Empire Coffee

you're on oxford terrace, which runs alongside the ōtākaro avon river in central christchurch, a stretch that's gone through more reinvention than almost anywhere else in new zealand since the 2011 earthquakes. empire coffee sits in that rebuilt city fabric, and the regulars who keep coming back aren't doing so by accident or out of habit alone. this is a roaster that takes its sourcing and process seriously, which you'll notice the moment you start paying attention to what's in your cup. christchurch's specialty scene has grown considerably over the past decade, and empire holds its own within it without needing to shout. if you're in the central city on a weekday morning, oxford terrace is a reasonable place to start, and empire is a reasonable reason to walk it.