Credit: Neat Places
Quench Your Caffeine Cravings
New Zealanders love a caffeine fix. Kiwis drink on average 3.7kg of coffee each per year – that’s a lot of cups to knock back every day. A fierce debate rages to this day about whether the iconic flat white was invented in New Zealand or Australia. (The correct answer is New Zealand, obviously).
Whether you’re seeking a morning pick me up, or you’re on the hunt for New Zealand’s best brew like a true coffee afficionado, you’d be hard pressed not to find an epic cup of coffee in every nook and cranny of The Central South Island.
C4 Coffee – Christchurch
Operating out of a spacious warehouse in Christchurch, C4 Coffee are the quiet achievers of the country’s coffee roasting industry. These guys have been sourcing specialty beans, which are roasted on-site daily, and supplying premium coffee for more than 20 years! From the comfort of your armchair, watch the magic unfold as you sip on their signature, smooth and nutty Krank blend.
Replenish Café – Timaru
On the hunt for wholesome food and sensational coffee in South Canterbury? Replenish Café has your back, nestled in the heart of Timaru’s CBD. Their uber-healthy menu, which heroes locally sourced ingredients, marries perfectly with beans sourced from Prima - a Christchurch roastery also big on sustainability. Give their beetroot or turmeric latte a go if you’re feeling adventurous!
The Lincoln Pantry – Selwyn
From a coffee van to a fully-fledged café, The Lincoln Pantry has firmly established itself as one of Selwyn’s most popular caffeine and brunch spots. Award-winning roaster Coffee Supreme supply the beans, famed for its smooth and deliciously rounded flavour. The pantry’s organic coffee is served generously in stoneware mugs to keep the heat in – a nod to the owner’s dislike of normal cups that hasten the cooling process.
Beach House Café – Kaikōura
Ask around Kaikōura where the locals go for their coffee, and the answer will most likely lead you to Beach House Café. Housed in a 1920s cottage, the café is a true local’s favourite, with some of the best views of the Kaikoura ranges from its back balcony. Beach House is known to brew consistent cuppas thanks to Coffee Supreme’s specialty beans.
The Alpine Grind – Mid Canterbury
The Alpine Grind in Methven has fast become a Mid Canterbury favourite for wholefood breakfast and brews since opening its doors in 2021. Warm the insides after a day shredding the slopes at Mt Hutt with a cup of exceptional Kōkako Coffee – New Zealand’s first organic coffee roasters. If you can’t get enough of the medium-bodied Aotea Blend, take a bag home and brew it however you like.
Little Vintage Espresso – Hurunui
Housed in a whitewashed cottage, Little Vintage Espresso was born out of a desire to fill a gap in Amberley, where locals could relax and savour excellent coffee without getting rushed out the door. The bean of choice? Christchurch’s Switch Espresso, an award-winning coffee roaster. With more than 18 years’ experience, expect sensational service and the best brew in North Canterbury.
The Greedy Cow Café – Mackenzie
The Greedy Cow was once a merino wool shop, now the sunny Lake Tekapo café pours some of the best coffee in the Mackenzie. As you sip on an award-winning blend from Hawthorne Coffee, you’ll be treated to magnificent views of snow-capped mountains and an icy-blue lake at the town’s doorstep. The cabinet also heaves with sandwiches, wraps, bagels and stunning pastries – the perfect remedy for a grumbling stomach.
Future Dough Co. - West Coast
Call into the historic Future Dough Co. in Reefton – the locals have since 1874. Formerly known as The Broadway Tearooms & Bakery, the heritage café has served gold miners, their families, and visitors over its nearly 150-year history. Tuck into a hearty miner’s breakfast with a cup of Hummingbird Coffee’s Oomph! blend on the side – an organic, fair-trade brew with sweet and nutty flavours.
