Steampunk style has finally hit Durbs, bringing a flurry of ink, iron and fantasy, writes

are people who appreciate the kinds of creations he comes up with is a boon. “I love the creativity, making things that other people enjoy.”

Michael Goddard is both chief executive and cleaner of his café, Steampunk Coffee. He designed, created and runs it entirely on his own in what feels like the middle of nowhere — a petrol station in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands called Thokan’s Cash Store. It’s a startling, lovingly steampunk-styled haven for coffee lovers.

“A lot of coffee shops open and close because people put a lot of money into them but don’t have the know-how,” he says. He doesn’t only offer refreshments, he offers an experience. “Coffee’s secondary. Coffee happens. People come here primarily to talk.”

And he’s set things up to give patrons something to contemplate or talk about while they linger over their hot drinks.

A sculpture made with an ornate candelabra, goggles and a top hat sits on the counter-top, suggesting a peculiar little metal person. A book printed more than 100 years ago lies on the table alongside a more recent one about spliffs. A mechanical Pinocchio comes to life in a print on the wall.

Goddard says he’s long had an affinity for films such as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Hugo , but it took him a while to learn that the steampunk aesthetic had a name. In creating his shop’ s style, he draws inspiration from works he’s seen while browsing the internet. “It’s cool because you create a memory bank of info and when it’s time, you tap into it. It’s amazing what comes out.” LS