Spilling the beans on coffee | Rotorua Lifestyle News | Health, Fashion, Food and Wine in Rotorua

It used to be as simple as asking for black or white - but with so many different varieties now on offer getting a coffee has turned into an expensive treat.

A daily coffee fix could cost you $25 a week but there are ways of cutting your budget without sacrificing quality.

Many cafes now offer loyalty cards where you collect stamps for each purchase and are rewarded with a free coffee for a set amount of coffees bought.

Others are offering cheaper coffees - Nandos on Tutanekai St sells hot beverages for $2, although most are priced between $3 and $4.

A collaboration between three cafes means customers can vary between Abracadabra, Okere Falls Store and Zippy's Central Cafe, collecting stamps from each and getting their 10th drink free.

Rotorua's best cafe, as judged in the 2010 New Zealand Best Cafe Awards, Lime Caffeteria, also offers a free coffee for every nine bought.

A flat white at the Whakaue St cafe costs $3.50, it comes in one size, owner Judi Hepburn said, to keep the end result consistent.

"Our customers like to get their loyalty cards clicked and they can use them for any hot drink," Mrs Hepburn said.

"Our coffees are very popular - it's about consistency. We want everything to be perfect. All our girls can make coffee and all have had training. It's very important to know how to use the machine."

That sentiment is shared by Career Network barista tutor Caleb King who has trained scores of baristas in Rotorua.

"You can have the most expensive bean but if the barista doesn't know what they're doing it's a waste of time," Mr King said. "I have coffee almost every day, it's quite a bad habit."

He said he frequents Lime, Relish - a former New Zealand Best Cafe Award winner, and Third Place, which was a runner-up in the awards last year.

"If you don't have the training I don't think you should be near a coffee machine. There's a lot that can go wrong. A simple thing is to make sure your machine is clean, that is neglected in a lot of cafes."

Rotorua has more than 30 cafes in the central business district and most coffee-lovers have a preference. A straw poll of The Daily Post office showed Zippy's was a favourite, particularly for their trim latte, which costs $4.50 and is served with M&Ms.

Owner Morgan Wilson said he didn't know why his coffee was better than others.

"I've been drinking it for 10 years," he said.

 

TIPS ON CHEAPER DRINKS

• If you visit the same cafe pick up a loyalty card, lots of cafes have them and can mean a free drink once a fortnight if you have a daily fix.
  
  If you often visit Okere Falls Store, Abracadabra and Zippy's Central Cafe, join their joint scheme, collecting stamps at any of the venues.
  
  Buy a reusable cup and get your first drink free.
  
  Take note of which cafes have specials, including cheaper coffee or coffee and muffin deals.
  
  COFFEE TYPES

• Espresso-based coffee has a wide variety of possible presentations. In its most basic form, it is served alone as a shot or in the more watered-down style
  
  Caffe Americano - one or two shots of espresso with hot water added.
  
  Long black - a reverse of caffe Americano with espresso added to hot water.
  
  Cafe Latte - espresso with steamed milk
  
  Cappuccino - espresso with equal parts of steamed milk and milk froth
  
  Caffe Macchiato - espresso with a dollop of hot foamed milk on top
  
  Flat White - espresso shot with creamy steamed milk from the bottom of the jug poured over.
  
  Cafe Mocha - typically one third espresso and two thirds steamed milk, but a portion of chocolate is added, typically in the form of a chocolate syrup. Also called mochaccino.