Wellington's Coffee Culture: A Guide to the City's Best Cafes
One of the most popular countries in the world for tourism is New Zealand. With its excellent natural biodiversity containing some of the most exotic wildlife, a serene environment, rich Māori culture, fine wine, and beautiful beaches, New Zealand is a highly popular place among tourists from all around the world.
While there are plenty of places to explore within the island nation, one amazing place where tourists can have a nice relaxing day is the capital of New Zealand, Wellington.
Best Cafes in Wellington, New Zealand
What makes Wellington special is its almost century-old coffee culture. Wellington has a reputation for serving some of the best coffee in the world.
So, keep reading to learn about Wellington's coffee culture and a guide to the city's best cafes.
Brew Your Ideal Coffee at Pour and Twist
Pour and Twist is a small cafe in Wellington that is unique for allowing its customers to brew their coffee however they like. When customers visit the cafe, they will find that there is no espresso machine. Wellington’s coffee cafes take the art of coffee making very seriously, and a lot of thought is put behind the creation of your morning drink.
By encouraging their customers to brew a coffee cup on their own, the cafe allows the customers to slow down their fast-paced way of life and fully enjoy a cup that they are proud of. It also makes the customers appreciate the process of brewing coffee that has been perfected in Wellington for many decades.
Start Your Morning in Newtown Fresh at the Peoples Coffee
Newtown is a small town located in the southern part of Wellington which has a peaceful environment full of friendly locals. This makes it an ideal place to enjoy the popular coffee of Wellington to start your morning fresh. Within Newtown, Peoples Coffee is an excellent cafe where you can get the ideal breakfast before you embark on your journey across New Zealand.
This cafe, alongside offering some nice tasty coffee, also has a nice selection of pastries and toast for people to enhance their morning experience. There is a lot of variety in the toast of Peoples Coffee for you to choose from including:
- Sweet Toast
- Savoury Toast
- Special Toast
If you wish to grab a bite for later, the cafe has you covered with its selection of chocolate bars, making Peoples Coffee one of the best cafes in Wellington.
Taste the Cultural Wellington Coffee at Caffe L’affare
Caffe L’affare is one of the most popular cafes in all of Wellington which was established many decades ago. As a result, it has an industrial look to it which takes the customers back to the early 20th century when Wellington started to gain a reputation for its talent in coffee making which is why it is considered by many to be a pioneer for the culture of coffee in Wellington.
This cafe is pretty large in comparison to other cafes in Wellington that remain open for business 7 days a week and features many classic items on the menu along with a bean store that allows customers to create their own brew. All of this makes Caffe L’affare a must-visit place during your trip to Wellington.
Mingle with the Locals at the Evil Twins
Evil Twins is a small cafe located within Willis Street that offers excellent coffee which has made it a popular hangout place among the locals. Evil Twins is best known for the large jars that they offer to their customers. This seems odd for a small cafe however, the cafe is run by a family whose main objective is to encourage community and creativity in their customers.
With large jars of drinks, people can share their drinks which allows them to connect and form communities. Some of the best items on their menus are:
- Peach Tea
- Matcha Love
- Triple Shot Latte
If you wish to engage in conversation with the locals of Wellington, Evil Twins is the cafe for you.
Experience the Expert Way of Making Coffee at Swimsuit
Tourists who seek perfection in their brew of coffee will find Swimsuit to be the best choice for a cafe in Wellington. The thing that makes Swimsuit so special is that this cafe is run by none other than Tait Burg who is a celebrity in the coffee brewing scene. Tait Burg is a winner of the Wellington Barista competition which is one of the highest honors a coffee maker can get.
With his excellent skill in this profession, Tait has passed down his knowledge and skill to his staff that work at the 4 Swimsuit cafes that he owns. The level of skill that is on display at these cafes is unlike most cafes of the world and a taste of their excellent coffee will be something that you will remember for many years.
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If you wish to spend a relaxing vacation that features some of the most picturesque wine regions in the country, you need to check our list of the top wine regions in New Zealand.
One such region is Hawke’s Bay, couple of hours drive from Wellington. Discover more at Top Wine Regions in New Zealand.
Dine on the Fine Brunch of The Hanger
The Hanger is among one of the most popular cafes in all of Wellington. The space in which this cafe is present today was once a parking lot which has evolved into one of the most busy cafes in all of Wellington. The Hanger owes this success to its excellent quality of coffee which includes:
- Espresso
- Iced
- Pour-over
- Filter
All of these options have allowed the cafe to cater to every type of customer to offer maximum satisfaction. For people looking for a complete brunch, the cafe also has several things that cater to such needs. So, if you are near Dixon Street, visit The Hanger once to start your day on a high note.
Smell the Fragrant Processing of Coffee Beans at the Havana Coffee Works
If you are near Tory Street, then visit the Havana Coffee Works cafe for a first-hand experience at roasting coffee beans. The Havana Coffee Works is a cafe designed in Cuban-style architecture and a Caribbean environment within the cafe.
Tourists who visit the cafe will get a lot of 1959 vibes due to the decor of the building, giving it an old-world charm that many cafes don’t have. The best part about Havana Coffee Works is that the roastery for coffee beans is present in the same building as the cafe itself.
This results in a very mouth-watering experience where you smell the roasted coffee beans while you are waiting for your brew. Havana Coffee Works also has an open-door policy for the public roasting of coffee beans, making this place a must-visit in Wellington.
Create Your Perfect Breakfast at the Customs
Tourists looking to create their perfect breakfast will find the Customs to be the best choice in Wellington. True to its namesake, Customs allows tourists to customize how they wish to brew their perfect coffee. Wellington’s coffee culture relies on offering as many options for coffee as possible and Customs is a cafe that is most dedicated to that objective.
They also offer some variety in their menu for toast and sandwiches that you may wish to add to your coffee session. All of this allows customers to create the perfect breakfast for themselves before they return to their exploration of the capital of New Zealand.
The coffee culture of Wellington is world famous for a good reason and the best way to experience it is to visit the capital of New Zealand and spend some time at the many cafes that call Wellington their home. So, if you wish to experience the coffee culture of Wellington, start by applying for your NZeTA today and book all your reservations in advance.
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Many of New Zealand's natural wonders are free to visit. All you need to do is plan a budget trip to New Zealand using affordable transport, food, accommodation, and other smart tips that we give in this travel guide to New Zealand on a budget. Learn more at Budget Travel Guide to New Zealand.
Ensure that you have checked the eligibility for your Online New Zealand Visa. Greek citizens, Portuguese citizens, Kuwaiti citizens, Swiss citizens and French citizens can apply online for New Zealand eTA.