ESPRESSO TO GO — Restaurant in North Island

3/10

I didn't realise you could get liquid hotter than boiling water. But alas I found a place that managed to pull it off. Matamata suffers from the overwhelming amount of cafe's for its size and population. Which can be a good thing in that it should drive competition and make cafe's stand out and be better than the last. This place however is one of those other cafe's that makes the other cafe's look good. Service is fine with helpful staff and the standard cafe menu and pricing. Environment is ok with a rather cramped seating plan. But down to the cup itself, how dreadful. It's the bread & butter of all cafe's and someone clearly forgot to train their staff. It's clear their staff need proper training on milk tampering as they're simply leaving the steam arm in for whatever time they like whilst gossiping away is team of temperature testing with the basic touch test. Milk tampering is harder to get right than the coffee extraction as you need to balance the velvet foam without overheating the milk which may sound easy until you realise how many types of coffees their are, each with a different foam vs milk content. So despite the fact it was hotter than hell I appreciate how difficult it is. That said it's no excuse if you want to be a thriving successful cafe surrounded by much competition. Take a tip from the cafe down the road called "The Coffee Gallery" they know how to make a good brew. Would I go again? No. Maybe to eat a bagel or croissant but NOT...

TERRIBLE COFFEE! what a waste of money. I called in to grab a coffee as it was convenient to go here (I usually go around the corner to another cafe but I was I a rush), well I wish I hadn't. I Ordered a latte, it was warm not hot, watery, and must've reused an old shot of coffee because I could barely taste the coffee! Yuck.

Thanks for the response you posted owner! I didnt say I had yuck coffee in Matamata, I only had yuck coffee at your shop not anywhere else in Matamata, and no I didn't get the wrong coffee shop, it was definitely Espresso to go so on this occasion you certainly did make yuck coffee. I'd love to come back, when I'm in...

I go there every Tuesday for a 'stop work meeting" with a small group of other retired blokes.Very good service 'great selection of food but the coffee can at times be a bit on the strong side for me I have to say . How ever a great place to meet up for a pleasant hour . Plenty of seats and tables / couches and a very comforting atmosphere . Trying very hard I believe to make this a 5 star business. Highly...