Five of Melbourne’s best places for coffee

Coffee is daily fuel for Melburnians, who know a thing or two about a decent brew. These are five of the best places to get your fix in the city.

Patricia Coffee Brewers. Picture: Ben Clement

Melbourne runs on caffeine (it’s certainly no coincidence that we have a coffee-coloured river). Here are five of the best brews in the city.

Patricia Coffee Brewers, Melbourne

It’s standing-room only at this legal district hotspot, where the exacting menu comes down to black, white or filter, with the aim to keep things simple so everyone can focus on the real business at hand (getting caffeine into your system, stat). Served in handmade ceramic cups with a sparkling water chaser, your espresso is a choice between the seasonal house blend or guest beans. Patricia owners Bowen Holden and Pip Heath roast their own at a warehouse in Coburg, but the pastry selection comes from a bunch of top Melbourne bakers, including All Are Welcome, Baker Belu and Mörk.

Rear of 493-495 Little Bourke St, Melbourne

Market Lane Coffee.

Market Lane, Melbourne CBD and suburbs

Famous coffee purist Fleur Studd refuses to serve coffee with soy, almond or any other non-dairy “mylk” (because it curdles, she argues). Caught short without coffee at 3am? Head to the Brunswick East roastery, where a vending machine out front dispenses beans and filter papers 24/7. By day, the 10-cafe Market Lane empire sets the gold standard in traceability, sustainability and bang-on perfect brews. Grab and go or stick around to learn about the beans you’re tasting from the switched-on staff – or sign up for a hands-on class to learn about roasting, making or tasting from the Market Lane pros.

marketlane.com.au

Seven Seeds in Carlton.

Seven Seeds, Carlton

Melbourne’s coffee scene wouldn’t be the same without Seven Seeds, which helped propel the third-wave revolution in the noughties. Head to the OG roastery-slash-warehouse cafe in Carlton for a taste among the University of Melbourne academics and students who flock here for $9 bottomless batch brew, coffee flights (your chance to compare espresso, flat white and batch brew side by side) and seasonal curios for the jaded, such as honeycomb-infused espresso with sea salt cream. The mini-empire also just welcomed Fairfield outlet Suburbia Bakery, where the reliably excellent coffee is joined by coffee scrolls and other baked goods made in-house.

114 Berkeley St, Carlton

St Ali, South Melbourne.

St Ali, South Melbourne & suburbs

Born in South Melbourne in 2005 and found in all sorts of unexpected places (including Jakarta and Bali), ST. ALi is paean to the bean, with the business named after the 14th-century Sufi credited with introducing coffee to the world. Owner Salvatore Malatesta is the ultimate coffee nerd, with the range of single-origin beans to show for it. Savour a filter coffee with notes of apricot and mango while getting stuck into their now-classic brunch menu of corn fritters and Turkish eggs. And if merch is your thing, the ST. ALi range covers all bases, from mugs to roasters’ jackets.

stali.com.au

Ona Coffee, Brunswick.

ONA Coffee, Brunswick

ONA Coffee is proof that Brunswick is Melbourne’s coffee capital. The Ovens Street outpost from former World Barista Champion Sasa Sestic has a lengthy list where you can choose by style, country and flavour profile – although nobody behind the counter will sneer if you say “flat white”. A reserve selection sees the most exceptional beans presented in two-cup serves (tasting note sample: “Riesling, white peach, nashi pear, agave syrup”), while drinks like the pistachio iced latte have their own fan club. Bring your dog to enjoy brunch, including a mighty tuna melt and chicken schnitz, on the deck out front.

22 Ovens St, Brunswick