1 July 2007 - Cerebos Live Issue 38
Atomic celebrates 15 years
The Atomic Coffee Roasters business in Auckland celebrates its 15th anniversary this year.
Atomic took off in 1992 with the opening of the iconic Atomic Café in Ponsonby Road. The Atomic Café quickly became known for its eclectic atmosphere, its music and, of course, great coffee, roasted on-site in a 3kg Swadlo roaster.
Within two years, demand for the coffee necessitated the purchase of a larger 12kg Probat roaster. This was located at the second Atomic Café on Dominion Road; however roasting within a café presented logistical problems so by 1995 the shift was made to the current site in Kingsland's New North Road.
There has been a lot of change over the last 15 years, but as at the launch in 1992, artisan or hand-crafting processes are still used to nurture the bean on its journey from roasting to cup to provide exquisite espresso.