Photo by Ilyuza Mingazova on Unsplash
Forty-three! It’s the age of Benedict Cumberbatch, and the number of seconds it took the world’s faster elevator to go 95 floors back in 2014. But most importantly, this figure represents the cafés that are single-use cup free in Aotearoa New Zealand as of the 13th of July 2020.
If you enter one of these caring cafes, waltz towards the till and order a coffee to-go, you will not be presented with a single-use cup. Because in the words of Ali Kirkpatrick from Hopper Cafe, “Takeaway cups suck. There are enough cups in the world already. We don’t need to make disposable ones.”
Don’t worry, you can still have your cuppa! You will be warmly welcomed and offered one or more of these planet and people-friendly options:
- Pass the barista your own mug
- Borrow a mug from the cafe’s mug library
- Utilise a mug from one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s reuse schemes (which work on the idea of a bond or deposit)
- Feel encouraged to sit in and enjoy the cosy atmosphere
Every day in Aotearoa New Zealand, 800,000 disposable cups are used for a few moments and then thrown in the bin to live in landfill – forever.
Or worse, the cups roll around our streets and end up in oceans and waterways.
The 43 cafés who have chosen not to be a part of this statistic are changing mindsets and truly demonstrating honour for papatūānuku and the people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Thankfully, going single-use cup free isn’t as unfathomable or outlandish as it used to be. More frequently, cafes are taking single-use coffee cups off their expense list, and just like the plastic bag ban debacle of 2019, customers are quickly getting used to it.
For Wellington based single-use cup free cafe, Arobake, going single-use cup free simply means ‘less waste’. Meanwhile, another single-use cup free cafe in Mangaweka, The Dukes Roadhouse, knows that coffee “just tastes better out of a real cup.”

Coffee just tastes better out of a real cup
.Even though Aotearoa New Zealand is welcoming the move from single-use cups and totally ready for this positive change in cafe culture, all pioneering initiatives have their challenges.
“The challenge for us is that the convenience factor of a SUC (single-use cup) is still right on the doorstep – something I’m sure many operators in high density areas will feel,” says James from Fantail & Turtle.
“We see this movement as a marathon and not a sprint, and we’re in the early days, so hopefully we’ll see more and more operators come on board and lead as kaitiaki.”
Moving on from the obvious environmental advantages of removing single-use cups from the equation, it’s important we understand that taking single-use cups off the menu is not solely a planet protecting decision; it is a sign of appreciation to other human beings and respect for society. It is a decision that says “hey, we acknowledge your existence and understand that you inhabit and enjoy this earth. Therefore, we are not going to trash it.”
Laura, owner of The Dukes Roadhouse, further explains, “It’s also about using our position of power for good. To try and encourage people to slow down, take a break and turn their coffee drinking into more of a ritual than a quick fix to keep you going with your crazy busy life that society has built.”
It’s clear that coffee culture has moved from a community oriented experience, to a necessary fuel that encourages people to do a million things, every second of the day – made possible only when caffeinated. This busyness is unsustainable on all levels. Cafes who make single-use cups unavailable, are combatting this unviable societal norm and encouraging an environmentally and socially healthy community.
These 43 leaders in the Aotearoa New Zealand hospitality industry, don’t use compostable single-use cups either. Why?
Generally, compostable coffee cups can only break down in commercial composting conditions; a waste stream that most customers do not have access to. Therefore, the cup still goes to the landfill, and can still contribute to Aotearoa New Zealand’s litter issue. The problems with the concept of single-use are still attached to compostable cups too. Single-use takes the responsibility away from the individual. It allows us to continue with the same make, take, use, and throw away mindset. While we’re living on an earth with finite resources, this mindset is harmful. When single-use can be avoided, regardless of the material, it’s important to go for the reusable option.
Single-use is becoming a concept of the past, especially when it comes to takeaway cups. With so many alternatives available, and cafes nationwide continuing to stop serving them, it won’t be surprising when single-use cups become extinct! Aotearoa New Zealand has been a world leader in so many ways in the past few years, and we have the power to shift the cultural norm away from single-use and influence the global climate in this area too.
Because in Aotearoa, we choose to reuse.
If you’re looking for a throwaway-cup-free spot to grab a brew, find the 43 leaders below. Keep a lookout on the UYO Responsible Cafe Directory for more cafes popping up every week.
NORTH ISLAND
Max Mex The Base: Hamilton
Max Mex New Plymouth: New Plymouth
Little & Wild: Taupo
Melting Pot Cafe: Rotorua
The Duke’s Roadhouse: Mangaweka
Treat Cakes & Pastries: Whangarei
Auckland
Fantail & Turtle
Mad Mex Sylvia Park
Mad Mex Wynyard Quarter
Mad Mex Fort Street
Mad Mex St Lukes
Mad Mex Victoria Street
Max Mex Albany
Mad Mex New Market
New Leaf Kombucha
Daily Daily Co.
Wellington
Vic Books & Cafe Kiosk
Mad Mex Lambton Square
Mad Mex Northcity Mall
Hopper Cafe
Sweet Release Cakes and Treats
Arobake
SOUTH ISLAND
The Mussel Inn: Onekaka
Bloom Cafe Motueka: Motueka
Federal Diner: Wanaka
Fedeli: Wanaka
Moa Bakery, Cakery: Omaru
The Fat Duck: Te Anau
Gatherer: Hokitika
Pembroke Patisserie: Albert Town
Muskets and Moonshine: Queenstown
Christchurch
Level One Craft Beer & Coffee Bar
Sign of the Kiwi
The Lincoln Pantry
Mad Mex Northlands
Dunedin
Te Matiti
Eden Cafe
RDC Espresso Bar
Royal Albatross Centre
Staff Club Cafe
St David Cafe
Roastery Door
The Daily Coffee Co