caifewhai is a small-batch roastery and coffee shop at 31 Moir Street in Mangawhai Village, run by co-founders Sam and Stuart McKeown. The name stands for what they're after: the pursuit of community, cooperation and good coffee, served in a town they consider spoiled by its spot on the motu.
The coffee comes in three ranges. First Craic is the signature blend, built to work for espresso and filter alike; For the Craic is whatever inspired the roastery that week, be it a blend or a single origin; and Whaisty is home to the single origin roasts, with a pick for filter and espresso drinkers. Bags of beans and ground coffee are available in store and online, alongside coffee gear for brewing at home.
At the cafe window you'll find the espresso classics done properly, plus house creations like the Coconut Cloud Coffee and Banana Bread Latte, with hot chocolate and fluffies for non-coffee drinkers. The baking runs to savoury scones, cheese, raspberry and plum galettes, and muffins including a gluten-free lemon and coconut option. Everything on the drinks and snacks menu can be pre-ordered online for click and collect — grab it from the cafe window and go forth refueled.
On Moir Street in Mangawhai Village, caifewhai runs as both roastery and coffee shop — the same address where the beans are roasted is where you come to drink them. The name is shorthand for the mission: 'the pursuit of community, cooperation and good coffee.' It's a fitting brief for a small coastal town the team describes as spoiled by its place on the motu, where every day is an experience and a good cup is never far away.
caifewhai is the work of co-founders Sam and Stuart McKeown. Sam, co-founder and director, brings a background in product development to everything from crafting beautifully balanced drinks to building connections across the local community, with quality and sustainability at the heart of the business. Stuart, co-founder, roaster and director, looks after roasting and sourcing — the expertise behind the signature blend and the beautiful coffees showcased from around the world, all held to a high standard.
That small-team feel comes through in person too. caifewhai loves to talk coffee, and invites anyone curious about what to find in their cup to drop them a line — or simply ask at the counter.
The line-up is easy to navigate. **First Craic** is the signature: a coffee made to shine as espresso and as filter, however you enjoy it. **For the Craic** is the adventurous one — some weeks a blend, some weeks a single origin, always whatever inspired the roastery that week. **Whaisty** is where the single origin roasts live, chosen so there's a beauty for filter drinkers and espresso fans alike.
Beans and ground coffee are stocked at the shop and through the online store, so you can take a bag home and, in their words, pour yourself a cup of Magical Mangawhai. The online shop also carries coffee gear for brewing properly at home.
The drinks board covers the classics done properly — flat white, long black, latte, cappuccino and mocha — alongside house creations like the Coconut Cloud Coffee and the Banana Bread Latte. Not a coffee drinker? There's hot chocolate, and a fluffy for the little ones.
The cabinet leans toward proper baking: savoury scones, a cheese galette for the savoury-minded, raspberry and plum galettes for the sweet tooth, and muffins including a gluten-free lemon and coconut option. Everything on the drinks and snacks menu is available through click and collect — pre-order online, pick up from the cafe window and, as they put it, go forth refueled.
caifewhai is at 31 Moir Street in Mangawhai Village, with shopping available online for beans, gear and click and collect. New customers who sign up get 20% off their first purchase. Payment is easy — the shop takes American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Mastercard, PayPal, Shop Pay, Union Pay and Visa.
Opening hours aren't published on the website, so it's worth checking caifewhai's Facebook or Instagram before you set out. Come with questions: whether it's which bag to take home or what inspired this week's roast, talking coffee is very much part of the offer.