Cook Islands Coffee Company

Overview

Cook Islands Coffee Company has roasted coffee on Rarotonga since 1999, founded by Kiwi expat Neil Dearlove from his home roastery on the Ara Tapu in Matavera (Neil passed away suddenly in April 2023 at age 70 after thirty years on the island). The orange road cone outside the property signalled when Neil was open and roasting, and locals would stop in for an espresso, a flat white, and Sunday-morning almond and chocolate croissants.

Known for

• Cook Islands first specialty coffee roaster (since 1999)
• Founded by Kiwi expat Neil Dearlove
• Home-roastery model on Ara Tapu, Matavera, Rarotonga
• Sunday-morning almond + chocolate croissants
• Orange-road-cone-as-open-sign on Ara Tapu

Why it matters

Before Cook Islands Coffee Company, Rarotonga had to import roasted coffee from New Zealand. Neil — who also brought the first fax machine and the country's first internet provider to the islands — built the only on-island roastery for two decades. The operation continues post-Neil and remains the Cook Islands' specialty anchor, alongside Atiu Island Coffee's traditional open-fire heritage roasting on the outer island of Atiu.

Production

destoning

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head roaster

Neil Dearlove (1999–2023)

color sorting

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roaster machine

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filter equipment

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cupping frequency

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roastery location

Ara Tapu, Matavera, Rarotonga, Cook Islands

espresso equipment

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annual volume tonnes

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Café

Ara Tapu, Matavera, Rarotonga

Sources

• https://www.facebook.com/cookislandscoffecompany/
• https://www.cookislandsblog.com/listing/cook-islands-coffee-company
• https://www.cookislandsnews.com/uncategorised/internal/features/memory-lane/neil-dearlove-a-dreamer-a-motivator-an-adventurer/
• https://www.lonelyplanet.com/the-cook-islands/avarua/restaurants/cook-islands-coffee-company/a/poi-eat/1457152/1338494
• https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/good-coffee-where/notau/40648-rarotonga-cook-islands