Coffee General

Overview

With a smorgasbord of beans to choose from from four different continents - places ranging from Uganda to Guatemala, Coffee General has a brew to match even the pickiest of coffee nuts.

The pretty isolated cafe on Hinemoa street in Birkenhead doesn't get the kind of stuffy traffic some of the bigger, more central places have which definitely counts as a bonus, giving it a nice and relaxed vibe. The art wall by Allan Wrath adds an interesting touch of decor, and makes for a fun visual exploration while indulging on an unique brew.

See, the thing is that Coffee General has a pretty different take on coffee brewing. They make their own, sure, but they also stock six other brews from New Zealand blenders like Ark, Flight and Kokako, and have three different daily blend options to choose from.

Since I love coffee but know next to nothing about brew combinations, it was nice to hear our passionate and quite quirky barista rattle off the distinct subtleties between each blend and what would work best with which drink. After making him work for his wages, I ended up with the Merito house blend for a soy mochaccino that could have been made by the gods, it was that good.

If you're feeling nibbly, the General also has a small but tasty cabinet of food to choose from, stocking bagels from the infamous Best Ugly as well as other options like the cayenne pepper chicken bap ($7.50).

Coffee General is a coffee lover's delight, and definitely one worth the visit.