Having come full circle, returning to where it all began on Ponsonby Road, Atomic Coffee Roasters last Friday opened their doors to a new space, The Rocket Store. Assuming its rightful place at the premises that have, for the past few weeks, been fronted by a pop-up coffee cart at the top of Franklin Road, we were excited to discover that these slick new digs make for the perfect hangout for coffee and design aficionados.

Established in partnership with Rocket Espresso Milano, the newly minted space is shared with Service Demin; not only will punters be tempted to browse the racks with a coffee in hand, most importantly, it will serve as a showcase of what can be fairly called the best espresso machines in the business. For those unaware, Atomic’s relationship with Rocket goes beyond longstanding. As the brainchild of New Zealanders Andrew Meo and Jeff Kennedy, and Italian Daniele Berenbruch, whose philosophies are combined at Rocket Espresso’s Milan factory in forging their coveted coffee machines, herein the glorious apparatuses will be on display providing the opportunity for customers to take one for a test drive, have theirs serviced, or even take one home. On which note, it’s worth mentioning that Atomic are offering a six-month complimentary coffee subscription upon purchase of a Rocket espresso machine for a limited time.

The new Paul Izzard designed Ponsonby site boasts a slick black interior that accentuates the stunning chrome craftsmanship at play. With a surprisingly sunny outlook that proves to be a rather blissful escape from the bustle of Ponsonby Road, the new boutique is a chance to take in some downright delicious coffee, a cabinet of scrumptious edible delights, and to browse some gorgeous coffee machines or denim at the store next door.

Open Monday to Friday 7am – 4.30pm, Saturday & Sunday 8am – 4.30pm.