Uxbridge Cafe, Howick

The Uxbridge Café

At Uxbridge, Howick's Creative Centre

35 Uxbridge Road,

Howick,

Manukau, 2014

http://www.uxbridge.org.nz/about-us/the-uxbridge-cafe

Large Flat White: $4.40

Locals rave about this place. It is literally a hole in the wall on the way to an art gallery and exhibition space in Howick, so it has a captive market to an extent. I got there about 20 mins before their official opening hours of 9: chairs were being put out but they made me a coffee.

Coffee: Using Roma coffee beans, it was a good first impression through the coffee taste, but did fade a tad. Very serviceable though. (4/5)

Milk: Really nice milk here – densely foamed enough and helps to compliment the coffee in the cup, bringing the level of the beans up. (5/5)

Presentation: The cup is styled as a sack, I’d assume to emphasise naturalness. It also had a little spout on the lid, as if to connect it to drinking from a baby bottle. (3/3)

Verdict: This is a really good coffee for what I expected to be average, considering its location and captive market.   

Overall rating: 12/13. A better coffee than I expected. Looks like the locals are right on this one.

Esquires East Tamaki

Esquires East Tamaki

19 Cryers Road,

East Tamaki,

Auckland

Regular Flat White: $4.90

Esquires is another franchise place that is in many suburbs in Auckland, and has once or twice been a place for me to get coffee from when having had a few drinks. Is it any better when I’m sober?

Coffee: What coffee? There’s water in here… (0/5)

Milk: It’s too creamy, but with no strong coffee taste to run interference, it’s no surprise. (2/5)

Presentation: Solid cup and lid combo. The best thing I can say about it is when I opened the lid to check the milk it didn’t spill on me. (3/3)

Verdict: Rubbish.  

Overall rating: 5/13. A coffee that made me email head office. I would have taken it back if it weren’t such a big drive. Keep in mind 60% of the grade on this cup comes from the cup itself and not the stuff inside it.

Sierra Ellerslie

Sierra Café Ellerslie

179 Ladies Mile,

Ellerslie,

Auckland

Large Flat White: $4.50

This place looks bigger on the outside than it does inside (sorry for the reverse Dr Who reference). It was recommended by someone from the Twitterati, so worth a look.

Coffee: The coffee is good, not knock-my-socks-off superb, but would sit well on a bus or train. (4/5)

Milk: Well steamed and frothed milk, looks very velvety, but lacks a bit of taste. I suppose it could be worse. (4.5/5)

Presentation: Solid cup and lid combo. Sierra cups are always very secure. (3/3)

Verdict: Sierra has always made a good cup of coffee, but that’s as far as I can take it. It’s good, and you could drinks lots of them, but it doesn’t reach the honour roll.

Overall rating: 11.5/13. A very good coffee that suffers a bit from franchise syndrome.

The Apothecary, Howick

The Apothecary Licenced Eatery

27 and 29 Picton Street,

Howick

https://www.facebook.com/theapothecaryhowick

Large Flat White: $4.50

This place looks a little steam punk, and has a cute little bar in the front. The theme from Shaft is playing when I walk in. I think I like this place already.

Coffee: Superb coffee, it gives a kick that I’ll feel later today. It tastes like a coffee, rather than tasting like something that just fades into milk. (5/5)

Milk: The milk is fantastic – it’s creamy but also complements the coffee. Velvety foam sits in the cup. (5/5)

Presentation: The cup colourfully tells me it is from bach espresso, and the lid fits on TIGHT. There’ll be no accidents here. (3/3)

Verdict: Lots of places in Howick talk a big game but then make crap cups of coffee. This place is the exact opposite.

Overall rating: 13/13. Entry number 2 for the hall of fame. I love this coffee!

The Coffee Club, Highland Park

Coffee Club Highland Park
Unit J, 20-22 Dunrobin Place
Highland Park 2010
AUCKLAND

Regular Flat White: $5.20 (Were the beans made of gold? The most expensive ‘medium’ coffee to date)

The coffee club strikes a black and white figure in many parts of Auckland and other major centres. Hopefully, a franchise that has “coffee” in its name will make good coffee.

Coffee: A good coffee, it gives a kick at first but fades very soon after. (4/5)

Milk: The milk is steamed very technically well, but lacks a punchy creaminess that I’d expect from a good one. (3.5/5)

Presentation: The cup is black and plastic. It’s also very hot to the touch – either they’ve made the flat white far too hot, or it is a poor conductor. (2/3)

Verdict: Looks like the coffee in the name is all talk. It’s also VERY on the nose to have to pay over 5 dollars for a MEDIUM coffee. It’s a shame I don’t deduct points for things like that.

Overall rating: 9.5/13. Go there for the food instead.

Ara-Tai Cafe, Halfmoon Bay

Ara-Tai Cafe

1 Ara-Tai Rd
(The Promenade Building)
Half Moon Bay
Manukau, Auckland

Large Flat White: $4.50

This café is heavily recommended on  local Facebook group. The menu looks great, though I did feel distinctly underdressed when I walked in for takeaway coffee.

Coffee: A very good coffee, gives a little kick at the start but it fades after 10 mins. Would be a perfectly good commuting coffee. (4.5/5)

Milk: The milk is quite delicious – creamy enough but not overpowering and overdone. Some bubbles in here but not just velvety enough. Almost don’t notice it. (4.5/5)

Presentation: The cup is very solid. The brown cup white lid combo has a pleasing look to it that I can’t quite put my finger on. (3/3)

Verdict: Ara-Tai is very flash looking and does a cup of coffee I don’t mind paying $4.50 for. It also has a unique position being near the ferry terminal out East. I wonder how well it will survive in a decade? With coffee like this, fairly well in my opinion.

Overall rating: 12/13. I could drink this every day.

Kitchenette, Highland Park

Kitchenette

Highland Park Shopping Centre.

(next door to Westpac)
505 Pakuranga Rd, Highland Park,

Large Flat White: $4.50

This café got recommended to me by my masseur, and is an interesting looking Israeli/Kiwi kitchen hybrid. They seem very proud of their cronuts!

Coffee: Not bad, but not a good kick in the pants. Reminds me very much of the taste of an iced coffee. (3/5)

Milk: The milk is quite delicious – creamy enough but not overpowering and overdone. Some bubbles in here but not just velvety enough. (4/5)

Presentation: The cup is very solid. The cup looks very on trend. (3/3)

Verdict: This café claims that life is too short for mediocre coffee. This one sits just above mediocre. It’s a nice enough coffee, and certainly wouldn’t interfere with a meal you had there, but I feel it’s holding back a bit.

Overall rating: 10/13. Lacking a bit of flavour but doesn’t leave you feeling bad afterwards.