The team down at The Flight Coffee Hanger definitely know how to make a coffee and how to make you feel welcome. The best baristas in New Zealand and the best coffee in Wellington keep me coming back.

People pride themselves on organic and fair trade, so you can feel better about your life choices when sipping on one of their expertly made coffees. (other good life choices also include their insanely good cheese scones and buying beans to take home).

Cute little shop and roastery making a name for itself in Petone and even playing with the big boys in Wellington.

This dark roasted coffee bean is a Wellington icon, situated on upper Tory, the roastery is a hub for coffee afficionadios.

Smooth chocolatey coffee, great branding and packaging have made this coffee loved by Wellingtonians and others across the country (and even across the ditch)

Really like the vegetarian dishes and cabinet food on offer here. Reasonably priced. Like the funky décor. Such a convenient place to meet up with friends as it’s easy for everyone to find! I’ve always found the staff pleasant and relaxed.

I really like the cozy feeling of the courtyard out the back - it’s nice and warm when it’s an overcast or rainy day and the heater is on out there.

A funky little setting. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Staff are always very friendly and really quick with getting your coffee made and served.

I really like that there are always amazing vegetarian and vegan options at this establishment - and not just on the menu to order; but also on the counter which is really convenient. I love that it's open late, and I think they have the best milkshakes I've ever had.

Very stylish place with quite a quirky sort of flash antique feel to it. Was a lovely place to have an early evening wine with the ambience of the soft music and the candle light.

Champion baristas, great people, consistant coffee … and a great food menu to boot.

Funky place for coffee by Te Aro park … great little outdoor area to watch the world go by. And don’t forget a cheese scone.

Tucked away on Leeds Street (next to the Leeds Street bakery) you need to be in the know to find these guys - but it is well worth a trip. A good option is the Single Origin, always something new to try.

No caffination would be complete without a trip to L’Affare. And with a full service kitchen as well, the options abound. Get there early though, as it fills fast.

Yum. The go to place on Cuba Street - especially late at night and you need a fix!

Best coffee in Wellington is a very contentious issue, full of opinions, these are mine. Full disclaimers would read that I work at peoples coffee in Newtown currently on a part time basis. But as coffee is something I’m pretty serious about, objectivity is always maintained.This list is in no particular order. One of my personal favourites is Red Rabbit Coffee Co down Leeds Street. With Steve putting out some incredibly great roasts and utilising all the coffee knowledge he has acquired over years of work. Their espresso machine looks like a space ship in a good way and produces some incredible shots, the food here from the attached bakery is fantastic and the filter coffee is super tasty as well. All their staff have in depth knowledge of the coffees they serve and it’s truly a place to go and geek out.

Sitting pretty for me as well is Coffee Supremes flagship, with a fantastic fit out a commitment to excellence and some incredibly great filter coffee. Buying your beans from here is great, as they will give you exactly the amount you want. The espresso is usually really great and they will often have some great origins going through. The new fetco here is incredible and obviously incredibly quick, it’s my personal go to at the moment for coffee if I’m in town. One of the finer cafes Wellington has on offer.

In the heart of Newtown, long time local staple for its surrounding residents. This is a place that tries to push the new wave of coffee but has retained its 100% fair trade organic status. Pushing third wave coffee while retaining ethics is no easy task but one done incredibly well. The roasts here are all well developed and they offer a bean to suit everyone for home and also provide excellent espresso and filter options.

For your no frills excellent flat white served with excellence, look no further. Don’t expect anything crazy, but if your after a wonderful example of the simple espresso this is a place you should visit. With tasty treats baked daily and cold pressed juice from sister café earnest, you can’t really go wrong.

No coffee article about Wellington would be right without mentioning these guys. The ‘cool’ kids on the block. Always busy, always pushing their coffee forward and trying to keep up with international standards and advancements. Definitely worth a visit even if just to admire the sweet fit-out of the café.

Flight Coffee’s arrival in Wellington has shaken up the coffee industry, first with Memphis Belle, just down the road, and now The Hangar. The cool kids behind the counter offer espresso from their marriage equality-themed Slayer or different brew methods like Chemex, along with a heap of single origins flown in by Flight Coffee. Flight Coffee co-owner Nick Clark is also NZ’s top barista, recently placing fifth at the world champs. He and the other staff are super friendly, super babein, rad people who round out your epic coffee experience.

I’ve saved an insane amount of money (say, two coffees a day at $3.50 each?) since purchasing a Swiss gold (about $40) and brewing my own long blacks with Supreme coffee. Along with saving money, I’m also saving the environment by not using takeaway cups! The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable, and can teach you all about coffee, and grind Supreme beans for your brewing method of choice.

Trying a new coffee brewing method can be a scary, overwhelming - even scientific (what IS a Chemex anyway?) - experience, but Dave Lamason and his team are welcoming and knowledgeable, and can teach you all you need to know about coffee and how to drink it. I highly recommend getting a siphon and watching it be made - it’s like magic!

The original Flight Coffee house, this friendly little space on Dixon Street draws in coffee connoisseurs, hipsters, gym bunnies and many other groups who gravitate to great coffee and service. Let Bink and his team choose you a single origin or alternative brewing method, and catch up on the gossip with these cool, smiley kids.

Tucked away on Francis Place (next to where you retrieve your undelivered mail) is Havana’s cafe and roastery - which you can tour to learn more about the coffee process. The cafe staff are awesomely friendly and it’s a great spot for a relaxed cuppa or breakfast, or to meet up with friends or contacts, just slightly away from the busy city.

Dixon St deli is a classic Wellington brunch spot with a tempting selection in their deli cabinets and for reasonable CBD prices. They also do delicious hearty winter food - check out their soup specials and filling hot brunches. Always bustling, weekdays and weekends.

My favourite café in Wellington and a killer spot for brunch. There's always a line leading down the stairs because it's so popular on the weekends, but a table is never more than a ten-fifteen wait. Super efficient staff and delicious brunches. Coffee is quick and the food takes a little longer because it's so popular. But just enjoy the views over Lyall Bay out the panorama windows - and on a windy day watch the kite-surfers get pummelled!

This café is a Wellington institution, best known for its capacity to attract LOTR actors on their off days - and for the fact that it has a road running through the middle of it (the Scorch O Rama guys and gals wear high-vis vests while they ferry your food to you!). Take your guests for a classic Wellington experience and make sure it's a sunny day. Views across the harbour entrance and brunches to spoil you.

It's a feast for the eyes and the taste-buds at Enigma Café, conveniently located on Courtenay. The walls are decorated with funky street art and long mirrors, there's space to sit inside - and outside in a courtyard for the smokers. What's even better is the food - fresh, large portions, paninis, filos, an extensive hot menu, a huge drinks menu and a gelato cabinet! The friendly staff at Enigma will sort you out.

Always a chilled vibe and delicious, freshly prepared food - both in the cabinet and to order. Perfect place for a casual brunch with friends, a quick coffee or a late night stop in.

Pranah is the go-to cafe in Newtown for vegetarian and vegan fare. Its counter food is excellent and very reasonably priced, and its portions are ample, while its eggs menu, only available on the weekends, is very popular. It serves Peoples Coffee.

A few doors down from Spotlight and backing out onto a pet shop, La Cloche isn’t in the most scenic of locations, but it’s worth putting up with an outlook of traffic along Hutt Rd for its fantastic selection of mouth-watering French fare. Its cabinets are teeming with tarts, pastries, macarons, mousses and cheeses that are as delicious as they look, and there’s also a selection of cheese, sauces and retailed goods to take home and enjoy later.

Chocolate Fish Cafe isn’t the easy to access without a car, but it’s worth the trip for the view of Wellington harbour alone. The cafe itself is styled like a bach, with bean bags, blankets, and a great range of reading material, and the menu reads like a celebration of honest Kiwi fare: toasted sandwiches, seafood dishes, and ice blocks. For those who can’t pick between a caffeine hit and a refreshing ice cream, there’s affogato on offer, too – served with the cafe’s namesake, a chocolate fish, on the side.

Maranui’s a great place to go for coffee or brunch, until you get there and realise that all of Wellington had the same idea. Maranui is obscenely popular on the weekends, with the queue sometimes extending down the stairs and out the front door, and, in a city with so many great eateries (and many half-empty), this can be a test of resolve. But once you’re in, it’s always worth the wait: picturesque views, great decor, and fantastic food. And the Tradesman Tuesdays deal – a big breakfast and coffee for just $16, from 7am till 3pm – is a great reason to wake up early (or call in sick).

Queen Sally’s Diamond Deli is a great back-up if you’re in Lyall Bay but can’t face the queue for Maranui Surf Lifesaving Club Cafe. It’s a shame it’s seen as a handy back-up to the immensely popular Maranui, because it’s a great place in its own right: great coffee, gelato, and a select range of cabinet food and delicious retail goods. It is small, though, and seating is limited.

Enigma is my go-to spot when I need a bit of a break on my walk home from Thorndon. Steer clear of their massive salads and sandwiches in favor of a heaping bowl of wedges, affordable at $6 and perfect for sharing. While I’m not usually a fan, the iced mocha at Enigma is a bit addictive– watch out.

Crumpet on Manners St. has atmosphere in spades, complete with jazzy music and faded prints of dreamy ladies on the walls. Located right next to the Opera House, walking into Crumpet feels like taking a step back in time. Coffees are well executed while the hot chocolate is tall and lovely. The crumpets themselves come in a variety of tastes, sweet and savory, and all unique-- the pear and ricotta is worth a try. Come in for a cozy place to read (though the lighting can be a bit dim) or slide in at the bar for a chat with one of the Boon brothers themselves.

One of the first cafes I ever visited in Wellington, Fidels remains a favorite. Keep it simple with nachos or fries to share, or suck down a massive Snickers thick shake if you dare. While I haven’t taken them up on it yet, I’ve heard only good things about the pizza and beer deal. If the weather is good, grab a seat outside at one of their picnic tables.

A great little spot to grab a coffee or tea, this cafe has all the charm and a lot more elbow room than some of its counterparts on Cuba St. Whether you’re bringing your laptop or a friend, Dixon Street Deli has you covered with plenty of seats and their own wi-fi hotspot. Even if you’re just cruising down Dixon, be sure to check their chalk board out front, inscribed with a new motivational message every day.

Great place to stop in for a bite when you’re roaming through Aro Valley. Try a savory muffin (spinach, feta, and pine nuts… yum!) or the brie and tomato on a french roll from the counter. They make their own Aro Coffee.

The Fish Taco is the bombdiddly! dave - Von photography

As close to the source as you can possibly get. Have a coffee where they make the coffee! Dave - Wellington wedding photographer - Von photography

A small quirky cafe in the hipster centre of Petone. Good cover, great food options. Dave - Von photography

If you need a little excursion on Sunday afternoon. Have a drive out to Pauatahanui and have brunch at Duck Creek. It’s a lovely sunny spot with an estuary walk nearby

I wish the Hangar was just a little bit closer to work. Then it would definitely make my weekly coffee run. Unfortunately it’s just a little bit far away for my laziness. The crew here now how to serve up steaming cups of Joe on the go and it’s no surprise it’s always busy in the mornings. Maybe I need to invest in a coffee cup holder for my bike handlebars as I cycle past every day

The super friendly staff will soon have your name and order down-pat. I’ve been coming here for a week now and already they know I want my Flat White in my to-go cup. Perfect. Just remember to avoid the Telecom building rush at 10am.

This is the closest place to Boulcott Street and my office that serves up Peoples Coffee so it automatically makes the list. Also helps that their amazing salads are well worth hanging around for a newspaper read and lunchtime bite to eat.

Hot damn, this fantastically decorated little Strathmore cafe/deli serves super scrumptious food and makes incredible coffee. Rustic homestyle food that ranges through breakfast burritos, heartwarming pies, filled croissants, salads and more - all made with the best ingredients.

Okay, so Ekim Burgers in Lyall Bay isn’t as secret now as it used to be, but it’s still one of the best burger spots in the city. Affordable prices, delicious burgers, and yo, that Lyall Bay view/walk - wonderful!!! Vegans and vegetarians are well catered to here as well.

Every time I eat here, I find myself asking myself, why don’t I eat here more often? Cafe Polo has an incredible breakfast/brunch menu, the best hash browns in the city, and with such liberal use of Zany Zeus feta on the menu, how can’t you be intoxicated by it all?

Aeroshop is a little design studio / coffee house in Mt Cook. As opposed to Soy milk, they made us of Almond and Hemp Milk as dairy alternatives. You really need to have a Hemp Milk Flat White or Latte in your belly! Do it for your inner fourteen year old! Coffee brand used: Flight Coffee.

The best lil cafe in Berhampore. It might be the only cafe in Berhampore, but I’m pretty sure that even if there were a few more it would still be the best. They serve delicious and healthy open sandwiches (vege, meat, sardines and beyond), mouth melting baked goods, off the hook coffee, and some of the raddest decor in town. Damn, I used the word rad, what is this? 1993 all over again?

Great

Local Spot, famous

Store with lots of high quality foods

Great cafe, local owners

Great food and coffee.