Good coffee fast at new Christchurch cafe
Good coffee made “as quick as possible” is the aim of a cafe that has recently opened in Christchurch.
N’Joy Cafe in Addington caters to a variety of punters, including workers from neighbouring office blocks, which is why owners Rosie Do and her husband aim to serve their coffees without a lengthy wait.
“The office people only have 30-minute breaks,” Do said. “We aim to serve two cups of coffee every four minutes, two minutes for each.”
The couple had invested in an automatic milk steamer, which helped with the flow, she said. “It feels like two people working at the same time.”
Do’s husband takes his coffee seriously, prompting him to research all the local roasteries to get the best bean around.
“The one he likes the most is Empire Coffee” – the Christchurch bean used at N’Joy.
The couple moved to New Zealand from Hanoi, Vietnam, 10 years ago, initially settling in Wellington and opening their first cafe together before leaving it behind to start afresh in Christchurch last year.
Do said the contrast between Wellingtonians’ preferences and what customers in Christchurch liked was black and white.
In Wellington, customers reached for tofu pesto sandwiches and sugar-free Cokes, but in Christchurch, full-sugar drinks with meaty, fried chicken was the go-to, she said.
The people of Christchurch liked their coffee differently, too – in a large cup – while strong coffee was the most popular in the bottom of the North Island.
The Addington cafe’s premises was formerly occupied by Vanilla Bean Cafe. It sat vacant for five years before becoming N’Joy, named after the indoor plant, pothos N’Joy.
In keeping with having grab-and-go food, the cabinet is stocked with a variety of items, including Great Southern Pies, sausage rolls, scones, Thai wraps, fried chicken sandwiches made with Turkish pide bread, cakes, slices, and Grizzly Baked Goods doughnuts.
And for those who have more time on their hands, the menu is kept traditional with brunch items loved across the country, including eggs benedict, smashed avocado on toast, and a big breakfast.
The cafe is not just for snackers, brunch lovers and coffee drinkers – it is dog-friendly, too. “I hate seeing dogs sitting outside in the sun burning themselves,” Do said.
“Some customers may also worry about people stealing their dogs, so we totally understand. We would love to have dogs ... inside.”
N’Joy Cafe is at 359a Lincoln Rd, Addington, Christchurch.