Overview
Coffee Roaster Samoa was founded in Apia by Phillip 'Pippa' Moore, who returned to Samoa after years in Auckland, New Zealand, and parlayed Lavazza barista training into the country's only roast-in-house cafe. Coffee is roasted the night before service every day; the operation now spans the original Apia Park location at Samoana Boutique Hotel and a second cafe (CR2) on Falealili Street in Tamaligi.
Known for
- The only Samoa-based cafe roasting its own beans on-island
- Founder Phillip 'Pippa' Moore — Lavazza-trained barista, former car importer and Les Mills gym trainer
- House signature drink 'Samocha' — a Samoan-flavored take on the mocha
- All coffees served as double-shot, with overnight-fresh roasts delivered to the bar each morning
- Two-location footprint in Apia (original at Samoana Boutique Hotel plus CR2 in Tamaligi) and 6am opening (rare for Apia)
Why it matters
Samoa's hospitality coffee scene is dominated by imported PNG and Australian beans served by hotels. Pippa Moore's operation is the country's lone counter-example — Apia's only proper roastery — and the most-cited stop for any visiting coffee professional looking for actually-fresh espresso in the South Pacific outside Fiji and NZ.
Production
- head roaster
- Phillip 'Pippa' Moore
- cupping frequency
- Roasts the night before for next-morning service
- roastery location
- Apia, Samoa (Samoana Boutique Hotel)
Café
Convent Street (Apia Park inside Samoana Boutique Hotel) plus CR2 at PAM Building Shop 2, Falealili Street, Tamaligi, Apia