overflow » [coffee chronicles]

eighthirty [coffee chronicles 65]

ames — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:18:50 +0000

I have a new love. Yes it has arrived, although it’s been there all along. Eighthirty makes incredible coffee and … delivers it by cargo-bicycle. What more could a girl want? On Saturday Kirsty dropped me off with Suzie and I sunk a long mac with Gayle who suggested the visit. I have ridden and driven past eighthirty so many times that it has become a habit that I look at the old brick walls and the bicycles through the window and swing my head thinking “I must visit there.” This has almost become an annoying habit. But finally! Hooray! And boy it blew my expectations; if I had had any that is… but of course I do when it comes to coffee.

Check out their website, it is fantastic. It’s simple design matches the simple cafe yet it has its own style all the same. I left with a stock for the week for only $10.50. Bargain. And just in time as we ran out yesterday.

millers [coffee chronicles 64]

ames — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:44:53 +0000

It’s been a long time coming. Too long in fact. Finally I made it to Miller’s cafe, or more correctly roasters, with the help of DB, Gayle and their pretty new cycling shoes. On the menu for me was a sleep in so I met them quite late but at least I got all; a ride, a sleep in and a coffee to save my work colleagues for the wrath of ‘the lacking.’

You can not, not like a place that has more than one chandelier like this and smells of delicious grind. Let alone it’s stunning coffee that has a kick yet isn’t bitter either. I’m sure I could taste the visual of it’s bell curve; it smoothes at the edges. Thank you Gayle and DB, I will go back (and ride for longer next time).

Previous coffee chronicles:
Oklahoma Tuesday, Manchester

cafe O [coffee chronicles 63]

ames — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:42:46 +0000

There seemed to be a period of time where no new cafes were making themselves present in Auckland. Perhaps it was the recession, or perhaps it was me not noticing? Either way, recently I spotted Cafe O on my way to work. It’s light blue and white theme sticks out rather noticeably on Great North Road which is quite industrial and somewhat of a concrete paradise. I didn’t have a chance to try any food but sunk back a long macchiato and was pleased enough to want to go back and try the food-coffee combo at a later date. Their menu looks very tasty!

kohu road cafe [coffee chronicles 62]

ames — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:21:44 +0000

Hero and I have been scouting Kohu road cafe for a while. It is part of the gradual cafe west-ward creep and ideally located after descending the Waitakeres. Last weekend we climbed, quite possibly the most beautiful climb in the Waitakeres, Carter road, and then returned via Titirangi and Woodbay. Another favourite: the descent full of switchbacks and green ways. We had intended to go to Salvation Kitchen as Kohu road isn’t usually open on Sunday’s but it was a quick change of decision when we rode past and saw it was open. We had to try it.

It is a big old warehouse, even though it looks modern from the outside. Nice and spacious, they serve Kokako coffee, which wasn’t amazing, but wasn’t bad either. Their selection of counter food was stunted in comparison to Salvation, perhaps because it was a Sunday? Either way, the atmosphere was nice and it was worth a nosy. Especially for a well-earned caffeine injection.

domain ayr [coffee chronicles 61]

ames — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:41:36 +0000

One of my favorite cafes Kokako has been reborn, Domain Ayr. At the top of Ayr street, opposite the Domain this organic goodness, bicycle friendly cafe is fantastic. The menu is so yummy it’s hard to decide and I love the little features such as coffee sack chairs and the bicycle on the wall. Be sure to swing by after a lap of the waterfront.

Other coffee chronicles:

Shaky Isles, Kingsland, Auckland

Artisan, Edinburgh, Scotland

Rapha pop-up store, London

Moocow, Manchester

vinyl cafe [coffee chronicles 60]

ames — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:28:13 +0000

Dominion road is an interesting place. It’s an eclectic mix of asian food stores, mobile phone shops and chains such as Burger Fuel and Hells Pizza. Amongst the mix is Vinyl cafe which is distinctly its own. They serve Cafe Supreme coffee which is always a good start. They also have a fantastic selection of vegetarian options for breakfast or lunch. If you are cruising past be sure to pay a visit.

agnes curran cafe [coffee chronicles 58]

ames — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:31:38 +0000

On the corner of Franklin and Ponsonby roads lies a charming little cafe called Agnes Curran. It is by far my favorite Ponsonby cafe destination, serving a stiff Altezano macchiato in pieces to ‘mix your own.’ They serve lemingtons and jam with a healthy wad of cream which is always a winner in my books.

The Pencil boutique sits next to Agnes, waiting for customers to float from one to the other. It’s equally lovable with quirky notebooks and of course, pencils. Walking in there is like walking into a toy shop … I seemed to have inherited my mother’s expensive stationary fetish.

salvation kitchen [coffee chronicles 57]

ames — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 04:18:46 +0000

It’s been awhile since I’ve found a new cafe to feature on the coffee chronicles. Such is life, routine and grind take over sometimes and going anywhere new is left for the weekend: if there are any new to visit. Hero and I rode this morning and before we even left, we decided that Salvation Kitchen would be our end destination after seeing it on Emma’s blog.

The outward creep of good cafes continues… Salvation is new and taken a wondrous spot in Avondale. It used to be a service station so there is plenty of outside seating and parking, beside a few hot rods. It is appropriately quirky and the range of food is just fantastic. I had to try the Belgium slice looking ‘just as my Mum used to make it.’ And yes it tasted so, probably because everything is made right there on site, not in some South Auckland factory by a big mental thing with teeth and arms.

Coffee? Brilliant.

Yes, we will go back.

shaky isles kingsland [coffee chronicles 56]

ames — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 04:38:37 +0000

Auckland is lucky enough to have two Shaky Isles cafes. I love the concept, their menu and their amazing coffee. I’m never disappointed and for a coffee snob this is very important!

Gloria Cafe [coffee chronicles 55]

ames — Mon, 23 May 2011 22:07:30 +0000

Gloria cafe has been around for years. It set the standard in the early 2000′s, in it’s industrial space it served amazing coffee and food. It still does, but hasn’t changed much in the last decade. I love it’s location as the sun streams in, lighting up the space. A big garage door fronts the big table and when it is warm they open it, letting even more light in. I kind of liked that it hasn’t changed in so many years. Sometimes it’s nice when things are consistent, reliable and dependable.