BEAN ME UP

Sharon Rayner understands the power of good coffee. In the weeks following the quake, her Kaikōura coffee cart made hundreds of free coffees for soldiers, Red Cross workers, journalists and anyone else needing a pickme-up. “It became a bit of a social hub and brought people together,” says Sharon. Her little cart had seen its fair share of Kaikōura before the disaster; while it was rarely lucrative enough to operate full time, Sharon would drive it to festivals, gigs and sporting events on her weekends off.

Bean Me Up has since set up permanent residence in the centre of town, capturing local hearts along the way. The “death before decaf” tagline beneath its skull logo is a subtle hint to the quirky ambiance within the pint-sized café. Barbie dolls hanging from the ceiling, black-and-white framed prints and the comfiest velvet sofa — Bean Me Up is as buzzy as its flat whites. “Everything is second-hand or recycled. I'm a real treasure-hunter so I don't like to buy a lot of new things.” She makes all of the pastries and cabinet food at her home-based commercial kitchen, including almond croissants, vegan sausage rolls and cheese toasties with homemade ciabatta. The coffee is brewed from organic beans by local coffee-roaster Star Roast Coffee, and often by Sharon's daughter, the head barista. 84 West End, Kaikōura. 027 768 4323, on Facebook.