Slow Down, Sip Up
In the heart of Mangawhai Village, caifewhai has quietly found its place – one carefully roasted cup at a time.
Sam and Stu McKeown set out with a simple idea: to build a place they'd want to spend their own mornings – somewhere great coffee is made with care, conversations happen naturally, and time slows down. What began as a love of coffee grew into a passion for roasting their own beans, sharing blends with friends before introducing their favourite blends to the wider coffee-loving community in Mangawhai.
The beginning was small: a cabin on Moir Street, open on weekends, selling freshly roasted beans and brewed coffee to those in the know. Word spread quickly. A loyal following – affectionately dubbed the Cabin Crew – gathered around the little operation, and the menu began to evolve. Sam's experiments with flavour led to signatures like the Coconut Cloud Coffee and Banana Bread Latte, the kind of offerings that turn first-timers into regulars. Before long, the cabin couldn't contain it. A charming cottage just two doors down became available, and caifewhai found its proper home.
"We love the hands-on nature of the work – the smell of fresh roasts, making coffee for familiar faces and first-timers alike," say Sam and Stu. "Roasting gives us creative control and a deeper connection to the cup, while the coffee shop lets us see the joy that coffee brings in real time. That's what keeps us inspired."
The atmosphere was always part of the vision. Relaxed, welcoming, and entirely unpretentious – whether guests are grabbing a quick takeaway, lingering over a long black, or catching up with a friend, caifewhai is designed to feel easy and warm.
At its heart, though, it has always been about more than coffee. For Sam and Stu, caifewhai is woven into the rhythms of local life – a small but meaningful part of daily routines, weekend rituals, and the community that makes Mangawhai what it is. “For us it’s about belonging, shared moments, and creating something meaningful together.”
www.caifewhai.nz | 31 Moir Street, Mangawhai