Located in the heart of Tauranga, Amy Joyce said Little Long Cafe is a calming, relaxing oasis where everyone is welcome.
It has been described as the kind of place coffee lovers will visit once and instantly feel at home, and the perfect place to meet up with people or enjoy some time alone whilst sipping on a flat white or enjoying one of its acclaimed bagels. Amy Joyce, Owner of Little Long Cafe, has spent her entire career in hospitality, including 10 years overseas before returning to New Zealand.
Having managed a string of large establishments, Joyce eventually decided she wanted to create something of her own that was small in footprint but big on quality, with a real focus on the details.
Earlier in her career, her boss, Scott Brown from Hipgroup, taught her about the six P’s for hospitality.
“He said ‘prior preparation and planning prevent a piss poor performance.’ It’s a simple phrase, but one that has guided me throughout my career,” said Joyce.
Little Long Cafe’s approach is simple, honest and flavour-driven. The menu consists of a deli-style assortment, with a strong focus on bagels and sandwiches, designed to offer something for everyone. She said it is perfect for a quick bite or something more substantial.
The cafe itself is filled with an abundance of natural light and adorned with lush greenery. Its charm and balance of high ceilings and warming aroma have made it the perfect spot for customers’ daily coffee fix, morning tea, or a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
Joyce said supporting local producers is important to Little Long Cafe’s operations, and it has ensured that customers get the best quality in every cup. The cafe has partnered with local roaster Little Drum Coffee and uses Kaipalo milk from the Waikato, which arrives in traditional glass bottles.
Joyce predicted that future coffee trends will see a shift back towards simplicity.
“Beautifully crafted classics like flat whites and espressos made with precision and care. At the same time, there’s a growing interest in filter and batch brew, which allow the unique characteristics of the beans to really shine.”
On the menu, the cafe’s Reuben sandwich with house-made 12-hour smoked pastrami has become its signature dish. It has also garnered a reputation for its cheese scones. On the sweeter side, its stuffed cookie pies, featuring flavours like s’mores, Biscoff, and peanut butter cup, have become incredibly popular, as too have its “world famous in Tauranga” Afghan cookies.
Joyce is passionate about growing the coffee culture in the Tauranga area, and would like to see greater collaboration within the local hospitality community. She said Tauranga has a wealth of talent across cafes, roasters and food producers, and by working together, the local sector can raise the city’s profile as a true food and coffee destination on the map.
At its heart, Little Long Cafe is all about quality, community and connection. With a focus on simple, flavour-driven food, locally sourced coffee, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, it has quickly become a favourite go-to spot for coffee lovers in the Tauranga CBD.
“Whether you’re stopping in for your daily flat white, a bagel piled high, or one of their cult-favourite cookie pies, Little Long delivers hospitality with heart, proving that sometimes the smallest spaces make the biggest impact.”
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