David Durrant
David Durrant - Owner of Pilgrim Espresso Bar
David Durrant, the heart and soul behind Pilgrim Espresso Bar, has been a cornerstone of the hospitality industry since the early 2000s. His journey began under the mentorship of Bernard Smith, the legendary figure behind Vivace Espresso. It was there that David honed his craft, learning the intricacies of creating a vibrant café experience. Milton, Pilgrim’s talented chef, also hails from Vivace and has been by David’s side since Pilgrim opened its doors six years ago. Their shared passion for conversation is as much a part of the café as the coffee itself.
David is refreshingly candid about his journey, explaining that running a business has been a deeply reflective experience — one that has led to unexpected personal growth. “You can’t really separate business from life,” he says, “it’s all intertwined.” Milton, always quick with a smile, jokes about David’s occasional “1000-yard stare,” a lighthearted nod to the intensity of the café world. Despite the challenges, David’s love for meaningful conversations keeps him motivated. In fact, it's one of the reasons he remains dedicated to Pilgrim.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, David turned to podcasts for inspiration and soon launched his own YouTube series. He and Milton, in the early morning hours, sit down with local business owners, artists, musicians, and customers to share a cup of coffee and dive into topics ranging from creative ventures to personal stories. With sixty interviews to date, David’s podcast has become a platform for real, unfiltered dialogue — a testament to his belief that life is all about the conversations that matter.
But David’s creativity doesn’t stop there. Pilgrim has expanded its offerings to include Pilgrim Pantry, featuring delights like their four flavours of Panforte, a rich Italian Christmas cake made with dried fruit, nuts, and spices—a perfect pairing with their expertly brewed coffee. There’s also Pilgrim’s line of preserves featuring Caramelised Onion, Ghazi Relish, Banana Jam and Hazelnut Honey adding a delicious twist to the café's already enticing menu.
Aside from the crowd-pleasing menu and pantry there is also another side hustle of David’s which is “SammyBags” coffee pouches and lunch bags made from reusable, washable paper which David hand makes. What the KeepCup is to coffee, SammyBags is the equivalent for coffee beans. Customers can come to Pilgrim to refill their coffee pouches or use at other roasters to reduce packaging waste. David makes bags for a number of coffee companies in New Zealand and is branching out into Australia with wholesale orders for roasters wanting to reduce their single-use waste and encourage customers to own their packaging.
Despite the ups and downs, David embraces life’s challenges with a smile, a sigh and a constant ability to creatively troubleshoot while, continuing to offer a welcoming place for the community to gather, chat, and enjoy exceptional coffee and flavours. Stop by Pilgrim Espresso Bar at 81 Lichfield Street and say hello to David and Milton—you’re guaranteed superb hospitality and a great conversation.
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