If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand, expect to take in beautiful scenery, like mountains, beaches, vineyards and sub-tropical rainforests. But also expect to take in cups upon cups of delicious coffee. It’s a little-known fact that the Kiwis make a mean cup of java. In particular, the capital city of Wellington offers a bustling café culture and tasty coffee.
With more than 300 cafés in Wellington alone, there are more per capita here than anywhere else in the world, according to the New Zealand Tourism Board. To get a taste, head to popular Cuba Street, which is lined with trendy boutiques, restaurants, bars and lots of independent cafés. The secret to the addictive caffeine is in the beans and brewing style. Havana Coffee Works, one of the only wholesale coffee roasters in New Zealand, started importing its beans from Cuba in 1997. Then it added organic beans from other countries, including Bolivia, Mexico and Panama.
Another reason that makes Havana’s fair-trade coffee stand out is that the company uses an environmentally friendly electric roaster, rather than an old-fashioned gas one. While it supplies 20 other area roasteries with coffee, go to the source: You’ll find Havana Coffee Works’ flagship café on Tory Street. Stop in for a flat white (a shot of espresso with steamed milk), short black (a shot of espresso) or a long black (our equivalent to a cup of joe). And grab a pound of fresh beans to take home with you.
