Tupu’anga Coffee is bringing a taste of the Pacific to Mt Eden Road.
Driving along Mt Eden Road from the Balmoral intersection, it’s easy to identify Tupu’anga Coffee by the large mural of cherries from the village Kolonga in Tonga. The same wall once belonged to Rocket Kitchen and before that an Asian fusion restaurant. Now, a blackboard sign outside the cafe says mālō e lelei, a hint of what’s through the doors.
Inside, the Kolonga cherries are again on display, masterfully painted by South Auckland graffiti artists Charles and Janine Williams, while the ceiling has bold Pacific motifs painted on by Tongan artist Benjamin Works.
Each table is decorated with a vase of fresh flowers and a scented candle, adding to the comfy feeling of being at home, having a cuppa and catching up with family.
While the owners of Tupu’anga Coffee are new to the neighbourhood, they’re not new to the hospitality scene. Tupu’anga means identity in Tongan. Owners Emeline and Alipate Mafile’o run Tupu’anga through their social enterprise Affirming Works which provides mentoring and educational services to Pasifika youth. Their ‘Kainga Tu’umalie’ programme is about preventing family violence within the Tongan church community, while ‘Young, Free and Pacific’ offers a chance for youth in the Auckland and Wellington region to build their confidence to be future leaders.
On top of that, Affirming Works operates cafes in the Tāmaki Makaurau suburbs of Ōtāhuhu, Ōtara, Mt Wellington; they recently closed their Māngere and Greenlane sites to open up in Mt Eden. The coffee beans used at Affirming Works cafes are 100% Arabica, grown and harvested in Tonga by workers paid a living wage. The cafe profits are reinvested into Affirming Works’ social programmes, supporting over 400 children and their families each year.
When I visit Tupu’anga, I’m greeted with smiles by the front staff, who have all been through an Affirming Works hospitality training initiative called Tautua (a Sāmoan word taken from the proverb meaning “the pathway to leadership is through service”). I order a soy flat white, which is smooth, sweet and nutty, and a custard brioche. The delicate, rich bread melts in my mouth with every bite, revealing layers of velvety custard weaved inside the brioche. Whenever I’m asked whether I’d like my baked goods heated, I always say yes. As I wait, I sit down with Emeline Mafile’o to learn more about Tupu’anga.
Emeline says one of the things that sets the cafe apart is the fact that every item in their cabinet is made in-house. They sell a mix of classic cafe favourites – like quiches, salads, panini, red velvet cupcakes and cheese scones – and dishes that offer a taste of the Pacific. Don’t miss Tupu’anga’s take on the pineapple pie or their lu sipi pie, an original creation featuring lamb, coconut cream and taro leaves.
A popular item on their dine-in menu since opening has been the ota ika or raw fish, served with a slice of lemon and a side of purple kumala (sweet potato) crisps. If you enjoy the kumala crisps, you can buy a packet at the cafe. Tupu’anga shelves are lined with bags of Affirming Works’ own organic veggie chips, made in Tonga from local produce – taro, kumala, breadfruit, yam, banana, plantain (green bananas) and kape (another type of taro that grows tall and above the ground). Taking up space on the shelves too is Tupu’anga coffee, both plunger blends and roasted beans.
Come to Tupu’anga for great coffee and food that tastes as good as it looks. With its social purpose, friendly atmosphere and unique flavour of the islands, this is a welcome addition to the Mt Eden neighbourhood.
This is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.