Ark Coffee

Recent arrival to NZ, so what does a coffee bore do? Embarks on trying to find the best espresso in all of Auckland.
For me this is easily the best espresso in the city, second is Kokako — just my opinion. Wonderful staff here too, very friendly and a great selection of coffee related equipment … Including the wonderful baratza grinder, aero press for great office coffee and of course the keep cups.
If you like proper coffee not milk-​based drinks then seriously this is the place.

I concur with the other reviews. A real hidden gem. I enjoyed a beautiful short black. The white open space of the café is bright and inviting.

This place epitomises a «hidden gem.» It’s tucked down the end of a rather dark and dingy alleyway off the main street in Takapuna (you know, the one with the dinky music shop and friendly shoe repairman). I must of walked past it a dozen times oblivious to the fact that it existed… shame on me!
What I love about it is that, whilst the alleyway is rather grimy the space itself is anything but. You enter through a nondescript door at the end of the corridor into a beautifully modern, open space with fresh white walls and polished concrete floors. There is a huge black and gold coffee roasting machine as well as ample tables and chairs (and great magazines!) for you to enjoy your coffee in peace.
What’s also pretty cool is that they serve several different Single Origin beans and have examples of each on the counter for you to sniff before you buy/​drink. When I went, I was in a bit of a hurry so opted for the coffee of the day but I am looking forward to going back and trying the different origins.

I was actually trying to find a quicker route from The Department Store to La Tropezienne when I haphazardly stumbled across this place. I think it was fate. Run by two Japanese sisters, Ark Coffee Company is dedicated to specialty coffee. There are no excess food offerings save for a few actually quite good looking cookies, everything is quite minimalist and spare and very much centered around the coffee itself, which shines.
I tried the best Iced Latte I have ever had and that is quite frankly saying a lot cause I have guzzled a fair few in my time. All it was, was coffee and ice cubes and some sweetener but damn near close to perfection it was. And at really reasonable prices too.
I have been converted, follow me to the Ark!