Best Coffee in Melbourne

Melbourne's roasters and baristas are some of the most accomplished, inventive and technical on earth. It seems with each passing month there’s a new brewing technique, new gadgets or a shift in the idea of what good coffee actually means. What we do, the rest of the world often follows.

These are the cafes defining the future and, at the same time, giving us the basics at their very best. The only thing left for you to do is decide how you like your coffee.

Seven Seeds

Owners Mark Dundon and Bridget Amor helped usher in Melbourne's “Third Wave” coffee culture, and they’re still at the forefront of it.

114 Berkeley Street, Carlton

Patricia

Now roasting its own coffee at Bureaux Collective.

Corner Little Bourke and Little William Streets, Melbourne

Market Lane Coffee Prahran Market

The first of six excellent Market Lane cafes.

Shop 13, Prahran Market 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra

Ona Coffee

This Canberra-based coffee roaster has made a real name for itself on the east coast. Visit this outpost and you’ll understand why. At any time, there are at least 20 outstanding coffees listed on its “freezer menu”.

22 Ovens Street, Brunswick

Plug Nickel

Before Ona opened its own cafe in Melbourne, this was a rare place to try its beans. Still, this tiny space remains one of the city's most innovative coffee spots, whether you drink long blacks, batch brew, càscara, cold brew or need a bottled latte.

7 Peel Street, Collingwood

Traveller

A tiny Seven Seeds outpost.

2/14 Crossley Street, Melbourne

Maker Coffee

At this “cellar door” for coffee you can taste up to five single-origin brews in a single visit.

47 North Street, Richmond

St Ali

The mothership for a host of respected cafes and coffee brands, including Sensory Lab, Clement and Auction Rooms.

12-18 Yarra Place, South Melbourne

Wide Open Road

The flagship roastery for the duo behind Heartattack and Vine and Terror Twilight.

274 Barkly Street, Brunswick

Brother Baba Budan

Another Seven Seeds pillar.

359 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

Everyday Midtown

Everyday number two has the same panache.

213 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

Monk Bodhi Dharma

House-roasted single-origins served double-ristretto as standard.

Rear 202 Carlisle Street, Balaclava

Admiral Cheng-Ho

Monk Bodhi Dharma's sister site, packing six daily choices.

325 Johnston Street, Abbotsford

Bayano the Rebel

Vegan food and superb coffee from the team at Monk Bodhi Dharma and Admiral Cheng-Ho.

41 Ellis Street, South Yarra

Padre Coffee Brunswick East

Coffee sourced from up to 30 different estates all over the coffee-growing world, including less common regions such as Indonesia, roasted in house, then brewed with care. We can see why this one has blossomed to five locations.

438-440 Lygon Street, Brunswick East