Whether it is a short black for Jimmy Barnes or a flat white for Billy Connolly and Richie McCaw, the veteran Dunedin barista has been selling coffee out of his two Classic Cafe coffee carts around Otago since the early 2000s.
One of the bespoke carts could regularly be found in the forecourt outside the Dunedin Central Police Station, but he has now upgraded to his very own hole in the wall across the street.
He moved into the new nook last week.
‘‘The Farmers side is way better,’’ Mr Baker said.
‘‘I’m staring at the blue sky instead of a building.
‘‘I’m quite happy here.’’
The new Coffee Hub kiosk faces Great King St from inside the Mataukareao building, which also houses Pacific Radiology and Inland Revenue.
his coffee cart at the site before the new building was built.
He was only about two and a-half years into the lease when he was told he would have to move.
It was then he was approached by police who offered him his old spot outside the station.
As the building was being constructed, Mr Baker said he was told the balance of the lease was unlikely to be paid out and a kiosk would be added to the front corner.
‘‘It’s great — it’s warm.
‘‘You can achieve more; it’s far better.’’
He now had a small table and chairs.
The kiosk would also continue to sell Allpress coffee, which he had used for more than 20 years.
Police were still going to him for their morning coffee too.
‘‘The biggest thing that I get a kick out of is making coffee.
‘‘I like to see people walk away and turn around and go, ‘oh, that’s great’.’’
Mr Baker said the two coffee carts had been in his possession since at least 2005; before that he was selling coffee out of a caravan.
When he bought the first cart, it was being used to sell baked potatoes.
He then had a second, essentially identical, cart built.
Both of them were now parked up at home.
He planned to still use them in the short term for events such as the Otago Farmers Market, Warbirds Over Wānaka and the Wānaka A&P Show.
Mr Baker admitted he would miss using the carts regularly.
‘‘I’ve probably spent a third of my life in one.
‘‘My wife would dearly love for me to sell it.’’
