The Top 10 Coffee Shops and Roasters in New Zealand
2 Coffee Junkies on the Hunt for Good Brews around New Zealand
Our first encounter with New Zealand’s coffee culture wasn’t exactly love at first sip. After too many cups of instant coffee, we started to wonder if our caffeine standards were simply too high. Luckily, we couldn’t have been more wrong.
New Zealand takes its coffee seriously and once you know where to look, the quality is outstanding. From carefully roasted beans to perfectly pulled shots, we were quickly converted. So if you’re traveling through the country and craving a genuinely good cup od joe, this guide is for you. Below you’ll find our selection of the 10 best coffee roasters and coffee shops in New Zealand, plus exactly where to go for an excellent long black or a creamy cappuccino.
Trevor has been a coffee addict since his early adult years and let’s be honest, a good day really does start with a good cup of coffee. Even though Nora only discovered her love for plain black coffee a few years ago, she’s always loved the smell. It reminds her of slow childhood mornings when her mom made coffee, prepared breakfast and the kitchen slowly filled with that unmistakable signal that it was almost time to eat. Today, between the two of us she’s definitely the coffee snob.
Our first impression of New Zealand’s coffee culture was, admittedly, a bit disappointing. Instant coffee simply doesn’t cut it. Thankfully, that impression didn’t last long. As we traveled around the country on our road trip, we quickly developed a routine whenever we arrived in a new town: look up well-rated cafés and local coffee roasters and get a good cup of coffee.
Somewhere along the way, Nora went from mostly drinking cappuccinos to fully embracing straight black coffee and New Zealand is where that shift truly happened. The quality of coffee across both islands is outstanding, with roasters who clearly care about their craft. Beyond that, many cafés feel refreshingly progressive in how they approach sustainability and their impact on the environment. You’ll notice that most places encourage bringing your own cup with a small discount, actively recycle coffee grounds and work with fair trade suppliers. It’s good coffee with a conscience and that combination makes it even better.
Bubus Café, Taupo
Where it all began and where we first realized what New Zealand’s coffee scene truly has to offer. While working on our van in Taupō and desperate for a decent coffee, it was more than convenient to have Bubu’s Coffee Roasters nearby. The owners focus entirely on great coffee, roasting their beans in-house. Both are SCA trained (Specialty Coffee Association) and keep things refreshingly simple, with no unnecessary knick-knacks.
The interior is a mix of clean Scandinavian design and subtle industrial elements, making it equally great for a quick coffee stop or a longer, relaxed hangout. It also offers a good work atmosphere. The roasters and owners are such friendly people and it’s obvious they truly care about coffee, their craft and making customers happy. Their mission is to introduce real coffee culture to New Zealand and bring its delicacy to everyday life.
They even spent half a year choosing the perfect coffee biscuit to accompany their brews. Bubu’s is a little out of the way from downtown Taupo, but it’s absolutely worth the short drive.
Escape, New Plymouth
New Plymouth already has a lot going for it. Wild beaches with rough surf, a laid-back local vibe and the ever-present backdrop of Mount Taranaki rising above it all. What completes the picture is a place like Escape Coffee Roasters.
Escape is locally owned and set inside a converted building that feels part surf shop, part hangout, part coffee roastery. Skateboards and surfboards line the space, gear is scattered around casually and as you move further inside you’ll find a simple central counter where the coffee magic happens. Nothing flashy, just a place that feels lived in and true to its surroundings.
We stopped by later in the day, shortly before closing and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming. The baristas were chatting with customers, laughing among themselves and clearly enjoying their space. We ordered a long black and a cappuccino made with their Black Bird Organic Fair Trade Dark Roast. Rich, smooth and full-bodied, it was exactly what we needed after a long day. To our surprise, the coffee ended up being on the house. Maybe we were the last guests of the day, maybe just good timing, but it definitely added to the experience.
If you’re in New Plymouth soaking in views of Mount Taranaki, go check out Escape. Alongside great coffee, they also host yoga classes, occasional live music and even have a shower tucked away in the bathroom. It’s one of those places that feels less like a café and more like a small community hub.
Ozone, New Plymouth
While Escape Roasters embodies the laid-back surfer vibe of New Plymouth, Ozone feels a bit more polished and design-driven. Founded here in the late 90s, it has grown into a place that clearly cares about coffee, quality and the details that make a café work well over time. What started in New Plymouth has since expanded, with coffee shops in Auckland and Christchurch as well as locations in London. Ozone has the refinement and classy simplicity you would expect from a chic cafe in Stockholm. From the moment you walk in, it’s obvious that the craft comes first, without the space ever feeling intimidating.
The open barista counter with a massive La Marzocco espresso machine, a backdrop of ivory white tiles and carefully chosen equipment set the tone. Opposite you’ll find a pastry counter and little shop where you can buy all manner of slick coffee gear. Adding to that there is a spacious and cozy seating area, they also have outdoor seating! A perfect place for meet ups with friends, slow mornings or to catch up on some work.
C4 Coffee, Christchurch
Christchurch is a special city, still in the process of rebuilding after the recent earthquakes, you'll see a lot of remaining rubble and buildings under repair/renovation. That is at first glance however, if you look deeper you'll see a resilient and vibrant city that has risen to the challenge of bettering their home.
Chief amongst the rebuilding city you'll notice that small, local businesses are everywhere, some of them Coffee Roasters and Cafes. One of the Roasters that we think best shows off the culture of ChCh is C4 Coffee. Situated in a huge, renovated industrial warehouse, C4 is hands down the most visually impressive roaster that we've stepped foot in. When you first walk in via an old loading ramp, you are greeted by an immense sense of space. On the left there is the baristas counter with cozy laptop friendly seating, on the right you see the huge roasting machines where the magic happens and towards the back there is a shop that sells every type of coffee accessory that you could imagine and ones you had no idea existed until setting foot in C4.
Variety is the name of the game here, there are almost as many brew methods to choose from as there are roasts available. You can order all the typical coffee preparations like filter, espresso and drip but if you're feeling wild you can also request Aeropress, Moka Pot, hand poured, french press, Chemex, Syphon (looks like a crazy chemistry device you'd have used in High School) and more. C4's brew methods are certainly a draw for coffeephiles, now you just have to decide on which roast to go with (no easy task as there are over 200 different roast+brew options to choose from)! To start, there are blended roasts with quirky names like Krank (house blend), Headset and Villain. Then you have a generous selection of Single Origin roasts from countries that would also make for a pretty sweet travel bucket list like Brazil, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia and the list goes on.
It would be hard to say which roast and brew type to go with, so you'll just have to drop by C4 to see what the fuss is about! You can even order from C4, they have free shipping in New Zealand, so you never have to be left wanting! In fact, while writing this, we're drinking the V6 blended roast, which is great for a delicious filter coffee.
Addington Coffee Co-Op, Christchurch
Another prime example of what makes Christchurch, well Christchurch! Addington Coffee is located in yet another big, old renovated, spacious building. The space has the feel of a big communal gathering area and as you walk in you are hit with the smell of coffee, pastries and delicious food. You'll immediately notice a bike hanging from the ceiling and the antique looking coffee roaster in the back left corner.
Where the coffee roasters we've previously written about focus primarily on coffee, Addington is equal parts awesome coffee and tasty, visually appealing food. The Big House Breakfast for Trevor and a tasty bagel with scrambled eggs for Nora. A yummy sweet treat can’t be missed either! The food and coffee are great, but Addington really shines when it comes to their business philosophy and mission. They are all about fair, ethical business practices and giving back to the community. In fact, they contribute 70% of their profits to giving back to the local community as well as contributing to the producers they source their coffee from abroad. This is reinforced by the little shop at the front. It sells mostly local products as well as products from overseas in struggling communities.
If you value supporting a business that serves top notch food and coffee while also doing its part to make the world, both locally and internationally, a better place then you can't miss this gem in Christchurch.
Blink Coffee Bar, Nelson
Most cafes are pretty easy to spot from a distance, you know the look, a bunch of people sitting down, chatting and laughing all while sipping their drinks. Blink on the other hand is almost a secret spot that you would likely miss if you didn't know what you were looking for!
Blink is hidden down a narrow walkway sandwiched between two small clothing stores. It is literally just a cube with a guy, an espresso machine, some pictures including a Stormtroopers face and a bar stool for him to sit on.
Don't let that fool you though, Blink has removed all of the unnecessary bits of a typical cafe and puts the excellent espresso front and center as the only focus. What it lacks in ambiance and even seating, it makes up for in divine coffee. But that’s the whole point. Good coffee for people on the go. Make sure to grab a brew while exploring the Nelson farmer's market!
Kuku Coffee, Dunedin
As you travel around New Zealand and take some time to explore the cities and towns, you'll begin to notice the Kiwis who have said no to the typical 9 to 5 and chosen to open up their own business. Kūkū coffee perfectly demonstrates this entrepreneurialism (fun fact: Kūkū is the Maori name for the New Zealand pigeon).
Located on the western side of Dunedin, Kūkū Coffee sits inside a humble building no bigger than a doctor's waiting room. Jared takes his coffee seriously, but not in a pretentious way. After working as a coffee roaster for 13+ years, Jared decided to apply his skills to his own business.
It's pretty easy finding the biggest and best coffee roaster in a city, but it is significantly harder to find hidden gems like Kūkū, we almost missed it. There are no frills or fluff, just a Kiwi, a roasting machine, some seats, an old portable record player and delicious coffee.
Besides the tasty coffee you also get to strike up a conversation with Jared. He's a super friendly guy that is happy to give as much advice as you want about other hidden gems in the South Island. You also quickly learn about his other passion, music. He has a mini DJ setup next to the roasting machine and plays unique tunes from NZ artists as well as blues classics.
If you want to enjoy some of the simple pleasures of life, namely coffee and music, without pretence, then you should go checkout Kūkū Coffee.
Common Ground Espresso, Dunedin
Dunedin is a thriving student city. You get an immediate sense of hustle and bustle when you first arrive via a crazy highway. The city is part college town, with its optimistic, youthful energy. Then if you drive 10 minutes south to the beautiful, huge stretches of beaches on the east coast, you'll find that Dunedin also has a big surf culture.
The resulting eclectic energy from this melting pot gives Dunedin its unique vibe. Equal parts quirky, sporty, industrial and traditional. What brings these different parts together? Well, amongst other things, great coffee! This is where Common Ground Espresso comes in.
Situated in an unassuming business park with auto body shops, mechanics, upholstery etc. there sits a diamond in the rough. Common Ground is unapologetically 100% coffee. No food, just a place for coffee lovers to gather and imbibe. The smell when you walk into the built out garage/warehouse is unbelievable!
You're equally as likely to spot business men and mechanics there as you are to spot college students and surfers. What they all share in common is the appreciation for divine roasts. You can't go wrong here, there are only a handful of brews on the menu, the star of the show are the roasts. Just order and enjoy!
While living in Wanaka we did order some coffee online because we had such a craving for it.
Whanake Gallery & Espresso Bar, Westport
What do you do when you finish a long drive through what feels like the coast at the edge of the world? Get yourself some coffee of course! We drove up the Western Coast of the South Island, the road winding along towering cliffs with the untamed Tasman Sea crashing below and ended up in Westport. A small coastal town that feels lost in time.
Even if you end up in a town that seems lost in time, as a coffee junkie in New Zealand, you'll still find that you'll be able to grab a good brew. It was exactly what we needed! Whanake Espresso Bar doesn't roast their own beans, but they serve them up just right! You can also check out the art while waiting. Many times, you don't need a fancy cafe to sit down in, a lot of the time you just need a good coffee to give you that much needed afternoon boost and Whanake Espresso Bar Delivers! Make sure to bring your own cup as well!
Underground Coffee, Christchurch
Underground Coffee is a name that you will quickly come to recognize, especially on the south island. They are one of the most prolific roasters in New Zealand. And yes, Underground is also based in Christchurch. Just something about ChCh that brings the best out of coffee!
There are multiple roaster locations distributed through ChCh and we decided to visit. Walking in you are greeted by an industrial chic ambiance. The smell of fresh roasted and brewed coffee permeates everything and brings a smile to the face. We just stayed for a quick coffee and a scone but it was an excellent way to start the day.
Underground is a roaster that you don't necessarily need to visit while in the city as their coffee is hawked by tons of cafes. However, if you're in the area just stop by and enjoy.
