coffee guide

Where To Find The Best Coffee In Melbourne

When you take a look around Melbourne, it’s not difficult to understand why it has been long touted as the “most European capital city of Australia”. Remnants of colonial architecture linger down tree-lined streets, trams ramble along with a ding-ding and cobblestone laneways shelter coveted bars and dining spots. Add on the temperamental weather and thriving arts scene and well sure, it’s pretty darn attractive.

But if you still need us to twist your arm, then let’s throw in some exceptional coffee too. Undoubtedly home to some of Australia’s crème de la crème of coffee roasting, Melbourne coffee culture is world renowned. We had a jolly good time compiling this guide, traipsing around Bevan’s old stomping grounds and to some of the best cafes in Melbourne CBD. Don’t let all the brunch options and design elements woo you (although they’ll certainly reel you in) – you’re here for the coffee first – so let us tell you about the cafes serving the best coffee in Melbourne.

Seven Seeds Coffee Roasters

Nestled in the university district, the namesake cafe is the largest of the Seven Seeds trio of cafes in Melbourne CBD. Here, you’ll find a team of baristas and wait staff managing the 100-seater cafe and whipping up your coffee of choice with seasonal single origins and blends. Their signature espresso blends offer sweet caramel or bold chocolate notes so coffee lovers are unlikely to be dissatisfied.

Born in 2007, Seven Seeds’ practices remain rooted in sustainable principles, this ethos further demonstrated in 2018 when the Company took “The Pledge”, a common code for transparency reporting in green coffee buying. Those signatories who take The Pledge agree to publish purchase price information amongst other things of the coffee which they are selling, and are true companies dedicated to sustainable coffee practices.

Such is the success of Seven Seeds that their coffee beans are stocked by a number of cafes in Melbourne, several establishments in Australia’s eastern states and even across the ocean in cities such as Hong Kong and Los Angeles. Keep an eye out for the undulating seven lines logo!

Industry Beans

Industry Beans was founded in 2010 by brothers Steven and Trevor Simmons, the pair having carved a reputation as one of the leaders of third-wave coffee in Melbourne. Almost 10 years later, Industry Beans continues to bring the ultimate coffee experience to communities and have successfully established branches in Sydney and Brisbane.

Slick white and birch interiors greet you at the Little Collins Street Modbar along with cheerful, knowledgeable baristas decked out in white tees and grey aprons. Coffee lovers can rely on their favourite espresso blends whilst the more coffee-learned can take their curious taste buds on an adventure with Industry Beans’ expertly made batch brew, Fitzroy Iced or Bubble Cup. Creators of the one and only Coffee Bubble Cup, this iced drink combines cold brew coffee with coffee-soaked tapioca pearls, reminiscent of Asian bubble-tea drinks. The Bubble Cup does come in Vegan Original or Salted Caramel flavours too. For the full coffee and brunch in-house experience, make your way to the original flagship, which locals will argue serves the best coffee in Fitzroy.

Manchester Press

Walk down one of Melbourne’s ubiquitous laneways and you’re likely to find a former industrial-type space converted into a hipster brunch and/or coffee spot. This description pretty much sums up Manchester Press, but hey, we’re certainly not complaining.

Supplied by award-winning coffee roasters, ONA Coffee, you can take your pick between chocolate-y or fruit-y undertones for your brewed cup. The Black Betty house blend promises dark chocolate, mousse and ice-cream whereas the Guatemalan Single Origin beans will deliver subtle notes of orange, caramel and lime. We sampled a latte and the batch brew, the latter being a fine option for those steering clear of milk-based coffees.

If you choose to dine-in, prepare to knock elbows with fellow diners at large wooden communal tables and lock eyes with the larger-than-life black and white sketches of chic, sartorial youths which adorn the white walls.

Patricia Coffee Brewers

Our presumption is that Patricia Coffee Brewers services a significant chunk of Melbourne’s legal community given its location behind the Supreme Court of Victoria. However, given that the laneway receptacle only fits standing patrons, we deem it unlikely that this small coffee shop in Melbourne is harbouring any shady deals, just serving great coffee.

Making clever use of their small space, the team behind Patricia Coffee Brewers has created a coffee bar. The entrance tells you in black and white mosaic tiles that it’s “standing room only” with the coffee counter dividing the baristas from the caffeine-deprived. A neon sign reading “Sunshine” in bright cursive beams down from the ceiling while beautiful window sills with native flowers pots create temporary perches for your hot brew and canelé cake. When there’s no longer enough room to hang inside, coffee-goers sprawl outside down the laneway.

Coffee beans are supplied by a number of Melburnian roasters including Seven Seeds, Market Lane Coffee, Small Batch and Wood & Co. If standing-in, you’re handed a glass of sparkling water to cleanse your palette while the baristas list the coffee bean selection for the day. For our visit, we opted for a Guatemalan coffee with a richer body and a hint of caramel notes. Wiggle over to the back of the cafe and you can sip your coffee whilst skimming the daily headlines pinned up on the wall.

Proud Mary Coffee Roasters

Another pioneer in the specialty coffee industry in Melbourne, Proud Mary owner, Nolan Hirte, has certainly garnered a loyal following 10+ years of experience. The Collingwood cafe is pumping when we visit on a Saturday morning with baristas smashing out coffee requests in azure blue cups and saucers, and wait staff deftly delivering brunch plates.

Proud Mary roasts single origin beans from almost every Central American country. These beans sit available for sale alongside the popular house blends; Angel Wings, Ghost Rider and Humbler, of which we see several bags walk out the door with repeat customers during our brief breakfast stop.

We order a strong latte and long macchiato alongside the espresso french toast to share. Whilst we feel that our breakfast was on the small side given the price, we cannot fault the coffee and service. Smooth buttery and caramel flavours without terrible bitterness (a sign of a good barista particularly when ordering a long macc!), this roaster’s coffee receives our tick of approval.

No. 19

Design enthusiasts will be begging for a seat as well as a cup of coffee at this elegant cafe in Melbourne’s northern suburb of Ascot Vale. Designed by Melbourne-based creative studio, Biasol, the interior is reminiscent of the delicatessens which flourished in the city back in the 1950s. But we should tell you about the coffee too!

No.19 uses coffee beans from Australian coffee roasting sensation, Five Senses. A regular supplier for Brisbane cafes too, this choice doesn’t worry us, with our flat white and long macchiato arriving swiftly at our bar seats and providing a satisfying start to our day of coffee adventuring.

If you’re looking to linger, a well-brewed cup of coffee can accompany a plate of pretty brunch fare should you manage to nab a seat on one of the plush, teal bench seats underneath the bulbous brass lamps.

Code Black Coffee Roasters

Since 2012, Code Black Coffee Roasters have been obsessed with the dark art and science of coffee. Vegetarian, vegan and coeliac diners will adore the Code Black food menu and all hours cocktails are on offer if you consider the caffeine not strong enough. Single origin, batch brew and filter options change daily and we certainly consider the extra $1 for ice cream in the affogato is money well-spent. Sister branches located in North Melbourne, CBD and Docklands.

Market Lane Coffee

Since 2009, Market Lane Coffee has expanded in leaps and bounds but their commitment to traceability and transparency, environmental initiatives, sustainability and social enterprise has never wavered.

The Carlton branch is pitched in a living-room size space with a black marble-esque fireplace adorned with merchandise for sale and the two baristas expertly navigating their confines. Bevan selected the Aroresa pour over filter coffee, brewed with Ethiopian coffee beans whilst I chose an iced Coffee Spritz. The sweet lime flavour of the Aroresa was instantly recognisable whilst my first time drinking tonic water with coffee was surprisingly refreshing – I wouldn’t say no to that again on a hot summer’s day! Market Lane’s coffee menus change regularly with the seasons so don’t hesitate to ask about the blends on offer when you visit.

Omar & the Marvellous Coffee Bird

St ALi Coffee Roasters

Bringing the feel good vibes to Melbourne’s coffee culture, a tour of Melbourne’s coffee bars would be incomplete without a visit to St ALi Coffee Roasters. Catch tram 112 or 96 and alight at stop 127 before making your way to the industrial chic warehouse space serving some of the best coffee in South Melbourne. We’d recommend grabbing a seat at one of the large communal share tables, at an intimate two seater or in the covered outdoor nook.

The regular cafe menu features the house blend and coffee flight or you can explore the seasonal options. There are 8 varieties listed on their single origin specialty coffee menu, a solid range for those with discerning taste buds. These coffee beans can be sampled with espresso blends, batch brew or V60 specials. Bevan selected beans from El Puente in Honduras, no doubt hoping that his latte would in fact return the promised “rum & coke” tasting notes.

Super fans can buy t-shirts or tote bags to wear their love for St ALi. If you really can’t get enough of St ALi coffee, seek out their sister coffee bars at Melbourne International Airport and the newest outpost on Collins Street, in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz.

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