Our Level 3 Heroes
This page began as a resource back in April 2020 to help the public find the hospitality outlets closest to them who were accepting reusable cups and containers at Alert Level 3.
The Government has since made clear on its official COVID-19 website that under Alert Level 3 and beyond, businesses are allowed to accept customers’ reusable cups and containers and/or operate reusable cup and container schemes, so long as food safety risks are managed and all service complies with any additional alert level requirements.
So, we’re no longer updating this list. Instead, we’re leaving it here as an archive of the first-moving cafes and eateries across New Zealand who were determined to find safe ways to keep reuse going. We’ve since contacted many of the outlets below for a quote about why it was so important to them to stick to reuse - so have a scroll through to see what they have to say!
North Island
Whangarei
Milk & Honey Kamo
Whangarei.
BYO Mug.
Treat
Whangarei.
Because every effort to protect environment is essential.
Nook Espresso
Whangarei.
It's the right thing to do, even if it means adjustment on our part.
Mangawhai
Sandbar Mangawhai
Mangawhai.
Reusables should be our new normal, and we are doing our best to help this change in mindset, one reusable coffee cup at a time.
Little Sister Coffee Cart
Mangawhai.
People who think the cup is half full, miss the point - the cup is refillable!
Warkworth
Point Wells General Store
Point Wells.
The world went inside and the earth got to breathe again... We don’t want to take her breath away.
Northshore:
Drifter Coffee
Orewa.
Quality coffee deserves to be enjoyed in a keep cup! Our customers deserve to feel good while also doing their part for the environment. We will always support the longevity of Mother Earth and the use of reusable cups!
At 719
Whangaparaoa.
BYO Mug.
Ground Control
Silverdale.
BYO Mug.
Meebz Coffee Roasters
Milford.
Small steps to reduce our landfill.
Crop Cafe
Milford.
We believe it is essential in these tough time to support the environment, small businesses and give the customers to choose how to receive their coffees inline with their values.
Street Organics
Takapuna.
We can’t wait for reusables to become the norm. We welcome yours now, never stopped, never will.
Jam Organic Cafe
Takapuna.
BYO Mug.
Cafe Cactea
Takapuna.
BYO Mug.
Obella
Long Bay.
BYO Mug.
Auckland:
Daily Daily Coffee
Central Auckland.
If reusables can be used safely, we don't see why we shouldn't use them. Our health is aparamount, but the health of our environment underpins it all.
Good Karma
Wynyard Quarter.
Businesses MUST find a way to operate responsibly, no matter the circumstances.
Sierra Cafe
Ponsonby & Auckland Central.
BYO Mug.
Handpicked Coffee Roasters
Mount Albert.
When service persons keep their hygiene standard, reusable cups are not dangerous.
Whisk Cafe
Pukekohe.
At Whisk Cafe we have an extremely high standard of sanitation and hygiene, so why should our keep cup users miss out during Covid-19? We are proud to be able to offer the service of filling your keep cups!
The Tannery
New Lynn.
BYO Mug.
Eden Espresso
Mount Eden.
It's absolutely no brainer for people with a brain!
Ace Coffee Shop
Mount Eden.
Ace was always intended to be as minimal waste as possible, so turning away reusables cups was not ok!
Urban Verge
Royal Oak.
Why not? Ancient Urban Verge Saying “Less Waste, More Planet, Love our Land” and “only drink good coffee...in a reusable”
Peel To Pip
Kingsland.
Making the ethical choice for the environment is always the right one for us- especially when the planet has just tried to give us a big wake up!
Spilt Milk
Point Chevalier.
We have made so much progress in changing our habits and hospo has taken some good measures to keep safe while using reusable cups.
Parkhouse Eatery
Whenuapai.
BYO Mug.
Demolition Deli
Te Atatu.
BYO Mug.
Coffix Howick
Howick.
BYO Mug.
Betty’s Coffee Cart
Waiheke.
We want to try and have a positive impact on the planet and minimise the footprint we leave behind.
Found
Waiheke.
Yes, if we can save on using one takeaway cup and give a jar another purpose and use we are fully in board it all counts!
Akito
Waiheke.
We accept reusable cups and all other reusable vessels because and we believe it’s these kinds of incentives that create positive change. By taking small steps in a conscious direction, we hope to see Waiheke and the greater environment a more sustainable place to live.
Waikato:
Ethos Food Hub
Hamilton.
We continue to accept reusables and encourage more use of them to make this our '“new normal”.
The Bikery
Hamilton.
BYO Mug.
The Lost Boys
Hamilton.
We always promoted BYO so we didn't feel like there was a choice, just needed to find a way with the restrictions.
Coco Coffee Bar
Thames.
BYO Mug.
Bay of Plenty:
The Bowentown
Waihi.
We've always happily accepted reusable cups to cut down on unnecessary waste, and being able to do so safely during level 3 has been great!
The Nourished Eatery
Tauranga.
BYO Mug.
Ours
Tauranga.
BYO Mug.
Little Guy Bagel & Brew
Tauranga.
Sustainability over fear.
Tay Street Store
Tauranga.
BYO Mug.
Back Porch
Tauranga.
BYO Mug.
Rosie & Breadhead
Tauranga.
We have to think creatively within the current restrictions to ensure that we minimise our impact on our beautiful world.
Vitality Organics
Tauranga.
We will not allow fear to bypass our responsibility as business owners to act in a sustainable manner wherever possible.
Gratitude Eatery
Tauranga.
BYO Mug.
Sandbank
Papamoa.
BYO Mug.
Cafe Coco
Whakatāne.
BYO Mug.
Hawkes Bay:
Eat Drink Share
Hawkes Bay.
Although the safety of our customers is always number one priority, our ongoing mission to minimise waste and to tread a little lighter on the earth is always at the forefront of what we do. As soon as we were given the go ahead to accept keep cups we welcomed them back onsite and once again will continue to focus on our sustainability journey.
Switch Coffee Roasters
Napier.
If you can, why wouldn’t you !!
Empire Coffee Roasters
Napier.
For us it's quite simple. It's our obligation regardless of circumstance, to look after the planet. It's here for us in the good times, and have to be there for it through the bad times too.
The Daily Grind Coffee Cart
Napier.
Safely saving the world from single use.
Brown Dog Espresso
Haumoana.
We are doing our little part to keep Mother Earth happy.
Taupo:
Raw Balance
Taupo.
BYO Mug.
The Cozy Corner
Taupo.
Reduce waste! It’s important to do want you can, when you can & we will help you do a lot.
Industrie
Taupo.
BYO Mug.
Bodyfuel
Taupo.
BYO Mug.
Kefi
Taupo.
BYO Mug.
Constables Kitchen
Taupo.
BYO Mug.
Raglan:
ISOBAR
Raglan.
As a hospitality venue, we are very aware of how each single use item will have a negative impact on the environment, every cup saved from landfill counts.
New Plymouth:
Empire Tea & Coffee
New Plymouth.
Even compostable cups are destined for the landfill; reusables are the only way to truly cast your vote in favour of Mother Earth.
Manawatu/Whanganui:
Origins Cafe
Whanganui.
BYO Mug.
The Village Snob
Whanganui.
Because coffee tastes better out of a real cup.
Cafe Royale
Palmerston North.
We continued to take reusable cups because while we were worried about the present threat, we still have serious concerns about the future.
Cyclista
Palmerston North.
BYO Mug.
Mangaweka:
The Duke’s Roadhouse
Mangaweka.
The real question is WHY are you NOT accepting keep cups... or why are you still using single use? We are accepting them because this planet still and will always matter more than single use.
Wellington:
Milk Crate Cafe
Wellington.
BYO Mug.
Willi’s Kitchen
Wellington.
BYO Mug.
Queen Sally Diamond Deli
Wellington.
We feel it is our responsibility as cafe owners and operators to continue providing our customers environmentally friendly alternatives!
Trade School Kitchen
Wellington.
BYO Mug.
Olive Cafe
Wellington.
BYO Mug.
Pestle & Mortar
Wellington.
It was a no-brainer for us as soon as we realised we could do it in a safe and responsible way.
Tricky’s Sandwich Co.
Wellington.
For us it was a no brainer. We can, so we should. Sure it is a tiny bit harder, but so are many things that we do because they are the right thing to do.
Retrogrove
Wellington.
We love reusable cups; we love coffee and we want more of both in this world.
Coolsville
Wellington.
We are very aware of our impact on the environment being a Cafe producing daily waste. So reducing this any way we can is really important to us.
Cafe on the Square
Wellington.
We are supported by our loyal customers. They are very careful about hygiene and so we do accept keep cups.
Origin
Petone.
BYO Mug.
Small Batch
Petone.
BYO Mug.
Sunday Cantina
Waikanae & Raumati South.
BYO Mug.
South Island
Nelson:
Jaks Island
Nelson.
We are excepting UYOC because we don't see a difference in touching one of them or a takeaway cup, so why add another take away cup to landfill when we don't have to?
Gre3n Juice Bar
Nelson.
BYO Mug.
Motueka:
Celcius Coffee
Motueka.
It's our duty and privilege to continue to promote REUSE NOT ONE USE to Aotearoa.
Canterbury:
Grater Goods
Christchurch.
BYO Container - Dinner Only.
Moment Cafe
Christchurch.
Because now more than ever the focus is on the community effort to live sustainably and minimise waste.
Barefoot Eatery
Christchurch.
We are accepting UYOC because we feel it's better for the environment and we are wanting to be as conscious of that as possible.
Kea Coffee
Christchurch.
Because I don't want people feeling guilty while they enjoy a great coffee... it taints the taste ;)
Portershed
Christchurch.
Because the earth still needs our support.
Park Ranger
Christchurch.
BYO Mug.
Level One
Christchurch.
BYO Mug.
Switch New Brighton
Christchurch.
We gotta love this planet as much as coffee!
Gre3n Juice Bar
Christchurch x3 locations.
BYO Mug.
Cafe Time
Ashburton.
BYO Mug.
West Coast:
Gatherer
Hokitika.
We are slowly transitioning away from singly use cups, by level 1 we will be single use cup free...accepting reusable cups in level three is only the beginning for us.
Otago:
Kai Whaka Pai
Wanaka.
BYO Mug.
Big Fig
Wanaka.
We don’t want to profit at the expense of the environment. It doesn’t sit right with us.
Ritual Espresso
Wanaka.
BYO Mug.
Little Black Caravan
Wanaka.
BYO Mug.
Dripping Bowl
Wanaka.
BYO Mug.
Big Fig
Queenstown.
We don’t want to profit at the expense of the environment. It doesn’t sit right with us.
Bespoke Kitchen
Queenstown.
BYO Mug.
Halo Forbidden Bite
Queenstown.
BYO Mug.
Vudu Cafe & Larder
Queenstown.
BYO Mug.
The Boat Shed Cafe & Bistro
Queenstown.
BYO Mug.
Vanguard Coffee
Dunedin.
We're all gone through a massive change to the way we live, and now is the perfect time to make new, more sustainable choices and rebuild our normal around better principles.
Adjø
Dunedin.
We've found that with a little effort and organisation, we can do our part to minimise our single use impact, while keeping our customers safe.
Strictly Coffee
Dunedin.
BYO Mug.
RdC Espresso
Dunedin.
We can make coffee in your keep cup in a safer way than in takeaway cups! It’s a contact-less waste-less process, absolute no brainer.
Aika Bar
Dunedin.
Never let a good crisis go to waste. Stay true to your principal.
Market Kitchen
Dunedin.
We simple chose to carry on using reusables as for us despite the times we are facing the planet needs all the help it can get. We want to be a part of this forever.
Kind Grocer
Dunedin.
BYO Mug.
Modak Espresso
Dunedin.
Safety comes first, mother earth is mother earth, but safety comes first.
Kellys Kitchen
Milton.
BYO Mug.
The Coffee Bar
Alexandra.
BYO Mug.
Blag Shag
Invercargill.
BYO Mug.
Southland:
Olive Tree Cafe
Te Anau.
No biggie and way better for the environment. We think during lockdown wildlife was flourishing and we need to be mindful of this. Not go backwards.