Kiwification

photo credit: PoYang_博仰

My new mate Mike, pastor of our current church, and self-proclaimed coffee-snob, recommended to my last night the new FUSE @Carlyle” espresso bar and cafe, in Carlyle St., Napier. As I drove past this morning, I decided to treat myself to a Friday morning latte (which I’m enjoying as I write this review).

FUSE’s building is painted black, with a simple sign in white on top. It’s simplistic, understated and modern, a welcome change from the typically flamboyant Art Deco style buildings which have made Napier famous. The interior has only a few wooden tables, and massive open kitchen area behind the counter, where three friendly staff members wait to serve you from 7am.

I was greeted with enthusiasm, and after placing my order for a large latte for $4, was invited to put my name on a “coffee card”, and store it in an alphabetically sorted box at the till. I get the card punched with every coffee, and after ten or so coffees, I’ll get a freebie.

Another innovative offering is a service allowing you to text your order through, to be ready for collection as you rush to work. There are little pamphlets describing the process at the till. (i.e., text “1 L latter S 1 5min” to 021-025-896-80 for one large latte, single shot, with one sugar, for collection in 5 minutes)

The cafe culture is big here in Napier, which in my limited experience means quaint, cultural (sometimes a bit dingy) little coffee shops where the experience and ambiance are an integral part of the product. FUSE has created a new niche for themselves in an already crowded market by being different - offering clever little niceties, a modern and efficient layout, and decent pricing.