Bean banter
A note from Hamish: 10 years on
I dropped some mates off in town on Friday night and I was reminded of just how awesome Christchurch has become in such a short time since being munted by the earthquakes. I clearly remember how barren it was even five years ago, but this week it was just pumping –...
The Zap blend and its revolutionary origins
Zap is one of Switch Espresso’s most popular blends. It’s a high-intensity roast that tastes good brewed as either a black or white coffee. It’s named after the Zapatista movement in Mexico. The Zapatista Army of National Liberation is a Mayan culture-influenced...
Win Valentine’s brunch for 2 and a bag of Switch coffee
It’s Valentine’s Day this Sunday and we here at Switch want to hook you lovebirds up with a date at Black Betty Café and the most romantic thing we could think of: a big bag of Switch Espresso coffee beans.
Black Betty is 10 years old
Happy birthday to Black Betty Café, one of Switch Espresso’s favourite babies. It all started on February 1, 2011. We hit the market with a new concept: a quality café in a spacious former warehouse, complete with coffee plants, a grow room, and a lot of different...
Coffee has over 110 flavours, aromas, textures
Yep, there’s a lot more to get your head around than just ‘bitter’ and ‘sweet’. With over 110 attributes, there are billions of potential flavour, aroma and texture combinations, which is why no two coffees taste exactly the same. Differences come from the type of...
Meet the chefs (and barista) behind our cafés
You may not know about this, but as well as the Switch roastery, we run three cafés in Christchurch. Industrie, Black Betty and Bunsen are all pretty cool spaces to hang out, grab a bite and of course they serve excellent Switch Espresso. But the main asset behind...
Planting forests and growing coffee in Mexico
No prizes for guessing where our Mexican Chiapas coffee comes from – that’s right it’s a state in Mexico called Chiapas, which sits on the border of Guatemala. Chiapas is a diverse region with beaches, lakes, jungle and mountains, and produces some of the world’s...
Hello 2021
Another year down, and it’s safe to say it was a real ride. Honestly though, we’re absolutely stoked, grateful and humbled by how 2020 went for our community. Things could have gotten real ugly, but New Zealanders and Christchurchians pulled together to fend off Covid...
Where to find Switch Espresso outside of Christchurch
Looking for an awesome spot to grab some coffee when you’re on the road this summer? Check out some of these great Switch partner cafés, all guaranteed to brew up a quality cup of the good stuff. South of Chch Wapiti Bakery & Café – Te AnauFor when you’re...
How to brew great coffee on holiday
Stuck without your espresso machine? Camping, hiking, staying with unenlightened family, or bunked up in accommodation without your favourite brewing method? Here are some tips for brewing the perfect cup of coffee on holiday. If you’re looking for some brewing...