Auckland-based organic coffee roaster, Kōkako, has opened its first speciality coffee bar in Auckland’s newest retail and dining destination Commercial Bay.
From its intimate, considered space, Kōkako Commercial Bay will showcase the company’s vast and varied range of coffee, with the aim to encourage its customers to venture beyond the bounds of their usual order.
Taking cues from specialty coffee bars around the world, Kōkako has transformed its 40sqm tenancy into a tactile, modern space, where customers can pick up their regular takeaway brew or perch at the bar for a moment of calm respite.
“Commercial Bay provides us with the opportunity to continue building an awareness and appreciation of specialty coffee with a new community — redefining what coffee is, contributing toward a more transparent, sustainable industry,” explained Kōkako’s Managing Director, Mike Murphy.
“This is important to us because we are huge advocates for promoting the premiumisation of specialty coffee whilst providing education of the coffee supply chain and our producers.”
Working alongside their trusted design partner, CTRL Space, to bring the concept to life, Kōkako opted for hardwearing, renewable materials like stainless steel and cedar to anchor its u-shaped bar. Simple and practical, the materials speak to the brand’s focus on longevity, while the structure of the bar itself is all about openness and transparency.
“Usually in espresso bars, the working side of the coffee machine is hidden from the customer,” said Murphy. “We wanted to open it up so that our customers could watch our baristas craft their coffee and steam their milk — we want to include them in every step of the process.”
One of the most distinctive features of the Kōkako coffee bar will be its front counter. A contemporary piece of craftsmanship that speaks to the brand’s values of sustainability and innovation, the counter’s cladding is 100 percent recycled HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) — a fascinating material that is created using over 8000 upcycled plastic milk bottles.
Behind the counter sits the latest in cutting-edge coffee technology. La Marzocco’s KB90 machine, one of only a handful in New Zealand, is set to deliver its daily brews with unprecedented consistency. And considering that Kōkako Commercial Bay will serve multiple varieties of coffee via various brew methods including batch brews, the Clever Dripper, Aeropress and Chemex, having La Marzocco’s Modbar technology on hand will ensure precision in every cup.
The brew counter will also house four dedicated taps with a nitrogenated Cold Brew, Cascara Kombucha and a rotating selection of beverages developed in-house and by guest makers.
For those who don’t drink coffee, there will also be a refined selection of teas from local producers Fine & Dandy and Forage & Bloom alongside a rotating Single Origin decaf. Fresh chai will also be prepared daily and paired with Happy Happy Soy Boy Milk and honey harvested from the rescue beehives on the Kōkako roastery rooftop.
“From the outset, we have always been committed to quality, transparency & sustainability. Everything we do is focused on contributing positively to the specialty coffee industry to ensure a sustainable & viable future for coffee producers & drinkers alike,” added Murphy.
Kōkako Commercial Bay is located on Level 1 of the Commercial Bay retail development. The coffee bar will be open from 6.30am during the week, 8am Saturday and 9am Sunday.
Visit kokako.co.nz
