The Parlour, Howick

The Parlour

137 Picton Street

Howick

Auckland

Large Flat White: $4.50

I’m back going to the physio for my ankle, and often use the visit as an excuse for a good coffee on main street Howick. I was all set to go to the Apothecary but got lazy and stopped in here instead. I thin it’s relatively new – when I googled the address, ‘Destiny Café’ comes up.

LOOKS retro, but actually not too bad.

Coffee: Quite good. In fact, when I took my first sip, I thought it might be a perfect 5, but it didn’t travel as well. If you were rating on the first sip it would be outstanding, but it fades fast. (4/5)

Milk:  Awesome. Solid, foamy, velvety. Good milk. (5/5)

Presentation: This is a very interesting cup – a unique symbol and feels like quite a big cup. The lid has that weird spout thing on it, which is not a bad thing, but I find it a bit odd. The lid was quite tricky to get off, again, not a big deal but annoying when coffee reviewers try to look inside. (3/3)

Verdict: I nearly judged a book by its cover. I thought the place looked like it was going to give a very ordinary coffee but I was very pleasantly surprised. I was similarly surprised that the coffee was so good, but it did go downhill fast. You’d want to drink it quickly, if you can.

Overall rating: 12/13 A good coffee at a good price. Worth giving a try again.

Texture Cafe, Flat Bush

Texture Café

1 Arranmore Drive

Flat Bush

Auckland

Large Flat White: $5.50 (jeepers creepers)

Texture Cafe - by night, one would assume.

This place has had a flood of recommendations from locals on social media so I had to go and try it. It is situated near the new Ormiston Senior College, and is near a dairy and opposite a childcare centre, along with all the new subdivision houses. It should have a ticket to print money.

Coffee: Reasonably good, but only reasonably. It’s not the strongest tasting cup going. (4/5)

Milk:  Awesome. Solid, foamy, velvety. Good milk. (5/5)

Presentation: Black cup and black lid – very fashionable no doubt, but I’m so used to white lids that it seems a little odd. Nothing structurally wrong though. (3/3)

Verdict: A good cup, and not bad café to have in your neighbourhood. But at $5.50 for a large and $4.50 for a small/regular, it’s overpriced for what it is. I guess when you’re the only player in your area then that’s what you can do.

Overall rating: 12/13 A good, but expensive coffee.

Cigana St Heliers

Cigana St Heliers

5 Maskell St, St Heliers,

Auckland

Large Flat White: $4.80

The 'famous' red Cigana cup

I’ve done Cigana before (their St Johns outlet) and this one in St Heliers provides a more bricks and mortar presence. It’s a shame this wasn’t here when I was a younger man, as it would have been right at the top of my street.

Coffee: It’s a strong flavour – I almost think a 5, but it just falls back. Made me think though. If only I gave quarter marks. (4.5/5)

Milk:  Awesome. Solid, foamy, velvety. Good milk. (5/5)

Presentation: The red Cigana branded cup is very distinctive. You aren’t going to confuse this with anything around the place. (3/3)

Verdict: A really good cup, better than its cousin in St Johns. Nearly perfect, I’d definitely go here if I was in the neighbourhood.

Overall rating: 12.5/13. Very, very very good. It’s nice to find a place that lives up to the hype every now and then!