new zealand coffee review (archive)

C1 is an o.k. cafe. As people below have said, the attitude surrounding the place will only suit some.

Their coffee is o.k. The krank espresso is not suited to short blacks. It's bland and has no acidity or punch what-so-ever, but it does make good milk based drinks. I frequently go past just to get a (uber small double) flat white before class.

[permanent link to this review]

I've had mixed experiences at the various Underground espresso bars.

I have had a few very good shots pulled at the Colombo st site in Sydneham. But I had an awful macchiato at their cafe up on Victoria - the shot the girl pulled must have poured for 45 or 50 seconds. (And as an aside, I can't get my head around macchiatos in NZ. Everybody seems to serve them very differently. Sometimes a tiny dab of milk, sometimes a dollop of foam. What the heck?)

And what's with their high prices? If they can afford to give $1 off every drink to RDU card holders, I don't see why I can't get all my drinks at a buck cheaper. This annoys me greatly.

I really want to try their Colombo st bar beside the roaster. I'm keen to get in and talk to the roaster sometime and try some of their other espresso blends.

[permanent link to this review]