Coffee Lab

After visiting the ‘Coffee Lab’ a few times for coffee & lunch (unfortunately everything including the coffee, food, ambience and service) is very average. I hesitated on writing this review, as I thought with further visits this café would improve. Sadly not. ‘Coffee Lab’ is located in a commercial hub just off Porana Road on the North Shore, so is acquainted by locals and neighbouring businesses. There is parking right outside which is very convenient. The staff always seem disorganised, disinterested and lack friendliness, which is a necessity in hospitality! I am a HUGE coffee lover so I was interested to try their beans — ok. I have tasted their salmon bagel, cookies, berry muffins and a few other things at Auckland City prices. Maybe ordering from the menu is the way to go? I love the space. Hopefully my next experience will be a winner!

Hidden secret on the Shore, this place has a cool vibe and they are SERIOUS about their coffee. There’s a roastery onsite and you’ll normally have three choices of coffee at the till. Today I opted for an iced coffee, no fancy embellishments just good coffee, ice and milk. Biggest table secured, coffees ordered, we settled in. Food was eventually ordered — corn fritter stacks with bacon and hollandaise, BLATs, pinwheel scones, strawberry tarts and custard squares (sweet things are predominantly from Pandora). Second coffees were ordered, bags of beans bought, job done!

*Joey voice* :“What’s not to like? Service, good. Food, good. Coffee, Goooooooood. wait wait wait there is one thing. price vs portion is tots wrong. My poor friend ordered steak and there were only 2 teeny tiny slices. hahha boy was he hungry after. Same goes for the chicken fillet my other friend got… but on the plus side i ordered the right thing that made my experience super duper goooood. FRENCH TOAST…
Oh the combination of grilled bananas, crispy bacon, pillowy french toast… all drizzled with some gooey maple syrup… mmmmm i felt sorry for the two boys that ordered the teeny dishes that i gave them a majority of my bacon.
I ordered a hipster soy hot chocolate which came with an attempted tulip latte art (still looked good tho!) and tasted as good as a hot chocolate can get. The boys ordered a cold brew which came in beakers and a wooden stand (i love how they consider the presentation of the drinks, also made my nerdy side jump for joy when i saw beakers!!), they also ordered a short black and another friend order a peppermint tea (to which all the saucers and cups were mix and match! ahhh too cute). I got to taste the cold brew and it was really good until we decided to add the sparkling water (not even sure if we were supposed to but it was presented there?). Short black looked like it was only one shot? peppermint tea smelt divine as usual.
The interior is hipster. The communal tables were made of scaffolding or metal pipework which i LOVED. The wood cladding all over the interior. The sneak peek into where they roast their coffee beans. The hipster boys that serve you, covered in intricate tattoos, five o’clock shadow, tunnel earrings, and cheeky grins. what was i talking about? oh right the interior is totally different from the exterior, like a surprise. Definitely check it out! super busy on Saturdays tho!

Excellent food and NZ made soft drinks. But it’s the coffee that really sets CL apart. You can select the country of origin for the beans and therefore do a tasting across the major coffee regions. Coffee is roasted in house an the delicious smell can be picked up miles away.
Gets busy on fine weekends so be patient, you will be rewarded

Never knew this place existed and have lived 1 km away for 8 years. Friendly staff. Fast coffee service!

I almost feel embarrassed that this rad café has been in my own backyard for years and I didn’t know about it (in my defense it is located down a dead end industrial street but still, embarrassed.). Anyway, this week I set out to rectify my ignorance by visiting twice, first with my Unilocal amigo, Kathy L and then again the following day.
The café is in a pretty unexpected place, right next to the North Shore Events Centre. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the smell of freshly roasted beans. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again — cafés that roast their own beans make consistently good coffee. I mean, that’s just my experience but I reckon 99% of the time it holds true.
The Coffee Lab is no exception. Here you get to choose your own beans from their three grinders. We took the advice of the barista and went Sumatran, who told us «it had a hint of vanilla and is good served black.» Perfect. Could my unrefined coffee palate taste the hint of vanilla, no, but was the coffee strong and silky smooth — yes. In fact, it was so delicious that I ordered the same thing the next day.
I am yet to try their food but the slices look off the chain — just like nana used to make them! No doubt, I’ll be back soon.

Came here for breakfast at Coffee Lab with a friend for her birthday– have known about this one for a little while but never had the chance to go. Had a friend say it was a good place and they are well known for their coffee, of course.
They have both a menu to order and gorgeous sweet stuff in the cabinet and glass jars on the counter. Got the Eggs benedict with salmon– although there is also the option of bacon. Was a coffee-​needed morning so ordered a Flat white. Friend got the Avocado bruschetta, which I’d heard was good and she agreed. Was nice to have Himalayan rock salt on the table and the large screen on windows that projected the FIFA semi-​finals. Very cool!
Tried their cold coffee– a cold Americano– which was smooth and delicious. Arrived in a handled mason jar with a straw. Also got the chicken sandwich out of the cabinet. Came on a cool little chopping board after a toasting– and was nicely filling with thin slices of cheese, fancy lettuce and good amount of sauces.
Neat little space, that was very coffee-​orientated. Had a great aroma of fresh coffee and the flat white was beautiful and really great. Definitely come here for a coffee and if you can, stay in to eat!

Best coffee place in North shore. All staffs are very kind and friendly. Baristas are truly expert about coffee, Ben is a head barista, he was finalist of national barista competition and finalist of latte art championship. Also they have their own roaster, their cupper had champion 2times in NZ, 6^th place in the world.
So no wonder, they are the best. Fresh and nice coffee everytime. Never disappointed.

I read good things about Coffee Lab online so I was looking forward to paying them a visit after my weekly grocery shop this morning.
They are situated down a quiet industrial street off Porana Road in Glenfield. Limited parking off street & much more on the road.
Coffee Lab roast their own blends on site, which you can apparently watch them at work, alas it wasn’t happening during my visit today. They sell beans and equipment in addition to running a tidy little café. Two tables were set up on the grass out front and there are also two large bench style tables with umbrellas, which would be great for large groups or (if you aren’t shy) share with other coffee connoisseurs.
I ordered a cheese, herb and olive scone, corn fritters with bacon & avocado and a soy flat white. Service was quick, efficient and friendly as it should be and my coffee was flawless which would be expected in a place like this.
The cheese, herb & olive scone was jam packed with plump whole black & kalamata olives and had a good amount of cheese baked thoughout. It was served warm with butter on a cute retro saucer. The corn fritters were cooked fresh to order unlike a lot of other cafes who precook them & keep them in the cabinet to reheat. There was a good amount of bacon, avocado and spinach, although I would have appreciated a bit more chutney served on the side, rather than hidden in a wee blob under the avocado.
Very good vibe, will definitely be back soon.

Coffee Lab hides itself down an industrial side street in Wairau Valley. It really is the gem in a pile of rocks around this area and once you have found it you will try and keep it a secret as long as you can only sharing with those who appreciate good coffee, service and food.
They roast their own coffee on-​site and deal in a number of different beans from around the world, the staff have a real interest in what they do and where else would you be asked what type of coffee bean you would like when you place an order.
Service is great friendly and relaxed and not over the top, but provides you with everything that you need.
Th e food mean is small but covers everything you need and offers fresh tasty food for a good price.
If you do visit please don’t tell all your friends and lets keep this one our secret.

I wouldn’t even have known that the Coffee Lab existed, if it hadn’t been for a stint working an exhibition at the North Shore Arena. While waiting for the muscle to help me carry equipment, I spotted the coffee shop next door, and decided to wait over a cup of coffee.
Now why do they hide the good coffee shops from us, why is this one a hidden secret, why have I only discovered it now? I don’t know, but I will make sure that I come here more often, the coffee is great.
Apparently it is all roasted on site, and they import the coffee from all the corners of our blue globe. To date I’ve tried coffee from Costa Rica, Brazil and Sumatra, and on my next visit I’m looking forward to try the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Trabocca Organic Coffee.
I hope it is as much as a mouthful as the name. I can’t wait.

I had heard good things about Coffee Lab so I was really looking forward to checking it out. They have a roastery there where the do all their coffee beans and they also have a café where you can enjoy these beans.
It was really cool to be in amongst all the roastery where they actually make it. You can look through the window at the roastery and see all the action take place. There’s bags of beans, a roaster of course and the smell of coffee!
The coffee was pretty good, not the most amazing but it was still of a high standard. I particularly liked the cups they served it in. The café interior is great too with big tables and smaller ones so it’d be great for a family brunch.
They have a range of food there like brownies, biscottis and quiches. They also have a menu which looked great.