The Woman Behind Bertie - Michelle’s Journey to Cape Town’s Beloved Mobile Café

If you’ve ever heard a tuk-tuk approaching a school gate at dawn or followed the smell of freshly baked cookies at a weekend market, you already know Bertie on the Go — Cape Town’s small-but-mighty mobile café.

Behind Bertie’s charm is Michelle Tayler-Smith, the entrepreneur, community-builder, and quietly brilliant mind who turned an unexpected opportunity into a thriving business.

From Farm Roots to Community Visionary

Michelle grew up on a citrus farm near Addo in the Eastern Cape, where running barefoot through orchards with her siblings taught her resilience and resourcefulness. Entrepreneurship was already in her blood — she started selling roses to classmates at fourteen.

After earning her BComm in Management Accounting from Stellenbosch and working in London as a Chartered Management Accountant for a decade, Michelle returned to Cape Town in 2011 with her young son Jack. She settled in the Southern Suburbs and became deeply involved in her community, eventually founding the Keurboom Park Family Market.

A Community Project Sparks a Business

Bertie started as a community effort — helping a local coffee shop owner purchase a mobile coffee vehicle. When the project took an unexpected turn, Michelle took ownership of the nearly completed tuk-tuk, named it Bertie, and decided to give it a life of its own.

With zero prior coffee experience, she hired William Mofolo, now Operations Manager and the face of Bertie, and began serving a handful of schools. Parents and kids quickly fell in love, and “Mrs Bertie” became a familiar figure in the Southern Suburbs.

Building a Business With Heart

Bertie’s success isn’t just about coffee; it’s built on warmth, integrity, and community connection. Every barista is chosen for kindness and skill, every cookie baked with care, and every drink served with the consistency of a trusted neighbour.

In 2023, Bertie won the KFM Best of the Cape Station’s Choice Award, added a second tuk-tuk, and hired bakers to meet demand. Michelle’s mom’s homemade lemonade became an instant hit, and by September 2025, Bertie sold almost 6000 hot drinks and 2600 cookies in a single month.

Why Michelle’s Story Resonates

Michelle didn’t start Bertie to chase success — she started it to solve a problem and create something meaningful. Her story is a grounded reminder that great opportunities often appear when least expected.

Her mindset is simple: when life changes direction, you adapt, build, and act with integrity — and Michelle has done exactly that, creating a business that is more than coffee; it’s a community staple.

What’s Next

Ask Michelle and she’ll say, “Anything is possible.” Bertie’s Bakery, Bertie’s Ice Cream, or a fleet of cheerful tuk-tuks may be on the horizon. One thing is certain: Bertie is more than a business, and Michelle is more than an entrepreneur.

Follow Bertie’s adventures at www.bertieonthego.com.