Awards
Recognised for the craft
From our founder’s barista titles to being named KZN’s top coffee shop, here’s what our team has achieved since 2012.
2026
Winner – Best Coffee Shop of the Year 2026
Runner Awards KZN 2026
Lineage Coffee was voted Best Coffee Shop of the Year by the public, announced at the Runner Awards KZN gala on 31 October 2026 at the Olive Convention Centre, Durban.
Sources: Runner Awards ↗ · Rising Sun ↗
2025
Top Coffee Shop in KZN – Battle of the Beans 2025
Battle of the Beans 2025 · Coffee Colab
Lineage Hillcrest was crowned KZN’s top coffee shop, chosen by 27 incognito judges who visited more than 330 coffee shops. Presented on 30 January 2026 at the Grand White, Durban.
Sources: Battle of the Beans ↗ · Coffee Magazine ↗
2025
Top three, Lower/Upper Highway region
Battle of the Beans 2025
Lineage Coffee Hillcrest named a regional finalist.
Sources: Battle of the Beans ↗ · Coffee Magazine ↗
2025
Top three, Pietermaritzburg/Midlands region
Battle of the Beans 2025
Our former Nottingham Road café made the regional top three for the second year running.
2025
Best Barista, Pietermaritzburg/Midlands region
Battle of the Beans 2025
Long-serving barista Mfana Zibula, of our former Nottingham Road café, was named the region’s best barista.
2024
First runner-up, Top Coffee Shop in KZN
Battle of the Beans 2024
Lineage Hillcrest placed second in the province, a year before taking the top spot.
Sources: Battle of the Beans ↗ · Independent on Saturday ↗
2024
Top three, Lower/Upper Highway region
Battle of the Beans 2024
Lineage Coffee Hillcrest named one of the region’s top three coffee shops.
Sources: Battle of the Beans ↗ · Independent on Saturday ↗
2024
Top three, Pietermaritzburg/Midlands region
Battle of the Beans 2024
Our former Nottingham Road café named one of the region’s top three coffee shops.
2024
Best Bistro (1st place), Westville
Best of Durban 2024 · Best of South Africa
Lineage Coffee Westville voted first in the Best Bistro category.
2022
Barista of the Year, South Africa’s best barista
Coffee Magazine Awards 2022 · presented by La Marzocco
Cyprian Mkhize of Lineage Coffee Westville was named South Africa’s best barista at the awards gala in Cape Town on 2 December 2022.
Sources: Coffee Magazine ↗ · La Marzocco ↗
2020
Barista of the Year
Coffee Magazine Awards 2020
Lineage barista Kgune Dlamini was named Coffee Magazine’s Barista of the Year, the award for the barista all-rounder.
2019
KZN Barista Champion
SCASA KZN Regional Barista Championship 2019
Lineage barista Kgune Dlamini won the KZN regional title in November 2019 at The Pearls Mall, Umhlanga.
2019
Best Signature and Espresso Drink
SCASA KZN Barista Specialty Awards 2019
Lineage barista Kgune Dlamini made the championship’s best signature and espresso drink.
2019
Best Milk Beverage
SCASA KZN Barista Specialty Awards 2019
Lineage barista Jason Nkosi made the championship’s best milk beverage.
2017
All-African Barista Champion
African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) · Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Founder Craig Charity won the All Africa Barista Championship in February 2017.
2016
Best Coffee – Durban (1st place)
Illovo Café Society Awards · Sunday Tribune
Lineage Coffee Hillcrest awarded first place for Durban.
Sources: Bizcommunity ↗ · Coffee Magazine ↗ · Durbanite ↗
2016
Barista Personality Award – Overall winner
Illovo Café Society Awards
Lineage barista Kgune Dlamini won the Durban and overall Barista Personality Award.
Sources: Bizcommunity ↗ · Coffee Magazine ↗ · Durbanite ↗
2015
Best Coffee – Durban (1st place)
Illovo Café Society Awards · Sunday Tribune
Lineage Coffee, then the espresso bar at Stretta Café in Hillcrest, awarded first place for Durban.
Sources: Durbanite ↗ · Southern African Life ↗
2015
Barista Personality Award (1st place)
Illovo Café Society Awards
Lineage barista Musa Magwaza won first place in the Barista Personality Award.
Sources: Durbanite ↗ · Southern African Life ↗
2014
Best Coffee – Durban/North Coast (1st place)
Illovo Café Society Awards · Sunday Tribune
Lineage Coffee at Stretta Café in Hillcrest awarded first place for Durban and the North Coast.
2014
15th in the world, World Barista Championship
WBC 2014 · Rimini, Italy
Founder Craig Charity represented South Africa and placed 15th of 54 national champions.
2013
South African Barista Champion
South African Barista Championship
Founder Craig Charity won the national title in September 2013.
Sources: Coffee Magazine ↗ · Highway Mail ↗ · Barista Magazine ↗
