WHO MAKES YOUR COFFEE?

Lauren Jackson DARK HORSE PARAPARAUMU

What do you do when you’re not making coffee?

I’m lucky to have a really varied role at Dark Horse. When I’m not behind the machine I spend my days checking in with our cafe customers, training, merchandising at local supermarkets we stock coffee in and doing a bit of marketing.

Outside of work, I have three kids and we love to get outside and visit the beautiful beaches on the Kāpiti Coast as much as possible. Plus I do Brazilian Jiu Jitsu a couple of times a week, so that keeps me busy enough.

What’s your coffee order?

My go to is our Colt blend as an oat flat white with a little cinnamon, or as an iced latte in summer. At home, it’s our Bronco blend filtered through a Moccamaster.

What’s the key to a great coffee?

Care and attention. At Dark Horse we are all about full bodied flavour and consistency. It doesn’t need to be complicated, it just needs to taste great. A nice strong shot of espresso with beautiful silky milk is as good as it gets.

What’s your favourite thing about being a barista?

Getting to know customers and bringing joy to their day with a great coffee and banter. I also love delving into the details of coffee making and how the machinery works, it’s an endless pursuit for perfection.

Decaf, yay or nay?

Absolutely yay. Our Gelding decaf is stunning, perfect for a late arvo or evening brew. We use a Swiss Water Method decaf, which has a really clean taste and is roasted in a way to still give a really bold, chocolatey flavour.

What’s the local delicacy in your area?

There’s a bunch of great local producers that call the Kāpiti Coast home. We are super spoiled to have the Montfoort team next door to us, serving up Dutch pancakes, donuts and stroopwafels every Friday and Saturday, a staple in the Dark Horse Coffee diet.

What’s the biggest coffee sin?

Pods and instant coffee, they taste awful, and pods produce unnecessary waste. It’s not hard to make great coffee at home with basic gear and good quality beans. We have a subscription service through our online store, so it’s easy to just set and forget, the hard part is done.