Based on recent customer reviews, Bootlegger Coffee Company delivers a sharply divided experience across its branches. A minority of guests praise solid coffee, warm food and a relaxed, welcoming vibe. Most feedback, however, describes serious food quality failures, including raw burger patties, undercooked steak, hard chips and burnt dry chicken, alongside cold, milky or chocolate free coffee. Diners repeatedly report rude or inattentive waiters, unhelpful managers, payment and table numbering confusion at Brackenfell, perceived racial bias at Point Mall, and an unexpected charge for jam at Cape Quarter.
TrustIndex
2.9
NPS Score
-60
Recommended: Unlikely
Nov '25 - Oct '26
Frequently Asked Questions About Bootlegger Coffee Company
What do customers say about Bootlegger Coffee Company?
Based on recent customer reviews, Bootlegger Coffee Company delivers a sharply divided experience across its branches. A minority of guests praise solid coffee, warm food and a relaxed, welcoming vibe. Most feedback, however, describes serious food quality failures, including raw burger patties, undercooked steak, hard chips and burnt dry chicken, alongside cold, milky or chocolate free coffee. Diners repeatedly report rude or inattentive waiters, unhelpful managers, payment and table numbering confusion at Brackenfell, perceived racial bias at Point Mall, and an unexpected charge for jam at Cape Quarter.
Is Bootlegger Coffee Company trustworthy?
Bootlegger Coffee Company has a TrustIndex of 2.9 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 10 reviews in the last 12 months. Hellopeter has tracked Bootlegger Coffee Company across 25 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (10)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since May 2019
****ing terrible
I bought a toasted sandwich this morning and the crust of the toasted sandwich was so hard The chicken tasted terrible in the mayo I went back to ask they said they made it yesterday That's so unprofessional And we pay R86 for a toasted mayo sandwich for us not to enjoy it
1 reviews | Active since May 2019
****ing terrible
I bought a toasted sandwich this morning and the crust of the toasted sandwich was so hard The chicken tasted terrible in the mayo I went back to ask they said they made it yesterday That's so unprofessional And we pay R86 for a toasted mayo sandwich for us not to enjoy it
1 reviews | Active since May 2016
Raw food and ******
was store in table view few days ago. I was there with my father. We had 2 xL Mochas to drink. 2 eat my father had the steak, egg n chips and I myself had the double bacon cheeseburger. To start off with the compliment out the mocha, the milk was off and the chocolate wasn't even added to it so basically we ended up with a disgusting Americano. My father's steak, was meant to be well done, instead it was completely rare and the chips on both meals was still hard and 80% raw. Moving to my burger, the patties wasn't done right, the blood of the meat was still running through the patties, it was absolutely disgusting. We asked for the manger but instead we got told the manager is busy and can not come see to us, our waiter was extremely rude and ****** towards my father. How can you have staff like this and still operate a restaurant. Does your staff not know how to fry a burger patty or a steak, do they not know how to make a coffee? Thankfully none of us is sick but this is disgusting. We actually are completely revolted by this service and the quality of the food. I am a member of your app, I couldn't even scan the slip on my app it didn't allow me to. Which is okay but the service and quality is absolutely revolting. Please tell me how to handle this and sort the matter out as R446.00 is a lot of money to spend on food that's so disgusting and no staff that wants to assist. As I actually would love to take this matter further, due to raw meat and sourness someone can end up extremely sick. The franchise Manager is the only one with customer service and respect. However the customer service office emails and says one thing and says they been instructed to do something by the franchise Manager, then they change the story and make up stories to not do their job. As much as I love bootlegger, stay away from beach front , blouberg branch.
1 reviews | Active since May 2016
Raw food and ******
was store in table view few days ago. I was there with my father. We had 2 xL Mochas to drink. 2 eat my father had the steak, egg n chips and I myself had the double bacon cheeseburger. To start off with the compliment out the mocha, the milk was off and the chocolate wasn't even added to it so basically we ended up with a disgusting Americano. My father's steak, was meant to be well done, instead it was completely rare and the chips on both meals was still hard and 80% raw. Moving to my burger, the patties wasn't done right, the blood of the meat was still running through the patties, it was absolutely disgusting. We asked for the manger but instead we got told the manager is busy and can not come see to us, our waiter was extremely rude and ****** towards my father. How can you have staff like this and still operate a restaurant. Does your staff not know how to fry a burger patty or a steak, do they not know how to make a coffee? Thankfully none of us is sick but this is disgusting. We actually are completely revolted by this service and the quality of the food. I am a member of your app, I couldn't even scan the slip on my app it didn't allow me to. Which is okay but the service and quality is absolutely revolting. Please tell me how to handle this and sort the matter out as R446.00 is a lot of money to spend on food that's so disgusting and no staff that wants to assist. As I actually would love to take this matter further, due to raw meat and sourness someone can end up extremely sick. The franchise Manager is the only one with customer service and respect. However the customer service office emails and says one thing and says they been instructed to do something by the franchise Manager, then they change the story and make up stories to not do their job. As much as I love bootlegger, stay away from beach front , blouberg branch.
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2009
Ridiculous jam charges
I was shocked when charged R12 for a tiny container of jam for a croissant when ordering a coffee and croissant at Bootleggers in Cape Quarter. Never before has a restaurant charged extra for a bit of jam or butter
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2009
Ridiculous jam charges
I was shocked when charged R12 for a tiny container of jam for a croissant when ordering a coffee and croissant at Bootleggers in Cape Quarter. Never before has a restaurant charged extra for a bit of jam or butter
1 reviews | Active since May 2025
Management absent at Bootlegger breestreet
We had to make up time for an appointment in Breestreet and decided to have coffee and a bite at Bootlegger coffee co. We know it very well from other areas in the Cape The attendance and service was swift,pleasant and fast. The rest however shockingly poor, my capucino wich I ordered strong was served cold and milky, horrible the least, my partner ordered a freezo , wich was also a dissaster , of the 5 choices , 4 weren’t available and she decided to have a coffee instead , the sandwich we ordered was ok, I am not a chef but believe I can do better, it was rather tasteless. The waiter was very apologetic, and offered a 20% discount. We did see a ( white ) manager on site and wondered why ? The bicycleshop nearby could teach them how to make real good, warm, tasting coffee for a better price and fast service
1 reviews | Active since May 2025
Management absent at Bootlegger breestreet
We had to make up time for an appointment in Breestreet and decided to have coffee and a bite at Bootlegger coffee co. We know it very well from other areas in the Cape The attendance and service was swift,pleasant and fast. The rest however shockingly poor, my capucino wich I ordered strong was served cold and milky, horrible the least, my partner ordered a freezo , wich was also a dissaster , of the 5 choices , 4 weren’t available and she decided to have a coffee instead , the sandwich we ordered was ok, I am not a chef but believe I can do better, it was rather tasteless. The waiter was very apologetic, and offered a 20% discount. We did see a ( white ) manager on site and wondered why ? The bicycleshop nearby could teach them how to make real good, warm, tasting coffee for a better price and fast service
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2013
Bootlegger or peg leg?
I had an extremely disappointing experience at the Brackenfell branch. The lack of service and basic operational competence was, quite frankly, astonishing. Upon entering, I was not greeted and had to ask whether I could place an order. Paying for my order proved even more difficult. The young male staff member responsible was on his phone and did not even acknowledge that I, the only customer in the shop, was waiting. When I attempted to pay, he was unable to locate my table on the system, causing further delays while I was trying to get to my next appointment. The situation became even more absurd when I offer to help. On instruction “go check your table number” I discover that the tables did not have any numbers. I desperatly wanted to pay. But how does one check a number that simply does not exist? To make matters worse, a female (she said she was the manager) arrived but offered little assistance beyond a whispered explanation that was impossible to hear or understand. It left one wondering whether she was uncomfortable addressing the issue directly, unsure of the system herself, or reluctant to correct her staff member. The entire experience reflected a serious breakdown in basic customer service, communication, and management oversight. It was frustrating, time-wasting, and entirely avoidable.
1 reviews | Active since Feb 2013
Bootlegger or peg leg?
I had an extremely disappointing experience at the Brackenfell branch. The lack of service and basic operational competence was, quite frankly, astonishing. Upon entering, I was not greeted and had to ask whether I could place an order. Paying for my order proved even more difficult. The young male staff member responsible was on his phone and did not even acknowledge that I, the only customer in the shop, was waiting. When I attempted to pay, he was unable to locate my table on the system, causing further delays while I was trying to get to my next appointment. The situation became even more absurd when I offer to help. On instruction “go check your table number” I discover that the tables did not have any numbers. I desperatly wanted to pay. But how does one check a number that simply does not exist? To make matters worse, a female (she said she was the manager) arrived but offered little assistance beyond a whispered explanation that was impossible to hear or understand. It left one wondering whether she was uncomfortable addressing the issue directly, unsure of the system herself, or reluctant to correct her staff member. The entire experience reflected a serious breakdown in basic customer service, communication, and management oversight. It was frustrating, time-wasting, and entirely avoidable.
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2021
****** Service
****** service, went to the Bootlegger's at the point mall and had to wait forever for service while all the other people who came after us who were white had their table cleaned and even received their drinks while we sat there, we had to leave without getting even the cold drink we ordered or even the table cleaned
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2021
****** Service
****** service, went to the Bootlegger's at the point mall and had to wait forever for service while all the other people who came after us who were white had their table cleaned and even received their drinks while we sat there, we had to leave without getting even the cold drink we ordered or even the table cleaned
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2019
Horrible treatment from manager and staff - Ferndale on Republic
I ordered a Kentucky Style Burger for myself and family. When the order arrives it is definitely not a Kentucky style Burger (I have had it twice at the Olivedale branch), I taste a bit without ever going into the bun. It is tastes exactly as how it looks, burnt dry chicken. The waiter calls another person (I explain again), the first one actually did say the Burger is not supposed to be like that. The manner I was doing this very calm but explaining. Then they call another person, this is when the problem starts, very patronizing, condescending, rude tone...I am still calm. She speaks raises her voice proceeds to tell me to leave her restaurant. I went past the branch I have had the meal from. They see the Burger that my son's girlfriend did not finish they definitely confirm that this is not it. Right now as am typing this because I had order one take away from my other son who didn't want to come with, his Burger is missing the top part of the bun. I called and I tell them I'm writing a review the guy who picked up just said I am a ****, they called the other branch and the other branch says I'm a **** too. Head Office knows about this already and I'm a ****. The issue here besides being treated rudely is the lack of accountability, it is appalling and I wonder if this is what you stand for as a brand. The treatment and service I got was horrible. Ask that lady manager to do better and to adjust her tone when speaking to customers
1 reviews | Active since Jan 2019
Horrible treatment from manager and staff - Ferndale on Republic
I ordered a Kentucky Style Burger for myself and family. When the order arrives it is definitely not a Kentucky style Burger (I have had it twice at the Olivedale branch), I taste a bit without ever going into the bun. It is tastes exactly as how it looks, burnt dry chicken. The waiter calls another person (I explain again), the first one actually did say the Burger is not supposed to be like that. The manner I was doing this very calm but explaining. Then they call another person, this is when the problem starts, very patronizing, condescending, rude tone...I am still calm. She speaks raises her voice proceeds to tell me to leave her restaurant. I went past the branch I have had the meal from. They see the Burger that my son's girlfriend did not finish they definitely confirm that this is not it. Right now as am typing this because I had order one take away from my other son who didn't want to come with, his Burger is missing the top part of the bun. I called and I tell them I'm writing a review the guy who picked up just said I am a ****, they called the other branch and the other branch says I'm a **** too. Head Office knows about this already and I'm a ****. The issue here besides being treated rudely is the lack of accountability, it is appalling and I wonder if this is what you stand for as a brand. The treatment and service I got was horrible. Ask that lady manager to do better and to adjust her tone when speaking to customers