[Melbourne] There are people who say that Melbourne serves the best coffee in the world.
Melbourne is a city where coffee is more than just a beverage—it is a culture, a lifestyle. It is often hailed as the coffee capital of the world.
Café are not just establishments, but social hubs, artistic spaces, and culinary innovators.
Each café in Melbourne has its own unique charm, offering a blend of aromatic coffees, exquisite food, and an ambiance that speaks to the soul of this vibrant city.
Some of the top names include Dukes Coffee Roasters (Flinders Lane), Bench Coffee Co (Little Collins St), Brother Baba Budan (Little Bourke St), Proud Mary (Oxford St, Collingwood), Padre Coffee (Brunswick East), Path Melbourne (North Melbourne), Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters (Carlton), and Industry Beans (Fitzroy).
From the quaint laneway espresso bars to the chic, spacious eateries that have become the city’s landmarks, join us as we explore the best cafes Melbourne has to offer:
Patricia Coffee Brewers
Corner of Little Bourke St and Little William St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Opening Hours: 7am – 4pm (Mon – Fri)
Named “Best Coffee In Australia”, A Stalwart In Melbourne’s Coffee Scene
Located at the corner of Little Bourke Street and Little William Street, the café may need some googling to find, but it is a gem worth the search for coffee aficionados.
You will find office workers, tourists and others crowding around the space talking to each other, leaning on the walls and sitting on the crates. Vibes were fun yet also very laid back which is typical of the Australian lifestyle.
I ordered a White, and relished that the coffee was both smooth and moderately strong. The Filter had brilliant depth and complex flavour. Sip it slowly and let your tongue take pleasure.
To me, the coffee experience is always a whole package. Perhaps I wished for more space and less chatter to enjoy it better.
The only thing is, after drinking this, you may start missing having good coffee when you get back home.
Read more at: Patricia Coffee Brewers (Little Bourke St, Melbourne)
Dukes Coffee Roasters – Ross House
247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia
Opening Hours: 7am – 4:30pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 5pm (Sat), Closed Sun
Renowned For Commitment to Sustainability and Quality
The coffee shop is known for high quality, locally roasted coffee beans to provide visitors with a superior coffee experience. They can trace each batch of coffee, and also try to purchase organic grown coffee when possible.
They also use special innovative roasting practices using the “Loring Smart Roasters” which is one of the most sophisticated and technically advanced and energy-efficient roaster on the market.
The team roasts the beans locally in Melbourne daily, meant for all types of brew (espresso/filter etc). They always make sure to test each batch, adding any tweaks if necessary, before supplying the café.
I bought a takeaway iced to drink on the go as a quencher. This was one cup that made me stop my tracks and go, “Wow, even the iced can taste so good.”
Complex yet balanced, smooth, medium-strong. So beautiful. At least to me, this is one of Melbourne’s best.
Read more at: Dukes Coffee Roasters (Flinders Lane, Melbourne)
ST. ALi Coffee Roasters
12-18 Yarra Place, South Melbourne VIC 3205, Australia
Opening Hours: 7am – 5pm (Mon – Sun)
Pioneering the Third Wave Coffee Movement in Melbourne
Housed in a converted warehouse, its industrial-chic décor features exposed brick walls, high ceilings, and a large central bar where baristas work their magic on the La Marzocco espresso machines.
It is only after entering that one will find a full house of caffeine addicts, who are served by people in pink overalls to wherever has seats available, be it communal tables or places for two.
Likewise, St. ALi sources food ingredients locally and pick their coffee suppliers from sustainable spots.
For a coffee pioneer, a cuppa is mandatory. Enjoy a cup of Orthodox (AUD 5.90), the signature blend of the café that invokes notes like apple jam, fudge, and milk chocolate.
The yin to the yang of Orthodox is the Feels Good (AUD 5.90), a house blend black coffee with notes of stonefruit and caramel. With balanced acidity, it is perfect for a strong cup of black coffee that is easily palatable.
Single origin coffees change on a regular basis. Always look out for what is in store if you want something more unique.
Read more at: ST. Ali Coffee Roasters (South Melbourne)
Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters
114 Berkeley St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
Opening Hours: 7am – 5pm (Mon – 5pm), 8am – 5pm (Sat – Sun)
Melbourne’s Premier Coffee Destination
Honestly, Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters need little introduction.
An attempt to trace the origins of Melbourne’s third wave coffee movement will inevitably lead you to a few individuals, one of them being Mark Dundon, the man behind Seven Seeds.
An experienced coffee guy since the early 2000s, some call Mark the pioneer of Melbourne’s coffee scene. For example, the much-venerated ST. ALi was also founded by Mark. After he sold the concept, his attention turned to creating Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters – which has continued to thrive after almost two decades.
Simply put, Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters is all about the coffee, and anything else is just the cherry on top.
While they now roast their coffee in a larger industrial space elsewhere, the Carlton warehouse continues to be the place of choice for delivering the final product.
It is easily identifiable by its navy blue exterior and signature white stripes. Step through the entrance into an open industrial-chic space, complete with bare concrete floors, exposed beams, bar stools and tiled walls.
Coffee comes in Black (AUD 4.5) or White (AUD 5). Get it with the signature Golden Gate Blend, which is bold and chocolatey, good for a cuppa both with and without milk.
Little Rogue.
12 Drewery Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 9am – 5pm (Sat – Sun)
Popular Hideout For Specialty Coffee And Must-Have Matcha Latte
Its unassuming demeanour is misleading, even as it is hidden between fenced up circuit boxes and backdoors of other establishments.
The cosy space is eccentrically decorated in an assortment of shelves, picture frames, and all sorts of knick-knacks. All the quirks of Little Rogue keep the concept exciting and fresh.
This extends to their menu, which often has seasonal inclusions of brews from other roasteries, or pastries from other bakers.
But first, the coffee – generously, both a 6oz and a 12oz shot of Black (AUD 4.20) cost the same, unless you want it Iced (AUD 5.50).
Quite popular is the Matcha Latte (AUD 4.50, AUD 6.20). It has a strong earthy taste from the matcha with a side of richness and creaminess from the milk.
Excluding those in Japan, this Matcha Latte was probably one of the best I ever had – definitely worth a drink (though some may just prefer more of that ‘matcha’ tea taste).
Read more at: Little Rogue. (Little Collins Street, Melbourne)
Operator25
25 Wills Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Opening Hours: 7am – 4pm (Mon – Fri), 8am – 4pm (Sat – Sun)
Where Melbourne’s Coffee Culture Meets Contemporary Brunch
The brunch café is contained in a historic 19th-century building – said to house Melbourne’s first telephone exchange company, thus the interesting name as well.
The menu is inspired by global flavours and features a range of creative dishes made from fresh and locally sourced ingredients.
Popular dishes include the Korean Fried Chicken Burger (AUD 25), Peking Duck and Waffle (AUD 27), Tom Yum Salmon (AUD 29), Teriyaki Mushrooms (AUD 23), and Miso Pork Benedict (AUD 24).
For its coffee, Operator25 uses coffee beans from Code Black, as well as award-winning Cartel coffee. It is available as Black or White (AUD 4.50) and add AUD 1 for Single Origin.
Fun ways to enjoy your coffee are Coffee Spritzer (AUD 6) made with cold filter coffee, and grapefruit sparkling water; Iced Biscoffee (AUD 9) using Biscoff sauce, espresso, milk, Biscoff cream & biscuit.
Or the kid friendly Peanutella (AUD 6) a fusion of peanut butter and Nutella chocolate milk.
Read more at: Operator25 (Wills Street, Melbourne)
Brother Baba Budan
359 Little Bourke Street Melbourne 3000
Tel: +61 03 9347 8664
Opening Hours: 7:00am – 5:00pm (Mon – Sat), 9:00am – 5:00pm (Sun)
Hipster and Popular Coffee House At Little Bourke Street
The café is part of the Seven Seeds, which is a micro roaster, retailer with other cafes, including Seven Seeds Café at Carlton and Traveller.
Brother Baba Budan took its name from the Sufi who smuggled seven seeds of fertile coffee from Yemen to India during the 17th century.
Finding the café wasn’t hard, conveniently located on Little Bourke Street. This is a coffee focused place, though there are some pastries offered at the counter.
The house coffee is from the Seven Seeds blend, and they offer the usual range of Espresso, Shorty, Long Black, and cold brews of Iced Latte, Affogato, and Iced Mocha.
Even though I had a number of cafés to cover under my ‘bucket list’, I actually came here twice. I thought the coffee was strong yet smooth in a non-threatening way.
Easy to consume without any sharp bitterness, balanced without any ‘weird’ notes that you might get from coffee back home.
Read more at: Brother Baba Budan (Little Bourke Street, Melbourne)
Auction Rooms
103-107 Errol Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051, Australia
Opening Hours: 7am – 4pm (Mon – Fri), 7:30am – 4pm (Sat – Sun)
North Melbourne’s Premier Destination for Exceptional Coffee and Cuisine
The building that houses Auction Rooms was originally built in the 1800s, and it still retains many of its historic features today.
The kitchen is tucked to the side while the bar counter takes center stage. Although seats are in excess, there is a high demand to match it at any time.
That being said, even if it is just a takeaway, the espresso is a must.
Their cup of White (AUD 5) is brewed with the Orthodox Blend by St ALi, which carries a chocolate, caramel, and butterscotch profile. It is basically designed for the milk-based coffee.
The opposite would be the Black (AUD 5), made from the Feels Good Organic blend by ST ALi, that has a pronounced sweetness and balanced acidity.
Fancy a hearty lunch? Take a Chargrilled Beef Burger (AUD 24), which is a BLT with cheese here, Orange Chicken and Mushroom Congee (AUD 25), Szechuan-style.
Read more at: Auction Rooms (North Melbourne)
Market Lane Coffee – South Melbourne
305 Coventry St, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Opening Hours: 7am – 3pm (Mon, Tues, Thurs), 7am – 4pm (Wed, Fri, Sat), 8am – 4pm (Sun)
Delicious and Sustainable Coffee House At Queen Vic Market
Fleur Studd and Jason Scheltus founded it in 2009 to address the shortage of fresh, in-season, traceable, high-quality coffee in Australia. In 2010, Jenni Bryant joined the business and became a co-owner in 2019.
Together, the trio leads a team of talented, passionate, and friendly baristas. Their coffees are produced by dedicated farmers committed to quality.
If you enjoy complex flavours, go for their Pour Over Filter Coffees. Each aromatic cup represents a place, variety, processing style and producer.
La Maravilla Guatemala ($7.50) is a washed process type, with a syrupy mouthfeel of dried apricot and hazelnut flavours. Tarekech Werasa Ethiopia used natural process and has hints of apple, lime, and sweet floral finish.
Do try their Coffee Teas, like Iced Coffee Flower Spritz ($8) a Market Lane specialty. Hand-picked flowers of Bolivian coffee trees are served over ice with tonic water.
The result? Delightfully bubbly and tastes like peach, citrus, and jasmine.
Read more at: Market Lane Coffee (Melbourne)
Bench Coffee Co.
321 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm (Mon – Thurs), 8am – 5pm (Fri), 9am – 5pm (Sat – Sun)
Stylish Coffee Bar With Dacquoise At Lt Collins Street
Bench Coffee Co is shiny and elegant, and dons mostly black fixtures. The interior is impeccably laid out in modern minimalism. Concrete floor is bare but polished.
The café’s centrepiece is the statement bench, with base of glass blocks inspired by Maison de Verre, an old French modernist building.
Bench Coffee Co. offers specialty coffees they roast themselves off-premises. They only source their specialty green coffee from importers with lasting relationships with coffee producers.
Coffee menu is deliberately simple, with the basics (AUD 5 onwards), hot and iced filtered brews, espresso tonic, single origins, and seasonal blends.
I loved their seasonal drink of Moonlight (AUD 9), of white tea infused with apple slices, dates and pineapple, garnished with honeysuckle flowers.
Pair your drink of choice with Dacquoise (AUD 7.50). It is composed of two spongy nut-meringue almond biscuits sandwiching rich, flavoured buttercream.
Read more at: Bench Coffee Co. (Little Collins St, Melbourne)
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