Espresso

Finding a café that will "hit that spot" is a bit of an art and like most things in life, improves over time!

A favourite café is almost like an extension to your home. When travelling outside your home patch, finding a new favourite is like finding a home away from home!

So, how to choose a café? For my wife Dee and I, the attraction to a café is all about the experience….aroma, quality of the espresso, friendliness of the staff, small and laid back atmosphere, other clientele, quality (not quantity) of the food and the general vibe! Sometimes you just can't put your finger on what makes a good cafe ... as the French say, “je ne sais quoi”, literally “I don't know what”

Be prepared for a little physical effort as the best cafes are usually in the side streets and small alleys or outside the CBD in the 'arty' or edgier parts of town.

So, the cafes I recommend are:

Auckland
CBD

Me Cafe - http://www.mecoffee.co.nz/
Espresso Workshop - http://www.britomart.org/espresso-workshop-britomart

Ponsonby

Coffee Supreme - http://www.coffeesupreme.com/locations/42-douglas-st

Parnell

Espresso Workshop - http://www.coffeesecrets.co.nz/cafes/espresso-workshop-parnell

Mt Eden

Vinyl Coffee Shop - http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/vinyl-coffee-shop-auckland

Grey Lynn

Kokako - http://www.kokako.co.nz/

Queenstown
Vudu - http://www.vudu.co.nz/
There are 2 Vudu cafes in Q.town. Take your pick depending on your mood.

Whangamata
Bar Side Espresso - http://www.coffeesecrets.co.nz/cafes/barside-espresso-whangamata

Sydney

CBD
Workshop Espresso - http://yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/workshop_espresso/

Woolloomooloo

Toby's Estate - http://www.tobysestate.com.au/

Surry Hills

Gnome - http://yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/gnome_cafe/

Single Origin - http://www.singleorigin.com.au/

Deus - http://yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/deus_cafe_surry_hills/

Darlinghurst
The Bunker - http://www.beanhunter.com/cafes/review/the-bunker

Paddington

Alimentari - http://yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/paddington_alimentari/

Elizabeth Bay

Elizabeth Bay Café - http://yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/elizabeth_bay_cafe/

Potts Point
Room 10 - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Room-10/179939578687217?sk=info