Preparing the perfect coffee at Toasted Espresso

When I simply want a great coffee, Toasted Espresso is probably my favourite spot. These guys are seriously good baristas and Toasted Espresso consistently produces award winning roasts. Their beans are used by a lot of local cafes and restaurants.

Toasted Espresso started life a bit further down Barry’s Pt Road Takapuna, but they moved into their current premises at number 42 a few years ago and have recently extended the cafe. I guess it’s more evidence of their success as a great local business that’s stuck to its core values. You can get a bite to eat – there’s a variety of sweet and savoury counter foods – but this place is really about drinking damn fine coffee. They sell coffe machines and all sorts of coffee paraphernalia.

The interior design is loungey, with collections of retro chairs and couches and the odd table. There’s usually some good local art work on display, good magazines to read, and the music is always groovy. Oh, and you can buy your beans here, too.

That little block of shops at Rothesay Bay is a smorgasbord of eateries from Indian to organic. One that we seem to keep going back to is The Internationalist, a bistro and wine bar for grown up people, right on the corner of Beach Road & Lyons Ave. There’s a well stocked bar (they specialise in imported wines and boutique beers), a large indoor dining area, a big deck with views of the Hauraki Gulf, and a lounge area complete with comfy couches, piano, magazines and books for car enthusiasts. The owners hail from Montreal and Sth Africa, used to own Toto, and know how to run a lively operation.

Open 7 days, there’s something special on offer each day. Monday night is boys’ movie night (girls are welcome) – $20 gets you a burger, a beer and a movie at dusk. Tuesday is two-for-one main meal night. Wednesday, you can enjoy live music or art-house movie. Two pizzas for $25 has gotta be a great deal on a Thursday night. Friday lunchtime you can have a 3 course meal and house wine for $24.50. Saturdays, the kids eat free when there’s 2 big people eating. Sunday afternoons are for cruising with some live jazz. There’s also a happy hour (2 hours actually), 4-6pm everyday. Fri, Sat, Sun The I opens at 11am.

Check them out on Facebook to see what movies are coming up and any other newsy bits.

covered deck out the front of bungalo cafe

Great name for a cafe that’s housed in an old brick bangalow (cute spelling too) in Birkenhead. These guys used to have Villa in Birkenhead Point and they’re still doing great stuff. The coffee’s worth a drive across town for, and they know how to cook! (is that Mum in the kitchen?). I have a friend who calls in every morning on his way to work for a coffee and a cheese scone – says they’re to die for. Personally, I think the spicy apple bran muffins are divine. Plenty of seating, with a big, covered deck out the front and big tables. Friendly, prompt service-with-a-smile. Located at 96 Mokoia Road, open every day (8-3:30 weekdays, 8-3:00 weekends).

Busy lunch crowd at Jam Organic Cafe

I reckon if I were to open a cafe in Takapuna, it would just about look like Jam Organic Cafe in Hurstmere Road (behind Movenpick). We’ve had to follow owner Jules from her previous cafe in Milford, but it didn’t take long to find her, and her trademark blackboard menu, big pitchers of water brimming with chunks of seasonal fruit, and some of the best looking cafe food you’ll find on the Shore continue to draw a loyal following. Jam’s MO is to use organic and locally sourced produce where possible, and they don’t compromise on quantity, either. The Jam burger is massive (I could probably manage a half), packed with avocado, beef patty, bacon, lettuce, horseradish sauce, tomato, aioli (I think I got it all) – I’d defy anyone to get their gob around one of these monsters – Knife and fork required!

Jam has a liquor license and a fairly comprehensive range of wines (including some organic wine) and beer. The coffee roast is one of the best around (Toasted Espresso) and they have baristas that know how to do a good extraction. I have yet to be disappointed with a coffee from Jam.

This place is well patronised, especially by the road biking fraternity in the mornings. There’s plenty of seating, inside and out, including a big communal dining table with arty/foodie books to browse. Lots of fun, quirky details that will amuse, like getting a jar of jam to identify your table order, rather than a predicable old number.

Passion Cafe

Passion by name, passion by nature. Owner Julene Payne has plenty of it and it shows in her cafe. The food is cooked onsite – all the old favourites, presented with flair, like cheese scones, sweet and savoury muffins, friands, brioche, club sandwiches and pies, as well as daily specials like mince on toast and quiche. Every time I’ve eaten here, the food has been delicious. The coffee is also superb – supplied by local roastery Planet Espresso.

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