Whirlwind tour of New Zealand
In a whirlwind promotional tour of New Zealand, Kirsty has tracked down some exceptional coffee experiences. For those familiar with the Perfect Espresso training system, an exceptional espresso experience involves the AAA criteria of AMBIENCE, ATTITUDE and ACTION. Basically this means:
The place has a good vibe or atmosphere;
The staff are all relaxed and efficient, welcoming and friendly; and
The coffee beverages are so enjoyable, you want to come back for more.
Should you wish to know more about the Perfect Espresso criteria, you can read about it in Chapter 9 of the Perfect Espresso Barista Bible. Check out www.perfectespresso.com.au for more information.
Auckland
Upon arrival in Auckland, I met with one of our customers, Nadin Rathgeber from Ask Me 4 Coffee (115A Abbotts Way, Remuera). At her training studio she undertakes a variety of espresso programs including professional development for trainers offering NZQA accredited courses. Nadin is passionate about her training and does a brilliant job and is well set up to cater for both home barista and café staff training.
I had heard good things about Altura Coffee (Douglas Alexander Drive, Albany), one of New Zealand’s largest roasting companies. Behind the bar was a hive of activity but it was noticed that as I sat down I was needing water (the day was a scorcher). The premises are cavernous but with a friendly atmosphere – with all things coffee on display, including the bean roaster. A long chat with barista trainer, Leanne Waite revealed she is as passionate about training as she is about coffee and I could see why Altura are known as leaders in their field.
A 10 minute ferry ride across from Auckland is Devonport where you have the pick of any number of places all in one street. I chose Mecca Café (1 Victoria Street) based on reviews and awards won. We all enjoyed fresh-as-you-can-get seafood platters, followed by exceptional espressos. The staff were particularly friendly and helpful too.
Hamilton
Visiting my sister after 6 years was about as exciting as I thought it would get in Te Awamutu, a little place just south of Hamilton. Wow, was I amazed when I came upon Empire Espresso Bar (65 Sloane Street) and got the perfect soy cappuccino. I was totally clocked by Zoe Anderson, the owner, as I explained and demonstrated to my sister what makes a good cappuccino. When I went to say thank you, we got talking. Dynamic, driven and with a memory for possibly the whole town’s coffee preferences, Zoe engages with people as only an ex-nurse can do. I returned the next morning to find they also catered for rice milk enthusiasts and I still have no idea how they pulled that rice milk cappuccino out of the hat.
In Te Awamutu there are also great things happening at Red Kitchen café (51 Mahoe Street) and Te Awamutu College with mother and daughter team Maree and Sacha Letford combining their experience and qualifications in education and industry to produce some of the finest baristas in the region.
Rotorua
Anyone for a sulphur-infused espresso? Not at all; just ‘would you like chocolate or cinnamon on your cappuccino?’ – an option I was to find often in New Zealand. In herbal medicine terms, cinnamon is apparently good for offsetting insulin resistance (or the bad effect of consuming too many complex ‘carbs’ – otherwise known as a ‘muffin top’). On the recommendation of a friendly man at the tourist office, we headed for Relish Café (1149 Tutanekai Street) The coffee was certainly flavoursome but I think cinnamon does not taste as good as chocolate on top, so I am undecided about pursuing the health benefit on my cappuccinos in the future.
Napier
Not knowing anything about Napier, I have to confess that I anticipated a fairly ordinary coastal town – a bit too far from civilisation to find good coffee. Was I in for a surprise? Having been rebuilt in the 1930’s following a destructive earthquake, Napier is a hub of art deco architecture and activities. We lunched on the recommendation of someone I stopped in the street – at Cappadonna (189 Emerson Street, Napier), a relaxed and efficient place in the sunny mall. The cappuccinos were good (particularly since I opted for the chocolate, this time).
Palmerston North
I contacted another customer, Simon Fowler of Espresso 101 (Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North) and was delighted at the invitation to join his training session that evening. With clarity and precision, Simon introduced seasoned baristas to the science behind ‘why they do what they do’. Explaining ‘why’ is not only the mark of a good trainer; it represents the next level of knowledge and skill that is essential for maintaining consistency and quality in both preparation and service of espresso beverages.
Wellington
Known as the coffee capital of New Zealand, I had high expectations for Wellington. The most impressive all-round experience was at Havana (163 Tory Street). I first visited the original site of the roastery (now a quirky bar and restaurant). A friendly barman poured a couple of great espressos then pointed me in the direction of the roastery, a few blocks away. Both premises are particularly interesting for their take on colonial Cuban – from the ambience and architecture to the old truck out the front. Here I was to experience the ultimate customer service with Jeremy Burton, the manager, whizzing us through peak hour traffic back to the city centre.
Christchurch
‘We are still the best little cafe in the world and won't be letting 15 years go to waste without a fight!’. These were the words of Sam Crofskey, owner of C1 Coffee (150 High Street) when I contacted him after the second big earthquake. Having met him just a couple of weeks ago he is most certainly a ‘can do’ man. When I stumbled upon C1 Coffee (via Poplar Lane), I was so impressed with my cappuccino, I sent Sam, the owner, a quick message to say so. He appeared within minutes and what ensued was a most interesting story about Samoa, coffee and fruit smoothies – and a vision for the future involving partnerships, diversification and sustainability. I returned the next morning for another coffee, where the High Street café was totally cranking. I now believe Sam when he says they served 250 people per day and approximately 11,000 coffees per week.
One 10 minute circuit on the tourist tram that runs around this quaint English style city and I spotted Season (115 Worcester Street) as another likely place for good coffee. The decision was spot on and I enjoyed the exceptional experience on all counts for: ambience (large table with plenty of magazines and newspapers to read), attitude (friendly efficient staff keen to make us comfy and relaxed) and action (great coffees all round with creamy perfectly foamed milk).
My next surprise was in Linwood, a 5 minute drive away – at a charming café called Under the Red Verandah run by Mandy Heasley. With home-made ginger, date and walnut slice on the menu, I decided to have my cake and eat it too. Having enjoyed a house blend espresso (roasted by Vivace of Christchurch), I was tempted to return to the most amazing cake display for seconds but walked out instead with a bag of beans and a smile.
Dunedin
Just by chance, I found the newly opened Diesoline Espresso (7 Bath Street, Dunedin) and Desoline herself, the pioneer of good coffee in Dunedin. Her new venture is a brilliantly decorated and modern café in misty tones of grey with large white lounges to relax in. Desoline’s coffee was full and flavoursome, a testimony to her many years of roasting. She then pointed me in the direction of Strictly Coffee, her previous venture, a roasting and training business, just a block away. Again a buzzing place with coffee as good as it gets.
NOTE: The best espresso experiences in this tour of New Zealand are based on our experience in February 2011 – before the second devastating earthquake. We do hope our new-found coffee colleagues are safe and that their businesses continue to prosper regardless of what has happened to bricks and mortar. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May I also offer an apology to any great espresso experience we have missed. Please CONTACT US; we’ll do our research and will make every attempt to visit you next time!