Jamie's Cafe

Thursday 9 January 2014

Jamie’s Café

Pakuranga Plaza

Medium Flat White: $4.50.

This café has a pride of place at one end of the Pakuranga Plaza and is critically located right outside the Farmers.

Coffee: There is some coffee taste in here. At first I thought there was something special but it has quickly faded down to being above average.  (3.5/5)

The cardboard ring - bit silly because it covers the cafe name?

Milk: Not a great deal of flavour, and there is some foam, but it is more aerated than velvety. It doesn’t detract from the taste of the coffee though which is a plus. (4/5).

Presentation: A bright red cup that stands out and is of solid construction. One funny thing I’ve never seen before – a cardboard ring around the cup, presumably to save your hands form being too hot. Seems a bit of a waste though. I wonder how much of the café’s bottom line is spent on these? (3/3)

Verdict: It’s not a bad coffee, but it’s not great either. A stronger tasting coffee would help out a lot, as there isn’t much else wrong with it. I’m used to better from Coffee Supreme. The similarities between this cup and the one I had from Muffin Break yesterday are striking – I wonder if they are just the same café and I didn’t notice?

Overall rating: 10.5/13. It’s not too bad actually. Just nudges out the Sierra flat white for best in the Plaza.

Muffin Break, Pakuranga Plaza

Tuesday January 7 2014

Muffin Break

Pakuranga Plaza

I remember having many a coffee from Muffin break at the Pakuranga Plaza when I was in Year 13 (or Form 7 for those of us before the year 2000). It was a daily thing and I always enjoyed them, being nice and wired for the after-lunch class. But is Muffin Break any better now I'm an adult?

Medium Flat White: $5 (the most expensive to date. It better be good).

Coffee: A bit of a let down. There is a hint of it peeking out of the cup but overall it tastes like a fluffy. (2/5)

Milk: The milk, incomplete contrast, is perfect. Looks nice (is there a pattern on top there?) and has velvet to burn. Just a shame there is no coffee to try and compete. (4/5)

Presentation: Nothing wrong with the cup. Interestingly, it seems to be a bit plasticy, which didn’t take away from the experience and wasn’t too hot to hold, etc. (3/3)

Verdict:  Locals rave about this place for when they’re down at the mall. I think they’re welcome to. It’s okay coffee but not great. Also very expensive for what you get. No change out of a fiver!

Overall rating: 9/13. Decent coffee but try a muffin instead.

Sierra Cafe, Pakuranga Plaza

Saturday January 4 2014
Sierra Cafe
Pakuranga Plaza

Sierra cafe, like Columbus, has a bit of a sleeper reputation as a fancy hipster cafe that then became franchised. Means their coffee should be good, right?

Large Flat White: $4.80.

Coffee: There’s a strong coffee poking its head out here. It doesn’t, however, send a shiver down my spine. (3.5/5)

Milk: The milk is nicely done, but has a few too many bubbles in it for my taste. (3.5/5)

Presentation: Solid Sierra cup, nothing wrong with it. (3/3)

Verdict:  I could see myself drinking one of these per day if I worked in the Pakuranga Plaza. it’s not great but it’s certainly not bad.

Overall rating: 10/13. Decent coffee. Non-offensive.

Cafe Palazzo (Pakuranga)

Friday January 3 2014

Café Palazzo

189 Pigeon Mountain Rd
(Palmers Garden Centre)
Pakuranga
Manukau, Auckland

Cafes at garden centres have not always been around but are a great idea. It’d get people like me into a garden centre. Local rave about this place so I thought I would give it a go.

Medium Flat White: $4.00.

Coffee: There is coffee here but it doesn’t break through as being a nice kick in the pants that I want from a flat white. Not too bad. (3/5)

Milk: The milk is nicely done, but loses its foaminess as you go and ends up being just plain old milk by the end. (3.5/5)

Presentation: I broke my own rules a bit and had this as an eat-in coffee while having lunch with my wife. No problems with presentation. (3/3)

Verdict:  It’s not a bad coffee, but it doesn’t give that kick that I want from a flat white. A serviceable lunch coffee but not a first thing in the morning coffee.

Overall rating: 9.5/13. Garden centres are best for buying garden stuff.

Heights Bakery and Cafe

Monday 20 December 2013
Heights Bakery and Cafe
5/114 Reeves Rd
Pakuranga
Manukau, Auckland

Medium Flat White: $4.00

This bakery is just up the road from where I live so gets a lot of my business, especially over this holiday period.

Coffee: Not bad. I guess I can taste it, but it isn’t overly strong, and doesn’t give me the kick in the pants I’d like from a coffee early morning. (2.5/5)

Milk: Not a great deal of flavour, and there is some foam, but it is more aerated than velvety. It doesn’t detract from the taste of the coffee though which is a plus. (4/5).

Presentation: The cup tells me about the beans (Karajoz) and gives me the contact details. Solid lid construction, nothing wrong with it. (3/3).

Verdict: It’s not a bad coffee, but it’s not great yet. A stronger tasting coffee would help out a lot, as there isn't much else wrong with it. The fast service at the Heights Bakery is also consistently welcomed. It’s at the top of my street and at the top of my list for close by good coffees.

Overall rating: 9.5/13. It doesn’t knock my socks off, but it’s what I’d call a good (enough) coffee. Definitely worth my repeat custom.

Columbus Pakuranga Highway

Friday 27 December 2013

Columbus Pakuranga Highway

Medium Flat White: $4.80.

Coffee: Couldn’t really taste it. I assume it was there. (1/5)

Milk: Not much velvety foam, and it tasted VERY creamy. Given that I had just spent the last few days eating trifles and what not, I was ready for a break from cream. Very off-putting. (1/5).

Presentation: Columbus always has their yellow cups which since I often go to another Columbus outlet give me a sense of satisfaction and safety. No leaks or anything. (3/3).

Verdict: I am used to reasonably good coffees from Columbus, but this hyper-creamy delight left me feeling very shortchanged. So short changed that I needed to put a sachet into it to taste some coffee. A let down from a usually reliable coffee company. Hopefully just an aberration.

Overall rating: 5/13. Most of that from the colour of the cup.