Market Lane Coffee Prahran Market

Since 2009, Market Lane Coffee has become one of Melbourne’s most-loved coffee roasters. It has multiple venues across Melbourne – from Carlton to South Melbourne and Brunswick. Yet it all began in Prahran. Today, the flagship store remains a warm, coffee bean-scented retreat from the adjacent Prahran Market.

Co-owner Fleur Studd has been a major player in Melbourne coffee for many years. After returning from London, she worked at the Monmouth Coffee Company (one of the UK’s only roasters producing drinkable coffee) and started Melbourne Coffee Merchants (an importer and supplier to Patricia, Bench and Code Black).

Market Lane – her endeavour with roaster Jason Scheltus (ex-Monmouth) and Jenni Bryant – is a cafe and roasting operation focused on education. So, after buying groceries you can pop in and chat to the baristas at the slow bar. They’ll answer any coffee-related questions and take you through the single origins on offer (as well as offer you a taste). Your take-home bag of beans will come with a card containing information on the farm of origin, as well as tasting notes. Like we said – a focus on education.

To eat, find house-made granola alongside pastries by Baker Bleu (including baguettes slathered with specially made jam). Other standouts include chutney and comté baguettes and mortadella, ricotta and chilli sandwiches – made with market ingredients. Plus, there’s hot chocolate by Mork, tea and juices.

The David Goss-designed interior is lined with white oak and brown tiles, adding a sense of cosiness. Yet it also feels spacious, with indoor and outdoor seating and room for prams and trolleys to move about. In a nook by the door, you'll spot Market Lane’s original five-kilogram Probat roasting beans on site.