Aspire Cafe

I used to come here regularly back when it was intrigue café as it is just down the road from my old high school. The other day I returned to find it had changed name to Aspire café, maybe because it has changed owners I’m not too sure. I was a little disappointed at first because I loved Intrigue so much but after ordering my coffee and muffin I realised that it is still just as good as it used to be. My coffee was nice and strong despite being a take-​away one which I don’t usually enjoy as much but it was really good and my muffin was delicious. They have a full kitchen menu too but I always choose from their cabinet because they have a good selection, especially their sweet treats. Another thing I like about this café is that they are open till 5pm during the week when most of the other cafes in Auckland close at 3pm, so if I’m craving a coffee in the late afternoon I know I can come here.

Based purely on aesthetics, Aspire’s is a funky café, especially considering it’s drab surroundings and neighbours. It also doubles as a gallery, with some interesting local art on the walls. So much better than the contemporary, plastic cafés everywhere.
Sadly Aspire’s aspirations were too high. They forgot to cover the basics first. My short black was served in a tulip cup with an overly long extraction, making it bitter and watery. The service is brusque, bordering on rude. The proportions of the food and the pricing looks unbalanced. These are elementary things any café should have a handle on early in the game.
Aspire’s has inspiration but assumes this is enough.