This is Rumours Specialty Coffee, a specialty coffee venue specialising in espresso-based beverages, filter coffee and contemporary bakery items.
The espresso bar is set in a former barbershop, with a floor-to-ceiling oaky beige colour palette with seating at end of the large central island, or a low bench by the wall and front window.
See: Rumours Specialty Coffee Signature Single Origin Cold Brew ($11.00)
See: Rumours Specialty Coffee Iced White with Demerara Syrup ($7.80)
Salt Bun ($7.30)
Initial contact delivered a crunchy exterior and crisp base that yielded to a tender, airy interior. A buttery centre provided richness, while a light scattering of salt crystals contributed subtle savoury contrast. Through the mid-palate, the butter integrated cleanly into the bread without becoming greasy, allowing the dough itself to remain the focus. Texture combined the crisp outer shell with the soft interior, resulting in a cohesive and well-balanced structure. The finish resolved into gentle butter richness and lingering savoury notes, with the crust retaining its crunch through the final bite.
Cinnamon Bun ($8.00)
Generously coated in sugar, the exterior delivered an immediate crunch alongside a restrained cinnamon presence. Beneath this, the bun gave way to a tender interior filled with a dense sugar-butter cream-like filling containing further sugar crystals that reinforced the textural contrast. Through the mid-palate, the filling became the dominant component, contributing richness and sweetness while the crystalline sugar provided intermittent crunch. Structurally, the product aligned more closely with a kwabaegi-inspired sweet bun than a traditional salt bread, with little of the savoury butter character typically associated with the category. The finish resolved into lingering sweetness and butter richness, with the sugar coating remaining prominent throughout.
Overall, a refined espresso bar with a bakery offering defined by strong textural execution and well-controlled richness, strongest where savoury and buttery elements are allowed to remain in balance.
Rumours Specialty Coffee is located at 19 O’Connell Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010, New Zealand.