Cool curated spaces and coffee with a cause at Addington
Christchurch is undoubtedly the coffee capital of New Zealands South Island and speciality coffee shops can be found on every street. Some places however, are more than just cafes. Some places have become institutions in this coffee lovers city.
It was by both chance and luck that we stumbled upon Addington while visiting Christchurch last October. While camping in Kaikoura my boyfriend and I, having just run out of coffee for our aeropress, were offered some freshly ground beans by a haggard looking Dad. While kids ran rampant through the kitchen, he told us he was part of the Addington Coffee Co-Op in Christchurch. He even gave us a filter. Balanced and sweet, the filter coffee tasted all the better having been given in an hour of desperation.
When we stopped in Christchurch a few days later, we avoided sifting through the many coffee recommendations and headed straight to Lincoln Road. Converted from an old mechanics workshop in 2008, we stepped inside the retro building and were taken aback by the bustle inside. With two little side rooms on either side as you enter, holding the goods of the Addington store, the main room lies before you. High ceilings with full length windows, tables packed with people, and the smell of fresh coffee filling the space. I thought it was one of the most perfectly curated spaces I’d ever seen.
We ordered at the counter- a long black and avocado eggs for me, a flat white and the coconut pancakes for Tom. Nabbing a table by the window, speckled with golden sunlight, we soaked in the eclectic atmosphere as we waited for our coffees. Addington cafe brews their coffee with Common Good Coffee. Working with Joyya, Common Good’s coffee is ethically sourced and Fairtrade, with the purpose from their profits being to support Joyya in redistributing funds across areas of extreme poverty and modern slavery. A pamphlet on the table at Addington highlights the places and people that Joyya have assisted thanks to funds from Common Good Coffee. Their main roast- ‘the better blend’, is a multi origin blend. Our drinks were served in small and colourful cups. The long black was velvety, chocolaty and balanced. Within the flat white the vanilla notes came through more, encouraged by the silky smooth milk. We started on a crossword, elated at our luck in finding a spot such as this. Breakfast plates were laid down soon after. Avocado sitting on a bed of multigrain sourdough, topped with golden halloumi, swirls of kimchi and a smear of chunky hummus on the side. With the kimchi cutting through the gentler flavours, every mouthful was a delight.
Reluctantly leaving our table an hour later, we wandered through the store at the front of the cafe. A medley of books, vintage clothes, and handmade coffee cups lined the walls. Jewellery and bags of coffee beans filled small tables. The store and the cafe pride themselves in selling goods that are ethically sourced, local and eco friendly. The co-op also works with Joyya and a percentage of their profits go towards helping communities in Kolkata. After purchasing a glass spun ring made by a local artist, we headed out, already thinking about how we could squeeze in another visit before we left New Zealand.
With the taste of good coffee and food still lingering, I think it would be hard for a person not to feel content leaving Addington. It is a cafe that seeks not only to help those in need, but also strives to educate its customers on the people and projects that it’s working with. Serving delicious speciality coffee with a cause, it is no wonder that Addington Coffee Co-Op has solidified its place as an institution amongst Christchurch’s cafe and coffee scene.
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