Lamason

We arrived just as the last coffees of the afternoon were being pulled. The espresso blend was from People’s Choice and made an incredibly smooth Flat White. One of the nicest coffees so far in Wellington. A hip modern space with plenty of coffee-​porn-​equipment to excite any avid drinker. Dying to pop back and see how a siphon turns out. Lovely.

Just got here in an overnight bus from Auckland and I’m glad to stopped by here. This is great coffee and nice staff!

Really nice coffee… Try their brownies. Good and friendly staff… Its like secret hideout…

This coffeeshop is somewhat hidden in downtown Wellington. I got here by accident when i got lost looking for a restaurant I wanted to try. I’m glad I ordered and espresso here after my meal since it was one of the best I had in Wellington. Customer service was very friendly and they had wifi.

I wish I liked this place more than I do. Great service (friendly and not at all pretentious), nice space, and they obviously care about their coffee. And maybe they’re great if you get a siphon coffee, which seems to be a speciality.
Alas, it’s People’s Coffee, and the best I can say about their coffee is it’s «decent». Anywhere I’ve had it. Maybe I’ve just had bad luck with the blends I’ve been served.
Anyway, the coffee. The short black was way way too bright for my taste. I had to put in two spoons of sugar to get it down, followed by a water chaser instantly. OK, I’m not a fan of too much acid or brightness in my coffee, but this was full-​on.
The soy latte was slightly curdled, and to be honest, there’s no excuse for that in a professional coffee joint. Coffee was too fruity to suit the milky drink, and the milk had a chalkiness I didn’t like (possibly the milk brand). I know soy is tricky, but still.
Finally, the description of the available coffee blends should be right behind the counter, not to one side by a table. I suspect I got the Sidamo blend, with a lot of fruit and acidy (according to the description). That would have been my last choice if I’d seen them before ordering.

So, I’m not a coffee snob. In fact, I rarely drink the stuff.
…but there I was, smack in the middle of the «coolest little capital in the world», which is also renowned for their brilliant coffee brews. So… I had to test the waters, naturally.
I came across Lasmason accidentally — tucked away from the bustling Victoria Street and directly next to … a parking garage? Despite the somewhat random location, this place is a real gem. They brew their coffee traditional siphon-​style, which in my «technical» vocabulary translates to helllllllo smooth, flavorful flat white, you are wicked good. Sugar is not necessary (and that’s coming from a coffee newb, so obviously this sh*t is good).
I leave you with this: When in Welly, follow your nose — if the café’s emanating the scent of freshly roasted beans, you probably won’t be disappointed. Just please don’t go to Starbucks, it hurts my heart.