I'd rate the overall quality of coffee in NZ pretty highly. I think this would mainly be due to things like the prevelant cafe culture, the large number of roasters around (seems like it to me, but that's not a bad thing), and the small size of the country. Usually things spread pretty quickly here, and catch on quickly as well. Say for example, EFTPOS etc. NZ is a good testing ground for new things. And if it goes well, then the general quality of whatever is should go up with use. I think the same kind of scenario applies to coffee as well. The general standard is pretty good, as compared to other countries.
Having said that though, I don't generally order a coffee from somewhere if I think it may be slightly suspect. So I could possible only be extolling the nice experiences I have, and casting a blind eye to everything else.
Maybe I should have had breakfast this morning so my mind would work :|
Not sure about Auckland, but in Wellington, places like Cafe Laffare, Pravda, Olive... and various other cafes are usually pretty good. Some do of course vary, depending on the Barista who is on.
Yes, large number of roasters around is a good thing, although I've noticed the quality of certain roasters in wellington have been slipping over the last year or two. Utterly unimpressed with coffee coming out of Laffare recently.
May I suggest a couple of places.
Try Big Orange or Malo, will depend on the Barista that they have but both have great names for good coffee.
Also try Magnetix (spelling?), stopped in last time I was in Wellington and was very impressed.
We normally seem to do OK coffee wise. Having said that if the place doesn't look like they can make a coffee we don't order.
Where in NZ are you?
As for Laffare - yup I have had Great, good and indifferent shots there. Fuel at the Airport was great.
In Auckland, I pretty much only seem to go to Strawberry Alarm Clock in Parnell of late.
In Taupo, Brew is great, Replete is overated for their coffee, but strangely Max Cafe has always served us good coffee, even though the look says don't go there...
HI There was a thread going on about best coffee in NZ with a few peoples feelings on where they source their beans. I still haven't found the absolute holy grail of coffee beans yet. I do like a bit of variation though so I tend to get around a bit. There are a huge number of roaster and I would tend to say the standard is very high but there are a few that go the extra distance. In my experiene these tend to be the boutique places with only one or two blends. It is fair to say they do lack consistency (grind settings swing dramatically week to week with the same age from roasting bean). Having travelled overseas here and there you realise that we have a high standard. I have largely given up trying a coffee bean at the roasting cafe or other outlet unless I know the barista as I have found this to often mis represent what I can do with the coffee at home (for better and for worse!). Hope you find some decent stuff!
I'm in Auckland. Being in the coffee industry, not cafe industry, I am often left hanging for a good espresso on the weekends. As much as I hate to admit it I will normally pick a cafe based on the type coffee they use.
If you are a serious coffee drinker and would like to experience a great espresso, as I said Centre of Gravity in Mayoral drive in the city is a top site, only open weekdays though. Otherwise, really like the blend that the Columbus chain use. If you are after a different experience try Brazil on K' road, they use an old lever machine with a suprisingly good result.
Actually, would anyone like to suggest a blend of beans from a roaster in NZ? I would like to try something new, and was wondering what everyone else uses.
I kind of get a bit envious of all the stuff overseas, or the ability to try it. Things such as Intelligentsia's Black Cat, Malabar Gold, or Alterra, Stumptown, Hines, Zoka etc etc... *sigh* That and I don't roast my own :|
Anyhow, if anyone has any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them. (Either here or via e-mail here if more appropriate)
I usually prefer Coffee Supreme's Caramel blend, and have been all through their range and Laffare's as well. Right now, I'm making my way through 3kg of Altura's Supreme beans, and would like to look into something new. Perhaps looking into what Rene has. Otherwise, I'm pretty familiar with Allpress's stuff... and not much else!
Jason - Day job in the city at present. We home roast for a few clients, and are in the process of opening a coffee shop / cafe. Have all the gear, location, just got to work out where to put it! Whats your role at Burton Hollis?
Yann - definitely try Rene's coffee - it is superb!
At some point drop me a line, and I will send you some of my stuff down to try / critique...
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