It’s a city as famous for its coffee as it is for its cultural diversity. Discover some of the best coffee shops in Melbourne, from small-batch roasteries to iconic cafés, ethical emporiums to odes to the perfect cup.
Widely considered to be one of the must-visit cities in the world to head to for a taste of the very best of café culture, Melbourne is positively brimming with independent coffee spots that are all about the neighbourhood vibes and excellent brews. Here’s our guide to the eight coffee shops in Melbourne that are well worth a visit.
Brother Baba Budan
Generally considered to be one of Melbourne’s most iconic cafés, Brother Baba Budan is named after the merchant who, legend has it, smuggled the first seven coffee beans out of Yemen to India, sparking the end of mornings as the world once knew them. The first café from the Seven Seeds company, now with three spots across town as well as their own roastery, this longtime favourite is all about the hot stuff. There’s a communal table for those wanting to perch, but, with more chairs adorning the ceiling than the floor, plus its delectable blends, single-origin coffees and small selection of pastries and granola on offer for breakfast, it’s the perfect spot to pick up something to start your day off just right.
Insider’s Tip: Those with a sweet tooth rave about their chocolate chip brioche bun.
Address: 359 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Open From: Mon – Sat: 7am – 5pm; Sun: 8am – 4pm
Aunty Peg’s
Specialising exclusively in black coffee, Aunty Peg’s is as much a showcase for the drink in its purest form as it is a café. Functioning as a ‘cellar door’ style tasting concept, this two-story coffee spot offers a real glimpse into the passion and artisanal techniques involved in creating a perfect cup. Combining kitsch, homely decor with slick, modern furniture, customers head here to sit around its circular bar, trying different brews as they watch the baristas work their magic.
Insider’s Tip: Aunty Peg’s hosts a free cupping event every Saturday morning at 10:30am where attendees can taste the café’s newest menu items and staff favourites.
Address: 200 Wellington Street, Collingwood, VIC 3066, Australia
Open From: 9am – 5pm (closed on public holidays)
IG: @brotherbababudan
IG: @auntypegsbypmc
The Hardware Société
Pulling in big crowds and long queues, The Hardware Société is considered a must by the Melbournian brunch community. With a self-styled mission to redefine the most important meal of the day – they have a cookbook called ‘No Eggs on Toast,’ it’s all about the menu here where you’ll find crowd-pleasers such as Lobster Benedict and Fried Brioche with Vanilla Meringue. To their smaller, original location on Hardware Street, and their outpost in Paris, they have now added a second, larger spot on Katherine Place that oozes French-inspired rustic chic with its pink accents and cane chairs. Head here for a truly delicious breakfast served up alongside coffee by local roastery Padre.
Insider’s Tip: The Hardware Société’s Lobster Benedict, with its citrus hollandaise and 64-degree eggs, have won the hearts of many.
Address: 10 Katherine Place, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Open From: Mon – Fri: 7:30am – 3pm; Sat-Sun: 8am – 3pm
Patricia Coffee Brewers
For those who want to get as much done as they can in a day, Patricia Coffee Brewers is the ideal grab-and-go coffee spot. Named as Yelp’s recommendation for the best coffee in Australia in 2016, this small café, tucked away in the CBD, roasts their own beans and are known for their exceptional brews. From creamy flat whites and silky lattes to satisfying long blacks, the baristas here most definitely know their stuff. Expect long queues, but great service from the aficionado’s favourite takeaway spot.
Insider’s Tip: Craving a small snack? Grab their marshmallow, chocolate and sea salt cookie to go with your coffee!
Address: Cnr Little Bourke & Little William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Open From: Mon – Fri: 7am – 4pm
You might also like The Sustainable Coffee Tycoon
FB: @The Hardware Société
IG: @iamkevinyeon
Operator 25
Frequented by locals, Operator 25 is a café that declares itself obsessed with two things: great food and speciality coffee. Housed in an old heritage building that was once home to Melbourne’s first telephone exchange, its rustic, exposed brick interior gives a relaxed vibe, whilst a standout brunch menu dishes up elevated, all-day breakfast favourites. Factor in coffee to suit pretty much every fan’s taste on offer, and you’ve got plenty of reasons to check it out.
Insider’s Tip: Ask the barista team for their experimental coffee creations and seasonal spritzers.
Address: 25 Wills Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Open From: Mon-Fri: 7am – 4pm; Sat-Sun: 8am – 4pm
Acoffee
A blindingly white, exceptionally minimalistic space, Acoffee strips it all back and lets its cups of joe speak for themselves. Housed in an old garage, the sleek café roasts its own beans in small batches, serving up truly speciality brews to satisfy even the most dedicated coffee connoisseurs. With such attention to detail, this serene spot is a perfect place to catch your breath, sip on a tasty cup, and escape Melbourne’s busy city life.
Insider’s Tip: Unlike typical cafés, Acoffee has a very limited menu for pastries, so make sure you fill up before visiting!
Address: 30 Sackville Street, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia
Open From: Mon-Thu: 7am – 4pm; Fri-Sat: 8am – 4pm
IG: @operator25cafe
FB: @acoffeemelbourne
Dukes Coffee Roasters
Committed to ethical trading as much as the final product, Dukes Coffee Roasters serves drinks made with beans sourced from farms and small businesses across the world. Their beautifully decorated café represents that message, decked out in natural timber accented with an iconic green facade and tiled floors, making the space warm and inviting – the perfect place to head for a speciality coffee.
Insider’s Tip: This spot fills up quickly. Try it for takeout during peak coffee hours.
Address: 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Open From: Mon – Fri: 7am – 4:30pm; Sat: 9am – 5pm
STREAT
Ever heard of a cafe with a social conscience? Just a stone’s throw away from the Hive Collingwood, each award-winning cup of coffee served at STREAT helps reduce the number of homeless youth living on the neighbourhood’s streets. By helping disadvantaged young people gain work experience and life skills through hospitality training in their various spots around town, STREAT works across the city to help give hope to those that desperately it. All they need you to do is head to one of their eateries to support them. This spot, housed in a beautiful old manor, delivers beans roasted and pastries baked on-site, a large garden and stylish, industrial decor, making it a truly inviting spot to head to for a coffee that makes you feel good in every way.
Insider’s Tip: STREAT doesn’t have a set menu for coffees – seasonal blends and single-origin coffees change weekly, so be sure to keep an eye out for what’s new.
Address: 66 Cromwell Street, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia
Open From: Mon – Fri: 7:30am – 4pm; Sat-Sun: 8am – 4pm (kitchen closes at 3pm)
IG: @tmaykay
IG: @streatmelbourne
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