Pukeko Coffee

Pukeko Coffee - Oxford, England. Near the city centre, at a really busy part of town traffic-wise (all day and night) sits an unsuspecting surprise. Seemingly out of place, serving like a vendor is a New Zealander with a cart (a three-wheeled vespa) probably smaller than most people's first car. This is a fantastic idea in theory as many students and lecturers would pass him by to get to their university classes. Wholeheartedly, it is absolutely worth it.

Seeing as all it is is a cart, there is not much to talk about the actual place. The Batista-vendor has cleverly lain out the stall with the fridge for milk and till for cash change. It is yellow and cutely presented - enough to get attention but without seeming to try too hard for it.

The Batista is a really friendly and interactive man; he was talking at length about how his coffee cart came to be and where he came from. This guy actually seems genuine and like he is enjoying what he is doing. Akin to the best places for coffee (in my opinion) he is always up for small talk during visits.

To give this place a trial, I went for one of my testing coffees - this time a double shot cappuccino. Now, this is the kind of coffee that I am talking about - it actually has the texture of a good, strong espresso and the bold flavour of coffee; it was like what you can get back in Australia at virtually every place that serves coffee. Most coffee out in Oxford (or England/the UK in general) are very weak. Here, it perked me up while I was drinking it - the key criteria to whether a coffee is sublime or not. He made the shots big and had creamy milk in the cappuccino and he did not skimp on the foam. It was not a cappuccino coffee, but actually a *cappuccino*. Australians, New Zealanders and Italians be proud.

A person can many times talk about "hidden gems" and that some of the best places are surprises - in terms of the look of the place needing disregard or that they happen upon it somehow. In this instance, it was out on the sidewalk and like something missing from the markets. Good coffee has been hard to find from beyond the home base much less fantastic coffee. This place is an absolute recommendation and I will certainly stop by the man if I am walking in his direction again.

Best coffee (in England) ever.