This is Kokako... the first certified organic fair trade roasters in Auckland, busy honing a fast growing reputation as New Zealand's most creative organic coffee brand a la mode. Standing apart from the generic crowd, you could describe this laid back roasters depot as the....... L a n d O f T h e L o n g F l a t W h i t e .
Antipodeans are natural born instigators of coffee culture, instinctively knowing how to find downtime to visit their favourite coffee hub, while getting about their busy daily lives. Their philosophy..... to value time to think, to talk, to observe and to smell the flowers, while savouring the flavour of a freshly roasted brew. Without these life essentials they would ask What's the point ?
Even Magnus Magnusson might not have known New Zealand has more roasters per capita than anywhere in the world. So it is no surprise this relatively recent cultural obsession, and addiction to premium coffee, is now part of the social landscape of NZ history, and is already setting the benchmark to the world.
The Kokako HQ has a prime curved corner spot on the Great North Road in Grey Lynn, a suburb of inner Auckland. Anyone who has navigated the Great Northern Run in the UK could presumably head here to run the Great North Road, the 2nd longest road in Auckland and might be lucky enough to find a free cup of coffee at the finish line.
The interior space is beautifully conceived and full of good stuff. Good design, good food, good service, good roasting, projecting a sense of quality craftsmanship without any air of pretension. Open plan with a complete 360° view of kitchen, counter bar, cake cabinet, roastery depot, tables + benches and large industrial scale windows letting the natural light flood in.
The native Kokako bird has distinctive cobalt blue wattles hanging from under its beak and is a hauntingly beautiful songster of the bush and only found in the North Island. Hence this brands distinctive graphics and store environ echoing these bright blue markings.
The K brunch was perfect. The organic potato hash w spinach stealing the show and leaving a lasting impression. Oh and the real reason to come, the award winning Rangatira coffee is great too.
This organic coffee brand has an impressive wingspan and is surely ready to embark on its maiden migration overseas. Though a great crooner, the native Kokako bird has short wings and a flight path of no more than 100 metres. However I suspect its namesake coffee brand has engineered the critical momentum to travel 12,000 miles. And then some.
These Ko-Ka-Ko folks also carefully blend their own Hot Chocolate using a Dominican Republic cocoa bean that is known to make the local north island girls swoon. Remember that tip at Christmas boys.
Staying true to my original principles if I genuinely love something I will blog about it.
I've started so I'll finish.
ps. In the interests of New Zealand's Organic outriders I would like to flag up another NZ bird on a similar quest : Hummingbird Coffee
