our story
Where it all began…
Our founders, Jess and Marijus Jakas, embarked on a journey that spanned continents and cultures. Before establishing Arrow Coffee, they lived in Vilnius, London, and Cape Town. In 2014, while Jess was eight months pregnant with their first child, they opened El Camino Global Eatery in Cape Town’s City Bowl. The name, inspired by their meeting place on the El Camino de Santiago (a pilgrimage through Spain), marked the beginning of their coffee journey. It was here that Marijus honed his skills in coffee making and roasting, laying the foundation for what would become Arrow Coffee
Arrow Coffee is born.
When the opportunity arose to relocate to the tranquil Garden Route, they embraced it wholeheartedly. On their farm nestled in the forest, they established Arrow Coffee as an artisan micro-roastery. Importing a traditional Turkish roasting machine, they committed to small-batch, hand-roasted coffee, emphasizing quality and sustainability. Because of the nature of this roaster, the beans are roasted using traditional methods (no computers). Each batch is roasted to order, ensuring freshness and consistency.
Evolving & growing.
In 2023, as Jess and Marijus decided to take a year off to travel to Bali with their three children, they entrusted Arrow Coffee’s operations to Nicky.
Marijus personally trained Nicky in the art of coffee roasting, sharing his knowledge and passion. Nicky’s love for coffee and creativity made her an ideal fit for the role. Her ability to blend the technical aspects of roasting with a deep appreciation for the craft allowed Arrow Coffee to maintain its high standards and unique character…
Upon their return from Bali, Jess and Marijus found that their partnership with Nicky had blossomed into a harmonious collaboration. Recognizing the potential for growth and expansion, Nicky is now a shareholder. With a vision to elevate Arrow Coffee to new heights they collectively decided to move the roastery to Cape Town, marking the beginning of an exciting new phase for the company.
Today, Arrow Coffee continues to honor its roots while embracing new opportunities. The team remains dedicated to crafting exceptional coffee, fostering community connections, and staying true to the values that have guided them from the beginning.
Our Ethos
We roast passionately & sustainably, focusing on quality over quantity and specializing in small batch coffee roasting. This is why we call ourselves a micro coffee roastery. Read more about small batch coffee here.
At Arrow Coffee we are all about getting back to our roots, slowing down and entering that primal, wild state of mind, about enjoying the little things in life how we used to, with friends in nature, around a bonfire on the beach or greeting that first sunrise on top of a mountain. We live to explore and explore to achieve. We encourage people to lift their heads from the blue screens and go outside, to brew coffee how our ancestors did, with fire and pot because trust us, there is no better way to enjoy the whole process. Get Wild! Stay Wild!
