New Zealand!!

[sewingtruth]

My family and I are moving to New Zealand in September and are trying to figure out the best way to purchase green beans so we can continue to roast at home. Any suggestions that wont be too expensive on shipping? What prices should I expect to pay?

[Andy]

Re: New Zealand!!

Good luck!

Shipping to NZ would be too expensive and your best bet would be to source the beans locally. I dont know where in NZ you are heading but Auckland does have a bit of a coffee scene happening and has a handful of small roasters. (Sadly it seems *bucks are on just about every corner in Auckland so the locals aint too fussy).

I would get friendly with a small roaster and see if you can buy green off them.

We have a couple of NZ members that might be able to point you in the right direction and Ill be over there in about a month so Ill have a sniff for the smell of fresh coffee.

[BeanPusher]

Re: New Zealand!!

Ive looked into shipping to NZ which isnt too bad, but its not the shipping its MAF (minisrty of agriculture and fisheries) they are VERY anal about importing stuff like green coffee. Chances are they would get confiscated and you fined.

There is a guy in Christchurch that sells green beans at a reasonable price. Ill have a look back at the back up of old emails and see what I can find but i have to find the disks first. If I find them all let you know.

But here are a few places
http://www.realcoffee.co.nz/
http://www.urbancoffee.co.nz/

Urbans prices seem pretty good.

Cheers
Rich

[grendel]

Re: New Zealand!!

Home roasting will take off in NZ if green beans are more available - ever thought of becoming an importer yourself?

[LongMatt]

Re: New Zealand!!

Yay New Zealand!
I was over there in March and was amazed at the quality of the coffee.
The best thing about NZ is that every cafe, even in tiny towns, seems to have a barista with some knowledge... eg everyone tamps. Puts the cafes of Fremantle to shame!
Most cafes use beans from the local roaster.. I tried heaps and they were all good.
Cant see that there could be any green supply shortage myself.
Happy searching,

[FarmerJoe]

Re: New Zealand!!

Ive had pretty much the same experience. People Ive come across seem to take their espresso skills much more seriously. Your Average coffee in a cafe or restaurant is far better quality than Ive generally come across in Australia.

FJ.

[foxy]

Re: New Zealand!!

I get my green beans from importer John Burton in Auckland. He has a good variety of top quality varietals - and happy to fill small orders for home roasters.

[Lionrock]

Re: New Zealand!!

Just wondering where you ended up sourcing your beans in NZ. My Gene Café just arrived from the UK so I’m all go, its very easy to use, can’t say I can hear the first or second crack though, I’m basically going on colour right now. I haven’t yet found a good supplier of small quantity green beans in Auckland, one where you can find out exactly what your getting, crop, quality, process etc. I have bought a few bags from www.globalcoffee.co.nz but not much detail re what you are getting is provided. The fair trade shop up the road sells some but they are packed in cellotaped paper bags and I thought green beans should be able to breath, so not knowing how long they have been packed like that is a concern. Basically I’m just wondering if any other NZ roasters know of a good place to get green beans, there is a coffee expo in town next week www.coffeefestival.co.nz , so I’m hoping to find a great “sweet maria’s esk” supplier there, although that could be a bit too hopeful.

[pie_in_ear]

Re: New Zealand!!

John Burton, an importer, is a great guy and generally happy to help home roasters. If not, try Colombus coffee chains, they may provide greens to you - even though its from Johns stash anyway.

[lucinda]

Re: New Zealand!!

On the South Island there are two places I can recommend to you where I have purchased great coffee (and brought it back to Oz). Pomeroys in Nelson, who will post beans all over NZ, and to Oz too. You will have to give them a call in regards to Green beans, but I am sure you may be able to work something out. http://www.pomeroys.co.nz/

The other great Coffee supplier my family uses is CPR Coffee in Blenheim http://www.cprcoffee.co.nz/Default.aspx Have atry with these guys as they also roast their own and would be able to point you in the right direction if they cannot supply you.

I hope this helps.