Raglan coffee aficionado Stephen Sandwell didn’t expect to be back behind the machine so soon after closing the doors of his much-loved wharf café.
But setting up at The Raglan Club has given the long-serving barista the chance to return to what he enjoys most – making great coffee and connecting with people.
“I love coffee and I love talking to people,” he says.
Stephen is hoping coffee lovers will be drawn in by the custom blend he worked closely to create with a Hamilton roastery.
“When the price of beans kept going up, I found a small boutique roastery that worked with me to create a custom blend,” he says.
With tasting notes of dark chocolate balanced by floral and nutty flavours, it’s a blend the self-described coffee addict is proud to serve – and happy to drink himself.
Open days are usually Friday to Sunday, but Stephen is opening daily during the World Surf League Championship Tour.
A keen surfer himself, he’s looking forward to the atmosphere the international event will bring to town.
With 12 years’ experience behind the machine, Stephen takes coffee seriously.
“I did a course in Sydney, but most of what I’ve learned has been on the job,” he says. “The art of making coffee is getting the grind right. You want the extraction running between 25 and 35 seconds.”
Get your next coffee fix from Raglan Harbour Coffee at The Raglan Club, 22 Bow Street.
Friday from 9.30am-12pm — all coffees just $2.50, Saturday & Sunday from 8am-2pm.
