Mugg & Bean desserts: A Johannesburg guide to the best sweet treats

Sweet stops at Mugg & Bean: a Joburg-friendly guide

If you love generous café portions and reliable coffeehouse classics, Mugg & Bean is a dependable place to satisfy a sweet tooth. Founded in 1996, the brand is known for its coffee, baked goods and café-style cakes all things that make it a go-to for dessert seekers across South Africa.

Must-try desserts

Giant Muffins are one of Mugg & Bean’s signature bakery items and a popular pick for a moreish treat. The menu also highlights decadent cakes and freshly baked cake slices available at restaurants and On-The-Move outlets.

Top Mugg & Bean desserts

Below are common dessert categories and bakery highlights that feature across Mugg & Bean menus and outlets.

• Giant Muffins a signature bakery item known for generous size and portion (contains dairy, gluten).
• Decadent cakes café-style cakes commonly sold by the slice and popular for indulgent dessert moments (contains dairy, gluten).
• Freshly baked cake slices rotating cake options available at restaurants and On-The-Move outlets (contains dairy, gluten).
• Assorted baked goods a range of bakery items offered across outlets for takeaway or dine-in (may contain gluten, dairy, nuts depending on item).
• Café-style dessert servings desserts sized for generous café portions, reflecting the brand’s portion philosophy (may contain common allergens).
• On-the-move sweet options bakery and dessert items available at smaller On-The-Move locations for takeaway (may contain common allergens).
• Celebration cake slices freshly baked slices promoted for casual celebrations and birthdays (contains dairy, gluten).
• Muffin and cake combos pairing of bakery items with coffee is a common choice for dessert seekers (contains dairy, gluten).
• Seasonal and rotating sweets menu updates and blog posts note occasional new additions and innovations in the bakery range (allergens vary).
• Birthday cake slice offer members of the Loyalty App receive a complimentary slice of freshly baked cake on their birthday via the app (contains common allergens depending on the cake).

Popular Mugg & Bean beverages

Mugg & Bean emphasises coffee and offers a number of blends and coffee products; outlets also provide typical café beverages alongside coffee.

• House Blend (coffee) one of the brand’s signature blends for in-store coffee and home brewing (contains none typical to coffee; may be served with dairy).
• Mocca Java Blend (coffee) a richer blend offered among the brand’s range for stronger coffee flavour (contains none typical to coffee; may be served with dairy).
• Five coffee blends for home Mugg & Bean sells five blends for home brewing, providing variety for take-home coffee fans.
• Freshly poured in-store coffee the core beverage offering for pairing with desserts and meals (may be served with dairy).
• Coffee subscription a product that lets customers receive regular coffee at discounted rates via the Loyalty App (relates to packaged coffee blends).
• Takeaway coffees coffee to-go available at restaurants and On-The-Move outlets for convenience (may be served with dairy).
• Hot chocolate and café-style hot drinks typical café hot drink options commonly available alongside coffee (may contain dairy, gluten).
• Cold and iced coffee variations cold coffee drinks are commonly offered in café settings for warmer weather pairings with desserts (may contain dairy).
• Tea and herbal infusions non-coffee hot beverages are offered to complement baked goods (generally vegetarian; check for allergens in accompaniments).
• On-the-move beverage options coffees and drinks available for takeaway from smaller outlets, convenient for customers on the go.

Mugg & Bean main meals and food favourites

Mugg & Bean’s full restaurants serve all-day breakfasts, brunches and café-style meals; the brand highlights generous portions and varied menu categories.

• All-day breakfast offerings a core part of the restaurant menu for customers seeking breakfast at any time (contains common allergens depending on dish).
• Brunch dishes café-style brunch items that suit casual dining and social meals (may contain dairy, gluten).
• Lunch menu items midday meals and café favourites served in restaurants (allergens vary by dish).
• Generously portioned café meals the brand is known for larger portion sizes across its savoury menu.
• On-The-Move meal options freshly made meals available at smaller outlets for takeaway convenience.
• Baked savoury items bakery-linked savoury options commonly found alongside sweet bakery goods (may contain gluten, dairy).
• Meals eligible for Vitality HealthyDining selected healthier meals are partnered with Discovery Vitality for rewards and potential cash back.
• Signature café-style sandwiches and wraps typical café offerings that fit the brand’s all-day menu approach (may contain gluten, dairy).
• Comfort food favourites a range of hearty, café-style dishes that reflect the restaurant’s focus on generous portions and bold flavours (allergens vary).
• Vegetarian and other dietary options the menu includes choices that cater to different dietary preferences; check individual dishes for specific suitability (V/VG/allergens vary).

Where to get them

Mugg & Bean operates full restaurants and smaller On-The-Move outlets. Restaurants are set up for leisurely dining, while On-The-Move locations offer freshly made meals and coffees to take away.

Ordering tips

• Order online for collection when you want to pick up your dessert without waiting in-store.
• Use the Loyalty App to earn and spend rewards Beans, order ahead, send vouchers and access perks.
• Members of the loyalty scheme receive a complimentary slice of freshly baked cake on their birthday via the app.

Coffee pairings for dessert

Mugg & Bean emphasises its coffee credentials and offers several blends to suit sweet pairings. The brand sells five blends for home brewing, including the House Blend and the Mocca Java Blend. Choosing a well-balanced house coffee or a richer Mocca Java is a simple way to complement muffins and cakes.

Perks and value

The Mugg & Bean Loyalty App bundles several conveniences: earning and spending rewards, ordering online for collection, purchasing a coffee subscription and sending vouchers to friends and family. The website also notes a coffee subscription product and that the brand’s coffee was recognised as Best Fresh Coffee in the Ask Afrika Icon Brands survey for 2022/3.

Final tips for Joburg dessert seekers

If you’re in Johannesburg and craving something sweet, look for a nearby Mugg & Bean restaurant for a sit-down cake or an On-The-Move outlet when you need something to take away. Save with the Loyalty App, order ahead when you can, and pair your chosen dessert with one of the brand’s signature coffee blends for a classic café treat.

“So much more than your average restaurant.”

Menus vary by outlet check your local Mugg & Bean or their website for the full, up-to-date menu.