Jude Louw, right, along with his cousin, Kate-Lynn Saligee in front of his mobile coffee unit.
Image: Wesley Ford
Singing autistic barista, Jude Louw, sells coffee to support and raise awareness for various organisations that help people with autism and epilepsy.
Jude, 26, from Monte Vista, though originally from Mitchell's Plain, had his mobile coffee unit serving delicious hot chocolate, americanos, iced coffees and milkshakes at the Alpha School for Learners with Autism fundraising market, at the Woodstock peace garden, on Saturday May 3. With every cup sold, R5 rand was donated to organisations that support children with autism and special needs. On Saturday, his mobile coffee unit supported the Woodstock-based Alpha School for Learners with Autism.
He also supports organisations like Autism Connect, Special Olympics, #Bikes4epilepsy.
Jude was helped by his mother, Tania Louw and cousin, Kate-Lynn Saligee.
Ms Louw says they started this coffee unit in 2021 to help her son get an income.
“Jude went to an occupational therapist, where he was taught basic life skills as a young adult. He also received training at a hospitality school,” she says.
Ms Louw says that Jude gets involved with the coffee making, though they use an automated coffee maker to help make things easier. The family bought an old camper minivan from the old Madam Zingara entertainment restaurant group, which they converted into a mobile coffee shop.
Ms Louw says that Jude was very active when he was younger. He played rugby at SACS in Newlands, then he went to Swartland High School in Malmesbury.
“One day he was assisting his father with baseball coaching," she said. "He tried to break up a fight between two boys from an orphanage and got struck on the head with a baseball bat."
He was 15 at the time, and after that, he got constant seizures.
“He was diagnosed with Epilepsy and Dysexecutive Syndrome,” she says. Dysexecutive Syndrome, she said, would make Jude feel like he was 5 years old one day but 15 or 20 on others.
Four years ago, Jude started selling coffee at places like the Mary Kihn School for Partially Hearing Children in Observatory, Edu-play family centre in Durbanville and #Bikers4epilepsy events.
“Wherever there are any events creating awareness around autism, that is where we will be,” she says.
Ms Louw says the coffee unit is a small business, though they would like to run it as a non-profit organisation in the future.
Founder of #Bikers4epilepsy, Winter Bezuidenhout, said she met Jude and his family at the Gargoyle Rally in Worcester in January.
“They are doing good work in raising awareness, as there are many people out there who have autism and epilepsy that people are not aware of, as it is an unseen disability,” she says.
Jude said, “Making and selling coffee makes me really happy, and I always enjoy singing to my guests when they buy coffee,” he says.
To find out more about Jude’s coffee initiative, you can visit https://rhymingcoffeegrind.co.za/ or follow his social media page at The Rhyming Grind coffee spot on Facebook and Instagram.