For a dollar and some change, Patchy makes paper cup orders out of a supermarket trolley using instant coffee, boiled water stored in a Thermos, white sugar, and blue cap milk.

Pay $2, and Patchy will throw in two biscuits for your troubles - a stark difference in price compared to the cafés sitting above him in Commercial Bay, where you’re more likely to purchase a coffee and cookie for $10 and above.

Patchy was told on Thursday morning by Auckland Council he will need a permit to continue operating his wallet-friendly business.

Luckily, sudden TikTok fame and his can-do attitude has won him over a group of supportive fans - some of whom have even set up a Givealittle page to help him pay for the permit and the tools needed to make his business official.

  • @liv
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    13 months ago

    American coffee culture is very different from NZ.

    Starbucks had to close most of its franchises in NZ and Australia because espresso, lattes etc are already the norm here.

    Percolated coffee is only really in very working class places like factory cafetarias.

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
      13 months ago

      Are you saying that the average person has an espresso machine in their house? Because it matters what you use at home to make coffee. That the actual “coffee culture”. You’re not different because one company failed to expand internationally.

      • @liv
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        12 months ago

        Surely “actual coffee culture” is how/where people drink coffee.

        But yes, middle-class people are quite likely to own espresso machines at home.

        I mentioned the Starbucks thing because it was a kind of famous case in business studies. It had expanded into other markets with no problem. You’re sounding kind of angry with me about it?