Eight of the Best Boutique Coffee Roasters in Auckland
From a rock-climbing coffeehead to island roasters and biodegradable capsule makers, these are the folks behind your morning buzz.
Aucklanders aren't far behind Wellingtonians when it comes to coffee addiction. In fact you could probably estimate that 80% of Aucklanders believe they can't start their productive day without a flat white in one hand and a bagel in the other. Am I right?
We did a bit of digging to find the best boutique coffee roasters around Auckland, and narrowed the highly regarded bunch down to eight. It was a hard decision, but these companies are world class and we are lucky enough to have them freshly roasting right on our doorstep.
KOKAKO ORGANIC COFFEE
From humble beginnings as a coffee cart in Aotea Square back in 2001, Kokako has reached a level of notoriety that keeps customers returning for the best organic coffee in Auckland. After winning awards for sustainability, Kokako has built a loyal following of over 100 wholesale clients across New Zealand. You can also find the company's very own café and roastery in the old Post Office at 537 Great North Road in Grey Lynn.
ATOMIC COFFEE
Atomic focusses on a bean to brew policy and they believe the key to good coffee starts with a good bean. The company work with farmer co-ops and build relationships to ensure a positive trade agreement takes place and provides consistency in their roasts. The coffee beans are sourced in Africa and South America, and are then hand roasted in the Kingsland coffee shop. The point of difference about Atomic is the ageing process used to increase the flavour of the beans. After years of research the team decided to give it a go, and found that the coffee holds it's creama for longer, pours better and flavours are intensified. Find the Atomic coffee mecca at 420c New North Rd.
ISLAND COFFEE
Established in 1999 on Waiheke Island by Jane and Stephen Burn, the famous Island Coffee brew was quick to takeoff and holds the monopoly over the island, providing coffee to many retailers and cafes. Made with 100% Arabica beans of the highest grade, the pungent flavour is unique and pure when extracted to perfection. Find Island behind True Blue at 21b Belgium Street in Ostend, Waiheke Island.
MILLERS COFFEE
A slightly more elite concept is Millers Coffee which is a blend designed specifically for the extraction of a coffee machine. The blend has not been adapted since they clocked the winning formula back in 1988. The vintage espresso machine which Millers' owners purchased in 1984 is what sparked the inspiration behind the machine-only product, and is still being used to this day. The other reason the team at Millers strongly believe in machine-only coffee is the sense of community established when sharing a brew. Find Millers at 31 Cross Street.
RED RABBIT COFFEE CO.
From a professional rock climber who drank a tonne of coffee to the founder of popular coffee brand Red Rabbit Coffee, Steve Barrett's goal is to stand out in the competitive industry. Steve also has a policy, "never say no to customers". When someone requests something that isn't on his coffee menu, he will go out of his way to ensure his customers have the best experience, making his coffee brand memorable amongst others. The roasting headquarters can be found at 7-15 Faraday Street, Parnell.
EIGHTHIRTY
The brew of choice among many trendy Auckland cafés, Eighthirty has been in the business for eight years and still running strong as one of the top coffee distributors and cafés in the country. With a sleek new setup on Anzac Ave, and a café on High Street, walking into any Eighthirty premises is like walking into the lab of a scientist — kitted out with state-of-the-art coffee brewing equipment which produces the most delicious, full bodied flavour espresso.
3 BEANS
Run out of City Works Depot in the CBD, 3 Beans is a relaxed, fun environment filled with experts who are passionate about coffee. Available for wholesale purchase, 3 Beans also distributes across Auckland to cafés such as Ruben in Parnell, Scullery in the CBD and Teed Street Larder in Newmarket. With a simple range of espresso, single origin and cold brew, the coffee is consistently good. Also, if you haven't already, check out the beautiful design on the 3 Beans takeaway cups.
HONEST COFFEE COMPANY
Let's talk capsules. Forget what you've read about them being horrible for the environment. Sustainable, eco-friendly and ridiculously delicious, the boys at Honest Coffee saw a gap in the market for 100% biodegradable capsules with the rise of other big name companies, and decided to create a product that not only tastes delicious, but is also good for the planet.
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