Is it a bad brew at Tauranga City Council or a fair staff perk?
It's been revealed the council's got a five-year contract for coffee machines and coffee supplies at the cost of $470,000, about $94,000 a year.
Criticism from some ratepayers has been scorching, but is it better for productivity to have onsite brew and not just the instant stuff?
Tauranga City Mayor Mahe Drysdale told Checkpoint the costs needed to be put into perspective.
The council had over 1000 staff so the coffee worked out to be about 65 cents a cup, compared with 35 cents using instant, Drysdale said.
"While $94,000 may seem like a big number in most people's budgets, we've just put out our annual plan today where we propose to spend and invest $1.1 billion.
"Look my focus is not on this, this is such a small decision."
Drysdale said the decision to spend $94,000 a year on coffee "did not come over the desk of elected members.
"Look there are perks for every employee and, you know, that's really an operational matter, it's not something we see as councillors."
Tauranga City mayor Mahe Drysdale. Photo: LDR / David Hill
He added it was more important to focus on the "the big issues."
"We've gone out for consultation on our annual plan and local waters has done well, both of those have a huge impact on how our city runs in the future, and that's what we want to hear about.
"If you're gonna get nitpicky and, you know, talk about $94,000, as I say, those are decisions that don't even come over our desk.
"In the context of council it is a minor expense, and as I say, I'm not focusing my time on that as I have way bigger issues to solve."
Drysdale said the Tauranga council spent about $120 million a year in staff personal expenses and perks.
He said staff also got a bus card, but did not mention any other perks.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
