Coffee Lab

About Coffee Lab

Established in 2002, Coffee Lab is an independently New Zealand-owned coffee roasting company and on-site roastery cafe based in Wairau Valley on Auckland's North Shore. Driven by a focus on roasting excellence and ethically traded beans, the operation sources specialty coffees from renowned growing regions across the globe, including Colombia, Ethiopia, Costa Rica, Kenya, and Brazil.

The team applies meticulous quality control to every batch, carefully profiling roasts and hand-sorting beans to eliminate defects. Backed by championship-level pedigree—including New Zealand Cup Tasting and Roasting titles—Coffee Lab serves freshly brewed specialty coffee, beans, pods, and brew gear directly from their roastery cafe and online store. Visitors can relax with fresh coffee and treats, explore single-origin flavour profiles, or pick up freshly roasted beans directly from the roastery floor.

Coffee Lab: World-Class Roasting and Specialty Coffee in Wairau Valley

Tucked into Silverfield in the heart of Wairau Valley, Coffee Lab has quietly spent decades raising the standard of New Zealand specialty coffee. Founded in 2002 as a 100% independently Kiwi-owned roasting company with an attached on-site roastery cafe, the business is dedicated to precision, transparent sourcing, and an uncompromising commitment to craft.

From the moment you step inside, the focus on the product is clear. The roastery floor operates right alongside the cafe counter, filling the space with the aromas of fresh roasts and the steady hum of craft equipment. Whether you are dropping in for a daily flat white, stopping by to pick up freshly bagged beans, or sitting down to talk tasting notes with the crew, Coffee Lab offers an authentic specialty coffee sanctuary away from suburban bustle.

World-Class Pedigree and Sourcing

Coffee Lab’s reputation is built on deep expertise. Team member Kristiane McGregor earned the title of New Zealand Coffee Cup Tasting Champion across 2010, 2013, and 2015, achieving 4th place at the World Coffee Events Cup Tasting Championship in Gothenburg and 6th in Nice, France. Adding to this pedigree, Anna McGregor captured the New Zealand Roasting Championship title. This international sensory and roasting acclaim informs every step of the roastery’s daily production.

The roastery actively procures high-scoring, ethically traded lots—regularly identifying beans scoring 85 points and above on the international specialty scale. Their rotating catalogue spans premier coffee-growing origins including Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Brazil, highlighting micro-lots such as Colombia Geisha La Luz and Sidra varieties, as well as organic harvests like Ethiopia Hambella.

Hand-Crafted Roasting and the Cafe Experience

Care at Coffee Lab extends well beyond origin selection. Every single batch roasted on-site is carefully profiled and hand-sorted by the team to remove bean defects before packaging. The roastery roasts regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays, ensuring that whole-bean coffees, single origins, and freshly packaged pods are delivered at peak quality.

At the on-site roastery cafe, visitors enjoy a welcoming community setting where staff take time to explain roast profiles, processing methods, and subtle flavour characteristics. Alongside their brewed drinks and house roasts, guests can enjoy counter food and sweet treats while taking in the roastery environment. For home coffee enthusiasts, the roastery also stocks gear including Aeropress brewers, Hario filters, cupping gear, and Mahlkonig home grinders.

Signature items

• Colombia Geisha La Luz
• Ethiopia Uraga Gogoju
• Premium Blend
• Costa Rica La Minita Tarrazu
• The Morning Machine
• Coffee Pods: Colombia Magnum Sidra

Menu

Coffee Pods

• Coffee Pods: Premium Blend — Specialty grade coffee pods featuring the signature Premium Blend.
• Coffee Pods: DECAF — Specialty decaffeinated coffee pods.
• Coffee Pods: Costa Rica La Minita — Single-origin Costa Rican coffee packed in convenient pods.
• Coffee Pods: Colombia Magnum Sidra — Single-origin Colombia Sidra variety coffee pods.

Specialty Coffee Beans

• Premium Blend — Signature house roasted specialty coffee blend.
• Costa Rica La Minita Tarrazu — New crop 2026 single-origin specialty coffee.
• DECAF: Colombia Excelso — Carefully decaffeinated single-origin Colombian beans.
• Ethiopia Legesse Matisso — Single-origin specialty coffee from Ethiopia.
• Kenya Kii — Single-origin specialty Kenyan coffee.
• Ethiopia Hambella ORGANIC — Certified organic single-origin Ethiopian coffee.
• Costa Rica El Canal — Single-origin specialty coffee from Costa Rica.
• Ethiopia Uraga Gogoju — Light Roast of the Month single-origin Ethiopian coffee.
• Colombia Geisha La Luz — Specialty micro-lot Geisha variety from Colombia.
• Colombia Jairo Arcila — Single-origin specialty Colombian coffee.
• Brazil Peaberry — Selected peaberry beans roasted to highlight distinct character.

Brewing Equipment & Accessories

• Aeropress — Classic portable coffee brewing device.
• Aeropress Filters — Replacement paper micro-filters for Aeropress.
• Silver plated Coffee Lab cupping spoons — Custom silver-plated spoons designed for coffee cupping.
• Clever Dripper — Full-immersion manual drip brewer.
• Hario Filter Papers 4 Cup (100 pack) — Authentic cone-shaped paper filters for pour-over brewing.
• The Morning Machine — Precision specialty capsule espresso machine.
• Mahlkonig X64SD Home Grinder — High-precision single-dose home coffee grinder.
• Cafetto Grinder Cleaner 450G — Specialised cleaning pellets for coffee grinder burrs.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Coffee Lab located?

Coffee Lab is located at 15 Silverfield in Wairau Valley, Auckland, New Zealand.

When does Coffee Lab roast coffee?

Coffee Lab roasts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, hand-sorting and packing batches immediately after profiling.

What quality standards does Coffee Lab use for its green beans?

Coffee Lab actively seeks out ethically traded specialty coffees, focusing on lots scoring 85 points or higher on the cupping scale.

Does Coffee Lab sell specialty coffee pods?

Yes, they package specialty roasts into compatible pods, including their Premium Blend, Decaf, Costa Rica La Minita, and Colombia Magnum Sidra.

Can I purchase home coffee brewing equipment at Coffee Lab?

Yes, Coffee Lab stocks brewing equipment and accessories such as Aeropress brewers, Hario paper filters, Clever Drippers, Mahlkonig home grinders, and The Morning Machine.

Does Coffee Lab offer decaffeinated coffee?

Yes, they roast single-origin Colombia Excelso decaf in whole-bean bags and also offer decaf specialty pods.

Tips

• {"body":"The staff are happy to discuss origins and processing methods to help you find the right bean for your brew method.","title":"Ask About Flavor Profiles"}
• {"body":"Roasting occurs on Tuesdays and Thursdays; order beans before 9am on roast days for overnight dispatch.","title":"Order Ahead on Roasting Days"}
• {"body":"Check the rotating origins board or shelf for limited-run micro-lots, including special varieties like Geisha and Sidra.","title":"Explore Single Origins"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Organic whole-bean coffee options available."}