Life-changing Kiwi coffee quest
When American journalist Ron Laughlin first visited New Zealand in 1989, he found himself gasping for a decent cup of coffee and on a quest that would start a life-changing journey.
Laughlin’s taste for coffee would eventually lead him into a new profession and turn him into an ambassador for New Zealand and its strong coffee culture.
NZ Coffee guide
Ron and his Kiwi wife Paula have spent five-and-a-half years touring New Zealand on the coffee trail - sampling, talking to baristas, roasters and importers, and compiling a definitive New Zealand coffee guide.
Although their permanent base is now a waterfront property in Picton at the top of the South Island, the Laughlins continue to make regular forays to far reaching corners of New Zealand to follow up on any new leads.
Each coffee-related recommendation is personally checked out as part of an anonymous, independent and unbiased survey - catalogued on their New Zealand Coffee Guide website.
Google coffee map
The coffee team judges each café on its coffee, ambiance and service, and those that pass the test are added to the website’s Google coffee map - making it easy for locals and visitors to locate the New Zealand’s best coffee destinations.
The website provides a comprehensive insight into the "land of the long flat white", and also applauds New Zealand baristas who have "consistently shown their passion and expertise scoring in the top ten at world competitions since 2002".
New Zealand has more coffee roasters per capita than anywhere in the world, and the Laughlins claim that Kiwi coffees are also the best in the world.
Coffee lovers
Known as ‘the coffee lovers", the Laughlins have devoted their lives to "a non-ending search in a continuing journey on the quest of the holy grail of coffee".
Once cappuccino drinkers, the couple has long since converted to flat whites because they prefer that combination of milk/coffee - "you just can't get the lingering satisfaction while relaxing with the morning paper at the café as you can with a flat white," says Ron.
The couple, who spent eight years working and living in downtown Wellington, say they became spoiled for choice with a number of cafés in the vicinity.
"We made sure we checked out each and every new place that opened plus patronised daily our old favourites," says Ron.
"When we began our travel odyssey we contacted one of the local roasters, who had proven to be one of the best for us, and asked for his list of cafés in the South Island where we were to spend the summer. We couldn't bear to contemplate the fact we might be without high quality coffee.
"After six years we no longer have that concern having investigated and listed the cafés we find completely acceptable and programme our trip to be sure to be near one for morning coffee and one for the afternoon each day."
Now, they just want to share information with the many other coffee lovers who don’t want to start their day with anything less than a good cup of coffee.
Ohio - NZ
Ron Laughlin was born in Dayton, Ohio, where he spent much of his youth honing his skills in the outdoors.
Laughlin’s varied career has included a stint as district marketing manager for southern Ohio, writing for newspapers and magazines, hosting radio and TV shows. He was dock master of the largest big game fishing marina in Florida Keys, and is also an award-winning trap shooter.
He says he has dived, boated and sailed in most of the Caribbean waters.
Pacific research
Laughlin discovered New Zealand in the mid-eighties when his business-related travels included six weeks in New Zealand. He fell in love with the country and one of its residents [Paula], and they have been happily married since 1990, he says.
After a three-year attempt at setting up a resort in Mexico, the couple decided to settle back in New Zealand where they set up a retail business selling Mexican silver jewellery.
Paula Laughlin is now a successful jewellery designer, wholesaling her designs to 75 galleries and shops throughout New Zealand.
In Wellington Ron returned to writing. He has also worked for television, done TV and magazine ads, and worked on Lord of the Rings movies.
On the road
In 2003 Ron and Paula bought a 7-metre Hino bus, converted it into a travelling home, and set off in early 2004 with their two cats, Chocolate and Sylvester, on their New Zealand journey.
The couple spent more than five years cruising the country from north to south while Ron continued to write and photograph New Zealand. He has produced a New Zealand Travel Guide CD sold on Amazon.com and on his own travel website, writes for travel websites such as Trip Advisor, and creates travel itineraries for visitors.
"Many of the visitors have turned out to be friends after stopping by and visiting us in Picton," he says.
Although the Coffee Lovers have now settled in Picton, they still spend time checking out coffee recommendations "to make sure all is as we portray it."
More information
New Zealand’s dedicated coffee culture
Starbucks gives Brits a taste of New Zealand
These topics may also be of interest to you
|
