WhAT WE’RE ABOUT
At Little Drum Coffee we like to keep things small. This gives us the flexibility and time to enjoy the craft of roasting coffee, and to put our full attention into the art and science which goes into every batch.
When it comes to roasting coffee, quality control is half the fun.
We use international cup tasting protocols set out by the Specialty Coffee Association of America, this is the standard adhered to worldwide.
No matter how you brew, we have something for you.
Coffee beans for espresso are always on offer, but what we’re also passionate about promoting is beans for manual brewing.
Whether you're using the humble french press or truly geeking out with the latest pour-over methodology, our beans will entice.
Filter roasts always hold a place close to our hearts. This is how most of the coffee is consumed in our work place, a quick go-to option with incredible depth of flavour.
Whether you need coffee for home, or wholesale supply for your business Little Drum has you covered.
Local is important to us
As much as possible, we like to keep things local. With that in mind we keep our catchment small, servicing the Bay of Plenty and Waikato. This enables us to be truly responsive and available to our wholesale customers.
Our roasting depot is open to the public. We’re located on Macdonald St in Mt Maunganui, just off Hull Rd. It is conveniently central and boasts an espresso bar so you can stop in for a brew and a chat when you pick up your beans, or brew gear for home.
Our Roast Profiles
To help you navigate our range of specialty coffees we’ve got three broad roast profiles to narrow down your choices according to your palate.
You’ll see the roast profile noted on the sticker on the front of every bag, easy!
Light & Bright roasts offer fruity, vibrant delights. You’ll enjoy bright acidity and complex flavours. This roast profile is perfectly suited to manual brewing and filter coffee.
Strong & Bold is for when you want it grunty. Sometimes a classically strong coffee is what you’re after and that’s when you turn to our Strong & Bold coffees. Great for any application, especially espresso.
Smooth & Rich is where to look if you love chocolate, caramel and malt notes in your coffee. Think decadent, rich and indulgent flavours. Smooth & Rich goes well in any application.
Our Tiers
Our tiers are set by Q grade. Worldwide, coffee beans are assessed with this system. A Q grade is the internationally recognised grading system for bean quality based on a standardised method and set by Q Graders (certified professionals trained by the Coffee Quality Institute).
A Q grade score is given out of 100, coffees that sit at 80 or above are considered specialty coffee. All of Little Drum’s coffee beans are are specialty grade according to this system.
Our Everyday beans have a Q Grade of 80-82
Our Noteworthy beans sit in the range of 83-85
Our Highend beans sit in the range of 85-87
Left Field beans are rare and prized, they sit at 88 or above
