At the heart of it, Rosie Austin loves the craft of coffee roasting. With a science background, Rosie roasts in a way that mirrors the energy of the landscape she works within. While the green coffee beans are sourced from Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, or Central America, the final expression is overwhelmingly shaped in rural Whanganui, reflected in names such as River Rush or Rural Roast.
Rosie’s strong sense of sustainability aligns with her commitment to ethical sourcing, small-batch roasting, and a business powered largely on solar energy. Her connection to people and place is firmly embedded here, whether she is meeting customers at the Saturday morning River Markets, supplying product to local businesses, or packing orders that travel the length of the country. She appreciates that the business, along with her young grandchildren, has allowed her to remain active and creative.
The Whanganui retiree didn’t set out to become a coffee roaster and rather expected to live life at a quieter pace. However, the return of her daughter Harriet and family during the Covid pandemic coincided with the small Whanganui roastery, Havoc Coffee, coming onto the market. The women jumped at the chance to create an intergenerational family business.
Handcrafting artisanal coffee in Whanganui affirms for her that creativity can exist in the provinces and that design lives in authenticity and integrity. For the owners of Havoc Coffee, it has meant curating a business where people, planet, and flavour are valued in equal measure.
Discover more on the handcrafted coffee brand: havoccoffee.co.nz"
