There are many ways to contribute to a community: some volunteer, others keep the town tidy, and some do good deeds. For the team behind C4 Coffee, fuelling locals with their daily brew is how they give back to the people of Christchurch.
Operations Manager Oliver Griffith-Jones takes great satisfaction in what his family café and roasting business has achieved in its almost 30-year history.
“My father Guy Griffith-Jones started the business in 1996. It began as a café and then we started roasting our own coffee. Our tagline is ‘beans, machines and all things coffee’, so we focus on everything from wholesale supply, retail equipment, and machines to crafting coffee at our own café,” he says.
According to Oliver, C4 Coffee has always focused on growing the specialty scene in the city, sourcing new and experiential coffees and providing an immersive experience for those who visit.
“We’re always looking where we can improve our quality, from roasting to sourcing to brewing,” he says.
“Our café is built into the roastery, so we have a big glass window through which customers can watch the roasting process. It gives them a real in-depth experience.”
The C4 team roast up to 35 different coffees and offer a wide spectrum of serves.
“We like to provide a huge variety of coffees, for which we receive amazing feedback,” he says.
Alongside their focus on variety, Oliver and the team like to ensure the café is kitted out with the latest equipment.
“We all have a huge passion for innovation and technology in coffee. As a business, we have continued to focus on investing in our equipment partnerships with the likes of La Marzocco, Poursteady, and Loring to support the quality and ever-growing range of coffees we brew and serve” he says.
“The café will be coming up on 30 years soon, which is a huge milestone. For us right now, the focus remains on the coffee. As the price of beans rises, we don’t want to compromise on quality and will remain transparent about our products.”
C4 Coffee
113 Fitzgerald Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand, 8011
Open Monday to Saturday 7am to 3pm
This article appears in the October/November 2024 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
