In 2024, Limpho Debeshe opened Divine Delights Coffee in Maseru, Lesotho, with a vision that went far beyond serving coffee. Motivated by social challenges facing the youth and a desire to create a more mindful community space, Limpho set out to introduce a different culture—one built around conversation, quality, and purpose. In this interview, she shares her journey as a coffee shop owner, the philosophy behind her specialty coffee business, and how Loyverse supports her daily operations.

How did you start your journey as a coffee shop owner?

I decided to open a coffee shop in Maseru, Lesotho, around May 2024. The motivation behind this decision was largely influenced by what I observed after COVID-19. Many people started turning to alcohol as a way to cope with daily stress and challenges. In Lesotho, youth unemployment is over 40%, and many young people have little to do with their time. As a result, we often see them spending time in bars or using drugs to cope with the difficulties they face.

I know the benefits of coffee—it is a stimulant that activates the mind. That is the inspiration behind our tagline. We want to stimulate people to think differently, because the conversations you have in a coffee environment are very different from those you have in places where alcohol is served. We wanted to create a space where people can meet and discuss meaningful, valuable topics over a cup of coffee, instead of choosing unhealthy alternatives to escape stress.

We believe that coffee energizes the mind and encourages productivity throughout the day. Our goal is to help address some of these social challenges by changing the culture and introducing a coffee-driven mindset among the youth, instead of an alcohol-centered one.

I noticed that your coffee shop is categorized as a specialty coffee shop. Can you tell us what differentiates specialty coffee shops from regular coffee shops?

We are very intentional about the coffee products we sell. We source roasted coffee beans from different countries and carefully review their grading scores. We do not buy just any beans—we select only A-grade beans from countries such as Brazil, Egypt, and Kenya. This allows us to offer our customers a premium experience unlike anything they are used to.

It’s not only our claim—our customers consistently confirm this through their feedback. Most people are used to instant coffee, while we brew fresh coffee using an espresso machine and freshly roasted beans. This makes a big difference in taste and freshness compared to filter coffee that has been sitting on supermarket shelves for a long time.

Is this the only specialty coffee shop in your city, or do you have competitors?

There is one other specialty coffee shop in the city. However, our focus is different. They mainly offer filter coffee, whereas we brew our coffee ourselves using espresso machines.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in your first year, and how did you overcome them?

We are still dealing with some of these challenges—it’s a work in progress. One of the biggest challenges has been marketing. The concept of specialty coffee is still new in our area, and many people are more accustomed to alcohol than coffee. Changing habits takes time, communication, and consistent marketing so people can understand the benefits of what we are offering.

Do you use social media for advertising?

We mainly use Facebook. I tried working with external consultants, but they were too expensive for us. We decided to manage it ourselves, but time has been a major challenge. Social media requires constant engagement, and if people comment or ask questions, you need to be available to respond. That’s an area where we are still lacking.

What philosophy or values have guided you through these early years as an entrepreneur?

Quality is the most important value for me. I always want to ensure that customers are satisfied with both our products and services. Cleanliness and hygiene are also extremely important, especially in the hospitality industry.

Giving back to the community is another key value. I work with SOS Community to assist vulnerable and marginalized children, including orphans. I help them learn cooking skills so they can become chefs and eventually work in the hospitality industry—either with me or elsewhere. I have already trained six children who are now employed elsewhere, and currently, three are working with me. Making a positive impact on other people’s lives is very important to me.

When did you start using Loyverse, and why did you choose it for your coffee shop?

We started using Loyverse two months after opening. I found it online while searching for tools to help manage the business. I reviewed the features and pricing and was satisfied with everything. The price was very reasonable, and it still is, which is why I continue using it today.

Which Loyverse features do you use most, and which have the biggest impact on your business?

Inventory management is the most important feature for us. I am subscribed to Advanced Inventory and use the composite items feature to track ingredient stock levels. This has been extremely helpful for calculating item costs. I still need to configure all items as composite items, as I haven’t completed that yet, but I plan to do so.

I also use Employee Management, which gives me peace of mind by allowing employees to have individual profiles while enabling me to track their performance.

How helpful are Loyverse reports and analytics for your decision-making?

The reports are essential. The Dashboard app has been very helpful. At one point, I had trouble accessing real-time information, but I resolved it by syncing the POS devices properly. I regularly check reports to see where improvements or changes may be needed.

Have you built a customer base and activated the Loyverse Loyalty Program?

Not yet. We are currently collecting customer information and adding it to the system. We are identifying regular customers who have visited at least five times. One challenge we face is that people in our country don’t like being asked many questions—they prefer to get their coffee and leave. However, with regular customers, we are gradually building relationships and creating profiles for them in the system.

What features would you like to see added or improved in Loyverse?

Some features available in other systems—such as taxation and financial accounting reports—are not built directly into Loyverse. However, these can be accessed through integrations. I am currently working with a third-party company to integrate Loyverse with my accounting software.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

If you want to start a business but don’t understand the industry, don’t rush into it—especially in hospitality. Learn first, study the market, and prepare yourself. And most importantly, choose a good POS system. It can make a huge difference in how successfully you run your business.