Spilling the Beans: My Favourite Cafés in Aotearoa New Zealand

To say I am dependent on caffeine is an understatement. It's both a blessing and a curse: as much as I love preparing my Moka Pot for its morning brew—almost like a ritual—I undoubtedly need it to thrive at the University of Auckland. That's why I've made it a  mission of mine to try as much coffee as my time (and budget) allows!

Coffee in Aotearoa is overall more subdued compared to the States. The notes are ashier and oakier, rather than the common tanginess you get with South American blends. While I frequent flavoured syrups back home—lavender, hazelnut and the like—those are almost entirely absent from Kiwi coffee. Instead, they bask in simplicity. Flat whites—basically, a stronger latte—are paramount alongside their twin, long blacks—an inversion of the Americano. I've accustomed to these differences and now love nothing more than a good, high-quality bean.

Chuffed — 43 High Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010

Often rated as one of the highest cafés in Auckland, Chuffed was the first place I went to upon landing in New Zealand. And frankly, it's remained a favourite of mine! Their iced latte is scrumptious, complemented by a fantastic menu of unique French toast variations and vegan scrambles. The seating area is somewhat exposed to the elements with birds and winds rustling through every now and then. It's an adorable must-go: I've taken my other American friends here to raving reviews.

La La Café — 99 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052

Whereas Chuffed succeeds in being a social spot, I venture to La La to get my work done! As exams roll in, I find myself wandering up the hills of Parnell to squeeze into one of this cosy place's many booths with a flat white and a pastry. With incredible service—both from the workers and Wi-fi network—I find myself incredibly dialled in here. I've completed many-an-essay over the chatter of the older mainstays and gentle piano music.

Scarecrow — 33 Victoria Street East, Auckland 1010

Scarecrow is a nice middle-ground between Chuffed and La La with its own charming character. I especially love the high ceilings and natural light filtering through the endless amounts of wooden furniture in here. It's a great place for dates with some outdoor seating right beside Albert Park, while also having nice alcoves to really enhance your focus. If I had the free time, I'd love to treat myself to brunch here over a paperback and mugs upon mugs of their delicious coffee.

Remedy Coffee —  1 Wellesley Street West, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010

Talk about a cosy establishment! This hole-in-the-wall café is nestled downtown with a clear view of the Sky Tower. Don't let its urban location fool you, however: Remedy resembles the office of your bohemian Classics professor, with plants, prints and tiny tables scattered about the place. It's a shame that a seat is quite hard to come by here. While its size contributes to its charm, I would love to nestle in here: I mostly have to get takeaway. 

Biskit Cafe & Kitchen — 215 Parnell Road, Parnell, Auckland 1052

Further up the road from La La is this other gem of a dive—where I’m currently writing this blog! With sprawling floor-to-ceiling windows on two of the walls, Biskit is an ideal location for both people watching and a great cuppa. The clientele at Biskit is sprawling: fellow students, office-workers, old friends catching up over brunch. I particularly enjoy its green colour palette in tandem with its hardwood floors. It’s a versatile, airy, and adorable place.

What about outside of Auckland?

I also want to highlight some of the other cafés I enjoyed outside of the immediate CBD area. If, like me, you’re also a travel bug itching to escape the city, I would highly recommend any of these following places during your own excursions.

Corelli’s Cafe — 46 Victoria Road, Devonport, Auckland 0624

Located a ferry ride away in the scenic suburb of Devonport, Corelli’s is home to my favourite flat white in Auckland (sorry!). The interior balances the cosiness of a downtown café with the spaciousness that allows it to bustle. It somehow reminds me of where a Friends-like sitcom would take place: newspapers strewn about, folks of all walks of life passing through, iconoclast decorations. The menu, too, is lovely!

Egmont St. Eatery — 11 Egmont Street, Wellington 6011

This bustling eatery, located in the artsy capital of New Zealand, lives up to its home city’s hipness. My friend and I sat at the bar and conversed with one of the chefs while we ate: he even gave us extra pickles! That fails to mention the superb coffee, wide menu of deli sandwiches and diner favourites, and pastel shades everywhere. The outdoor seating area is also located in an adorable alleyway, right next to fantastic street art.

Park Ranger — 14 Riccarton Road, Riccarton, Christchurch 8041

Because I met some pals from Christchurch on IES’s trip to Rarotonga, I paid them a visit and asked them to take me to their favourite spot. Park Ranger (what a great name!) boasts a menu of breakfast bowls, adorable cakes and pastries, and of course, coffee. Dried bouquets decorate the rafters of its slanted ceiling, allowing sunlight in from many angles. It’s a bright joint that makes for a good spot to say goodbye in: I took the bus to the airport right after!

Alpine Centre Cafe — 2 Sandy Brown Road, Te Anau, Southland 9679

While trekking to Milford Sound, the tour I purchased stopped here for a break both on the way there, and back from Queenstown. It could be the exhaustion talking (I had to wake up at 4a.m. for the trip!), but their hazelnut oat milk latte was one of the best I’ve ever had. The Alpine Centre also features a gift shop, great views of the beginnings of the Fiordland, and alpacas — which you can feed, if you ask politely.

August Eatery — 75 Taranaki Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011

Last and certainly not least: this one’s perhaps my favourite establishment I went to while abroad. While I only spent a weekend in Wellington — which I’ll highlight specifically in a later blog! — this Turkish and Mediterranean influenced café has truly stuck with me. Situated within an a-frame building with endless panes of glass, the mahogany and salmon interior hosts low tables and fantastic eats. Everything is perfected to a T in terms of aesthetics: the menu’s typography, the colour of their mugs — even their plants! I could not recommend this place more.