Al Borrie, owner of Box Espresso, Clive, says his cafe offers a speedy service for commuters - and quality coffee.
Al Borrie, owner of Box Espresso, Clive, says his cafe offers a speedy service for commuters - and quality coffee.
The quality of the Hawke's Bay cafe experience has jumped significantly over the past decade - to the point where the region's coffee lovers are now spoilt for choice.
The increase in choice and quality has been matched by higher demands from customers, meaning cafes need to stand out with a first-class, bold and consistent approach to the service they offer if they are to survive and thrive in the market.
Andrew Feldon pours coffee at Havelock North's Hawthorne Coffee Roastery & Espresso Bar.
The ability to find a niche in the market and build a loyal customer base around it is exemplified by the four finalists in the Basepoint Outstanding Coffee Establishment category of the Hospitality Awards.
Bay Espresso owner Chris Jarvis has a succinct answer to the question of what makes a great coffee establishment. "Damn good customer service, very consistent coffee and interesting environments," he says.
Bay Espresso is unique among the finalists in this category because the company has four that have collectively brought it to the judges' attention: cafes in Karamu and Omahu roads in Hastings, Taradale and Havelock North.
A fabulous coffee and banter experience is key at Napier's Adoro cafe.
A consistent experience is required to keep customers coming back, Mr Jarvis says.
"When you turn up you should get the feeling that there is a sense of organisation and you should know you're walking into an environment where you'll be treated a certain way and the coffee and food will be of a consistent nature," he says.
"We place a lot of value on people's money - we know they have worked really hard for what they are about to spend with us, so we want to offer them value for money, not just once but if they turn up ten times they get similar or identical value for money every time."
Customer service is important to Bay Espresso, which has cafes in Hastings (pictured), Taradale and Havelock North.
Coffee and the wider cafe experience "has to be done well and it has to be affordable", says Paul Greaves who, with wife Jane, owns Napier's Adoro cafe.
"It's about efficient, controlled, consistent service and the quality of the food, which we make affordable," he says.
"We couldn't run Adoro without our great team. Adoro is all about having a fabulous coffee experience and banter. We greet our customers by name and with regularity know exactly the coffee they drink."
Tom Ormond, owner of Havelock North's Hawthorne Coffee Roastery & Espresso Bar, says it is important to get the fundamentals right with top-line equipment and staff.
"It all comes back to coffee so we source very high-quality coffees and then we've got a pretty unique way of roasting them to maximise the flavour," he says.
"It's also about the atmosphere we create, so people can come in and not just enjoy a coffee but also catch up with friends - the whole social aspect that goes with coffee.
"It's not just about getting a caffeine hit, it's about sitting and taking time to reflect and enjoy some nice coffee with their buddies." Al Borrie, owner of Box Espresso, says his cafe's location on Main Rd, Clive, means ensuring a speedy service for commuters is a vital ingredient for success,and quality coffee.
"It's about delivering a consistent, quality product in an efficient manner," he says.
"You've got to know your market and target the business to what they want."
