There’s no excuse for bad coffee – not in New Zealand. Kiwis are self appointed coffee connoisseurs and won’t pay good money for a lukewarm, scummy brew. The standard is high and that’s good news for our international travellers!
Now here’s a thing that puzzles some European visitors accustom to having late afternoon coffees. New Zealanders generally place more importance on their morning and lunchtime coffees. If you arrive at a café 3-4pm you’ll probably find the staff sweeping up and clearing the cabinets. Some cafes are packed in the mornings and lunchtime, but after 3.00pm, is a different story……and that suits Michael just fine, but if you like a café vibe, you will sacrifice some of the atmosphere by going at this time..
New Zealand cafes not only serve great coffee but also a variety of cabinet food (attractively presented) or a menu – some will offer both. And for a small country, I think we have the best tasty gluten-free options to be found anywhere in the world.
Our cafes are often theme-based and this is no better illustrated than by The Federal Store in the Strandon suburb of New Plymouth. Here the theme is 1940-50’s kitsch and décor, complete with formica tables and chairs and memorabilia in every available space. You’re greeted to a stunning display of home-baking with the most enormous and ornately iced cakes. The muffins are buttery and packed with gorgeous berries and dotted nuggets of white chocolate and don’t get me started on the salads. The female staff wear a scarf around their heads in a style popular for that era and although the atmosphere is slightly chaotic, it’s a happy place to be!
This photo was taken while Michael was trying to choose between a savoury muffin and a sweet one…must have driven the staff mad. The Berry and white chocolate muffin won the toss. It was a good choice!
