In an out-of-the-way converted warehouse in the back streets of South Melbourne is St Ali, the head quarters of an ambitious operation with plans for world domination.

Back in 2005 Mark Dundon opened St Ali and began roasting coffee to supply the cafe and a handful of retail customers. After growing his business into one of Melbourne’s best cafes and roasting businesses he sold it all in 2008 and has since gone on to open the exceptional Seven Seeds.

The buyer was Salvatore Malatesta, who has since positioned St Ali as the flagship of his growing cafe empire. The other notable cafes under the St Ali brand are Liar Liar (another acquisition), Sensory Lab and Outpost.

Malatesta has cleverly developed a team of energetic coffee enthusiasts all with the objective of developing ‘specialty coffee’. Their hard work and passion is clearly evident and St Ali has an atmosphere that comes from people getting really excited about the product they’re offering.