FOODIE NEWS
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Life is better when it’s caffeinated so it pays to hunt out the best cup of coffee you can find! We have some incredibly talented coffee roasters in the Bay of Plenty who love nothing better than to create a special brew for you to enjoy. The skill and expertise that goes into roasting coffee beans is unbelievably complex which is why we’re proud to share six of our favourite spots with you:
Little Drum is a small craft roaster based in Mount Maunganui and focus on single origin small-batch roasts. Their dynamic seasonal blends are designed to showcase the enormous range of flavours and characteristics that coffee beans can produce. Notes such as tart plum, brazil nut, dark chocolate, soft mandarin and passion fruit are all possible to detect in different cups of coffee. Who knew? Their single blends span the globe from El Salvador to Costa Rica, Papua New Guinea and beyond. Cup tasting sessions can be arranged for coffee geeks or budding baristas and Little Drum also sells a top notch range of coffee brewing accessories.
Litte Drum Coffee, Unit 4/22 MacDonald Street, Mount Maunganui
Every country and every coffee bean has its own unique characteristics. Excelso gets the best out of each one before blending them together to create espresso perfection. They roast Arabica coffee beans sourced from around the globe and also produce single origins from Guatemala, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Brazil, Columbia and Mexico. If you’re a coffee nerd, you can attend their barista school or soft brew workshops on 112 Third Ave, Tauranga, to learn how to make a great cup of coffee at home.
Excelso Coffee, 112 Third Avenue, Tauranga
This well-established roastery produces coffee that is richer, fuller and more satisfying than generic commercial brands. The care and quality of their beans is their secret to achieving the perfect ‘fix’. A fluid-air bed roaster is used to create a consistent, accurate flavour profile by roasting the coffee bean’s interior gradually without scorching or burning the outside. The result is a smooth, gratifying cup of coffee that is hard to beat. Fixation produce a wide range of award-winning blends and a range of seasonal speciality single origins such as Kenya, Ecuador, Columbia and Ethipoia. Their roastery is open weekdays in Mount Maunganui. You can pop on in and pick up your fresh roast or have them delivered to your door freight free.
Fixation Coffee Roasters, 126C Newton Road, Mount Maunganui
Coffee is an obsession for many of us and the owners of OCD absolutely get that. This boutique coffee roastery is tucked away in the countryside on Pahoia Rd in Whakamārama. They deliver fresh ground coffee beans right to your door via their weekly or monthly coffee subscriptions (available NZ-wide). Their ‘house blend’, ‘fair trade’, and ‘death before decaf’ are the result of OCD’s sophisticated roasting style and great attention to detail. Sustainability is a big focus here. They only use biodegradable and compostable packaging and sell stylish glass keep cups along with various coffee accessories. Pop in for an espresso if you’re passing by.
OCD Coffee Roasters, 196 Pahoia Road, Whakamārama
Mount Maunganui’s Fusion Coffee has been proudly roasting coffee for over 20 years and have it down to a fine art! Their roastery and espresso bar at 141 Totara St also offers cabinet foot and a wide range of coffee-related products and brewing equipment such as Jura coffee machines. Fusion produce a range of specialty coffees named after local landmarks such as ‘Arataki’ and ‘Matakana’ and take a non-pretentious, relaxed approach to sharing their coffee knowledge with others. They ethically source high-quality grade one coffee beans from around the world and never have to wait long for delivery as they’re located right beside Port of Tauranga.
Fusion Coffee, 141 Totara Street, Mount Maunganui
Folk’s intimate coffee shop and outdoor courtyard is a sanctuary for those working and studying in Tauranga’s CBD. This boutique roastery on Durham St oozes heart and soul, and recognises that coffee is as much a social experience as a personal one. Their artisan ‘Folk blend’ combines beans from Columbia, Brazil and Mexico, while several single origins are also available featuring coffee beans from Rwanda, Guatemala and Ethiopia. Folk can brew the perfect cup of coffee and serve delicious cabinet food for you to relax and enjoy, or you’re welcome to buy beans to take away and brew at home.
Folk Brewers, 148 Durham Street, Tauranga
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