Finding a café that will "hit that spot" is a bit of an art and like most things in life, improves over time!
A favourite café is almost like an extension to your home. When travelling outside your home patch, finding a new favourite is like finding a home away from home!
So, how to choose a café? For my wife Dee and I, the attraction to a café is all about the experience….aroma, quality of the espresso, friendliness of the staff, small and laid back atmosphere, other clientele, quality (not quantity) of the food and the general vibe! Sometimes you just can't put your finger on what makes a good cafe ... as the French say, “je ne sais quoi”, literally “I don't know what”
Be prepared for a little physical effort as the best cafes are usually in the side streets and small alleys or outside the CBD in the 'arty' or edgier parts of town.
So, the cafes I recommend are:
Auckland
CBD
CBD
Me Cafe - http://www.mecoffee.co.nz/
Espresso Workshop - http://www.britomart.org/espresso-workshop-britomart
Espresso Workshop - http://www.britomart.org/espresso-workshop-britomart
Ponsonby
Parnell
Espresso Workshop - http://www.coffeesecrets.co.nz/cafes/espresso-workshop-parnell
Mt Eden
Vinyl Coffee Shop - http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/vinyl-coffee-shop-auckland
Grey Lynn
Kokako - http://www.kokako.co.nz/
Queenstown
Vudu - http://www.vudu.co.nz/
There are 2 Vudu cafes in Q.town. Take your pick depending on your mood.
Whangamata
Bar Side Espresso - http://www.coffeesecrets.co.nz/cafes/barside-espresso-whangamata
Sydney
Woolloomooloo
Single Origin - http://www.singleorigin.com.au/
Deus - http://yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/deus_cafe_surry_hills/
Darlinghurst
The Bunker - http://www.beanhunter.com/cafes/review/the-bunker
Darlinghurst
The Bunker - http://www.beanhunter.com/cafes/review/the-bunker
Paddington
Elizabeth Bay
Elizabeth Bay Café - http://yourrestaurants.com.au/guide/elizabeth_bay_cafe/
Melbourne
AbbotsfordThree Bags Full - http://www.threebagsfullcafe.com.au/
Coffee Supreme - http://www.coffeesupreme.com.au/
Balaclava
Monk Bodhi Dharma - http://www.monkbodhidharma.com.au/
South Melbourne
St. Ali - http://stali.com.au/au/
Deadman Espresso - http://www.deadmanespresso.com.au/
St Kilda
19 Squares - http://au.askmen.com/melbourne/19-squares.html
CBD
1000 Pound Bend - http://thousandpoundbend.com.au/
Brother Bada Budan - http://brotherbababudan.com.au/
Prahran
Dukes Coffee - http://www.dukescoffee.com.au/
Hobba - http://hobba.com.au/Hobba/Home.html
Collingwood
Proud Mary - http://www.beanhunter.com/cafes/review/proud-mary
Fitzroy
Sonido - http://sonido.com.au/
De Clieu - http://sevenseeds.com.au/seeds/category/locations/de-clieu/
Carlton
Seven Seeds - http://sevenseeds.com.au/
South Yarra
Lawson Grove Shop - http://www.breakfastout.com.au/lawsongrove.html
The Final Step - http://www.thefinalstep.com.au/
Port Melbourne
Salford Lads Club - http://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/food-and-drink/article/sal
Vancouver
Kitsilano
San Francisco
New York