[Melbourne] Boutique coffee roaster Bench Coffee Co is the soul behind cafes like Slater Street, 580, and Saint Dreux.
And now, it has its own flagship café carrying its name.
I happened to walk past the café at Little Collins Street, and was immediately drawn by its modern, monochromatic aesthetics.
The main Bench Coffee Co. Roastery offering coffee, Shokupan toast and pastries is located at 38 Breese St, Brunswick VIC 3056.
Apart from its curated coffee, the brand aesthetic is worth noting since Bench is guided by design.
After all, co-owner Joshua Crasti also works at architecture firm Arkhe Tekhne, which designed both Bench and Saint Dreux.
Bench Coffee Co is shiny and elegant, and dons mostly black fixtures.
The interior of Bench 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.
A curved mirrored accent wall stretches to the end of this standing-room-only angular corner space.
Overall, it highlights its signature colour palette of white, black and metallics.
Bench Coffee Co. offers specialty coffee, which 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), a Little Collins flagship store exclusive item.
It is composed of two spongy nut-meringue almond biscuits sandwiching rich, flavoured buttercream.
Explore flavours like Vanilla & Sea Salt, Black Sesame, Raspberry, Belgian Chocolate, and Japanese-inspired Uji Match (a high-grade Matcha).
The café also serves pastries by Little Cardigan, with choices of Croissant (AUD 6), Chocolatine (AUD 7), Almond Croissant (AUD 9) and Jalapeno, Cheddar and Caramelised Onion Croissant (AUD 7.50).
In the mood to brew coffee at home? They have beans in retail packs ready for take-out.
Bench Coffee Co.
321 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Opening Hours: 8am – 4pm (Mon – Thurs), 8am – 5pm (Fri), 9am – 5pm (Sat – Sun)
Google Maps – Bench Coffee Co.
Other Related Entries
ST. Ali Coffee Roasters (South Melbourne)
Agathé Pâtisserie (South Melbourne)
Operator25 (Wills Street, Melbourne)
Humble Rays (Carlton, Melbourne)
Auction Rooms (North Melbourne)
Market Lane Coffee (Melbourne)
Click HERE for more MELBOURNE Food Entries
* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.
