Far North coffee up there with best

RIGHT UP THERE: Footing it with the big boys of New Zealand's coffee industry are Max Coffee co-owners Aaron Bingham (left) and Raelene Rankin, and head roaster Rueben Greig.

Five medals, plus the prize for the nation's best supermarket plunger coffee, is proof that the Far North can foot it with the big boys.

Kerikeri's Max Coffee won one gold, two silver and two bronze medals in the New Zealand Coffee Awards announced on Wednesday night, putting them just a whisker behind the supreme winner, Auckland's Orb Coffee. Max Coffee was one of only two companies outside Auckland to win a category.

Head roaster Reuben Greig said he only found out when he checked the competition's Facebook page.

"We're pretty rapt. It's great that a Northland roaster can foot it with the big boys in Auckland. All the hard work we've put in is paying off," he said, adding that the company was constantly experimenting with its coffees and trying to get its hands on premium single-origin beans.

"It's a combined effect of getting the best beans you can, roasting them perfectly, blending different coffees to get the ultimate taste experience, and tasting to make sure you're doing it right," he said.

Aaron Bingham, who co-owns the Mill Lane business with Raelene Rankin and Beverley Naylor, said a lot came down to Mr Greig's skill.

They sourced their beans from South and Central America, Indonesia, East Timor and Africa, including some "pretty special" beans from Ethiopia, and used an "ancient" roaster made in Austria in the 1950s.

The recognition would be a boost for the company and the 21 cafes between Taupo and Kaitaia serving Max coffee, he said, while he was grateful to "all the people who buy our coffee, our cafes and believers."

Max Coffee has three full-time and three part-time staff, who were planning to celebrate with champagne and scallops.

Mr Greig, who previously owned the Sugar Boat restaurant at Waitangi, said Max customers were passionate about coffee.

"You're making something people love, so it's a pretty positive experience," he said.

The firm was founded in 1999 by Ben Lawrence, who originally did the roasting at home in Kerikeri. The company now produces more than a tonne a month.

Max Coffee is also available at supermarkets in Northland and Auckland, as well as two cafes in Fiji.

Eighty companies entered 313 coffees in the awards, which were judged by a panel of 12 experts, Max Coffee winning gold with Max Morning Blend (best supermarket plunger), silver with Max Organic Blend (best ethically traded) and Max Exotic Blend (best supermarket espresso), and bronze with Max #1 Organic Blend (best organic) and Max #7 Yirgacheffe Single Origin (best single origin).

The only other Northland winner was Rush Coffee from Wellsford, which won bronze in the supermarket espresso category.