Miller’s Coffee

Trying to figure out how to export this coffee to California because it’s so good! Best café I have been to in my time spent in Auckland.

Only sells coffee, down a dirty side street, closes at 12pm, exposed concrete floor –sounds like a hipsters haven. At least, that what I thought when I first heard about Millers but as it turns out, that it couldn’t be further from the truth.
First off, the staff are friendly — not afraid to smile and don’t pretend they know everything. True, the interior is bare but I get the impression that this is not because they are trying to be cool but rather because first and foremost it’s their roastery where chairs and tables where a bit of a afterthought. Their clientele (well, at least for the house I was there) was varied — man in a suit doing some work, couple of middle aged guys catching up and young, hip teenagers.
Most importantly though, the coffee is good. Strong and good.

What a brilliant location — nestled away in Cross Street just behind the infamous Karangahape Road. I used to acquaint Miller’s a longtime ago, when they were located in Miller’s Lane in Auckland city — so they have stood the test of time! The café has a warehouse-​feel, high ceilings, brick feature walls, concrete floors with a few scattered tables to sit, if desired. The coffee is magic, super strong. They just serve coffee — no food as such. However there are bespoke chocolates for $ 2 which I was offered complimentary! Fabulous! The space is friendly & urban and is visited by locals, bohemian types and people who love good coffee! You won my heart.

The quality of the coffee (and the beans) is A+
Rather quirky opening times … but it’s always worth going here.
Don’t bother if you want food … it does what it says on the box; coffee and nothing else.

It’s always an odd moment when you finally realise what is behind a door you have walked past many times. Friends of mine used to live above Miller’s, and I would walk past it almost nightly, never suspecting that behind it lay both a café and roastery. This is where Miller’s roast their beans which are sent out to cafes auckland wide, and the smell itself gives the place 5 stars. They are only open a couple of hours in the morning for coffees, but well worth a visit if you are in the area, as these guys love their coffee but aren’t obsessed with gimmicks. Every coffee served is a double which I love, especially at 7 in the morning. Of course, if you are a soy hazelnut frappé later drinker, this probably isn’t the café for you, as you will probably be laughed out the door.

This is one of Auckland’s best kept secrets in my opinion. It’s hidden behind K Rd with only the smell of coffee roasting to help you find it. When you walk in it is so, so cool. At the back of the café is a huge coffee roaster where they roast Millers beans. If they’re roasting at the time you go in, just ask the guy and he’ll totally give a whole tutorial on how they do it. Which, for me was so cool to see.
Forget frappes, iced teas and fluffies, these guys just do coffee and they do it seriously well. They don’t even do Mochas! Just the pure stuff. It’s strong, rich and always well made because it’s all they do there.
So if you’re on your way to work and start to smell the faint beauty of coffee roasting, now you know where to go to get it.