Pat Watson

Our friend and neighbour Pat is the manager of Allpress Coffee Ponsonby and for the last four years, we've been coming to him for our daily brew.

Pat has been making coffee in and around Ponsonby for more than a decade. Born and raised in Auckland, with a brief stop in New York to help set up 'Happy Bones,' an espresso bar in Nolita, he currently lives in Grey Lynn with his wife Aleksandra Petrovic and their Persian cat - Catstopher Wallace.

We chatted to Pat about some Everyday Needs items that he's collected over the years and how they function in his home.

1. Stanley Thermos

I can’t be without coffee and this is my go to thermos for when I’m in the great outdoors. This guy has been with me along the Tongariro Crossing and the top of the Pinnacles in the Coromandel. One of my favourite things to do is wake up early, make a Chemex, pour it into the Stanley Thermos and put this in my wife’s tote bag so I've made her a cup of coffee even though we’re on opposite sides of the city.

2. Up, Down & Other Opposites with Ellsworth Kelly

On my first trip to New York I was blown away by Ellsworth Kelly’s Spectrum V at the Met, it was such a simple but imposing work. I’ve bought this book and a few others from the series for my niece Annabelle and nephew Hayden. The books make art accessible to young minds without being patronising or glib, and I hope they spark a love for art in their busy little minds.

3. Trusco Steel Toolbox

My wife is an artist and illustrator, and has many coveted pens that I’m not allowed to touch. I few years ago I got one and then a few more or these mini toolboxes to keep them organised and safe from prying hands. They stack wonderfully and lend a workshop element to her creative space.

4. Arnold Circus Stool

I think the Arnold Circus stools have become a twenty-first century design staple. For me, they evoke a giant crayon in a children’s playroom. When we bought our place in Grey Lynn immediately we got half a dozen, all in different colours to give some visual texture to our outdoor space.

5. Opinel Essential Knives // Set 4

I’ve worked in and around kitchens most of my life and I’ve always admired the command a chef has of their knives and the awe with which these essential tools are held. While I’m not much of a cook, I do enjoy it and while I have a Chef’s Knife for carving the Sunday roast, these four are the ones that get used day to day. The rosewood handle has a great tactility and the blades have lasted well through a lot of use.