Handpicked coffee

Somewhat hidden among the cluster of shops on the main Mt Albert drag, Handpicked is a quiet, unassuming cafe that takes coffee seriously, roasting in-house and showcasing it in a variety of ways. Along with the usual suspects, “signature” drinks like the strawberry latte or iced dalgona (remember the dalgona craze early in the pandemic?) are also on offer. The menu is heavily Korean-inspired, with a lot of braised pork, gochujang and bulgogi — the people-pleasers here are the rich pastas. A pasta dish with a poached egg on top, designed to be mixed into the sauce, is breakfast food, right?