascination for human behaviour.

“I have always been very interested in different businesses and industries,” Chris says.

Over the years, he has worked across restaurants, agricultural manufacturing, debt collection, meat processing, the luxury yacht industry, professional hunting, reserve management, cyber security, and sales roles across Africa.

“After years in Johannesburg and a corporate career, life shifted post Covid. We decided to leave the city and establish ourselves in Hartbeespoort, closer to the rest of my family and away from the constant bustle of big-city life. My dad owned the former Ennis Nursery property for several years, and about two years ago he mentioned wanting to sell it. I asked if I could first try to turn it around. I knew there was real potential on the site; it simply needed work to unlock it.

Together with my sister, Jocelyn, I formed Ennis Management Corporation, and we began the process of revitalising the property, finding tenants, and reimagining what the space could become. Initially, this was done alongside my work in the cyber security industry. Later we decided to open our own interest on the property and after much research and consideration for what would work in the area, we settled on The Daily Coffee Café as the best franchise for the space,”

The Daily Coffee Café at The Homestead Hartbeespoort was launched after an intense five-week period of building, learning systems, and training staff. Today, The Daily is intentionally dog friendly, set in a relaxed farm style environment, with a hiking trail winding through the property for guests to enjoy. “The service industry is the most punishing in how direct your outputs are: If you mess up, you know about it immediately and must deal with the direct result of disgruntled clientele, however when people are happy you reap the rewards immediately!”

Bev’s Blooms was inspired by Chris’s mother, Beverley Jeurissen. Before Ennis Management Corporation was established, Jocelyn had already been working with dahlias as a passion project on the property. When the family began considering which ventures could become full time additions to the offering, the flower farm was a natural choice.

They started by building new net houses with clear visibility from the road and introducing a pick your own flower patch. Beverley had recently passed away, and naming the business after her along with using her likeness as the logo became a meaningful way to honour both her memory and her love for flowers and gardening.

Dahlias are a notoriously difficult flower to grow and have a very short lifespan once cut.
For this reason, a direct-to-customer-model works exceptionally well; offering visitors a fresh, immersive experience that complements the restaurants on the property beautifully. The New York to Karoo concept of The Daily ties everything together, blending deli style sophistication with warmth and authenticity through earthy tones, steel, copper, and face brick.

“Plan meticulously. Execute fearlessly. Talk to people. And just keep showing up,” Chris says.

Because in the end, The Daily Coffee Café Homestead is not just about coffee or food. It’s about creating a space where people can arrive without rushing and leave having experienced something that lingers long after the table is cleared.