Rumble Coffee Roasters

Rumble Coffee Roasters has been supplying Melbourne’s cafes with its beans for years. In 2021, it finally opened its own espresso bar to the public, within its headquarters.

On a Kensington backstreet, the opening slaps a welcoming public face on the previously wholesale-centric enterprise. The bar is just off the roasting area, so customers can watch all the warehouse action, and choose from a range of blends, seasonal single origins or a filter coffee of the week. Buttery baked goods – such as pistachio-and-raspberry blondies, and ham, cheese and tomato croissants – come from Yarraville favourite Cobb Lane. A shiny La Marzocco takes pride of place in the space, which seats around 10 people.

It’s a chance for Rumble to connect directly with its supporters and share the stories behind its ethical and sustainable coffees. In line with its Transparency Project (which reveals how much growers are paid for their crops), everything off the bar is priced between four and five dollars, which co-owner Joe Molloy says encourages customers to pay fair prices for premium products. It’s a way to help even the smallest of operations fetch fairer prices for their products.

The shopfront sells take-home beans and home-brewing equipment – which the team will happily walk you through – as well as alternative milks, hot chocolate and chai. There’s also an environmental focus; you’re encouraged to buy your coffee in tubs (rather than bags) or even bring your own coffee container along.