Ben Whitaker moved to Melbourne from New Zealand where he had a successful family-run cafe under the tutelage of the Coffee Supreme roasting house. He opened The Final Step, which fills a tiny retail space off Toorak Road and definitely stands out with its uncharacteristic laid back folksy vibe.

The tiny indoor space is dominated by its central communal table as well as the eye-catching vintage piano (which doubles as a bench for customers). Whitaker serves Seven Seeds coffee in a couple of interesting options, including the "Confused Peruvian", a pre-infused coffee with a higher dose that comes out full of crema and almost soupy in texture.

The Final Step also does pastries, prepared by Ben’s pastry-chef sister, and various bagels, but has a BYO lunch policy for patrons who want something heartier. What people come back for though, is Ben’s friendly approach and his way of making every customer feel like a regular, a point of difference that makes this little cafe an alluring choice in the wasteland of impersonal service and mass-produced coffee that Toorak Road can sometimes be.

And the real kicker? A portion of the cafe's profits are donated to Food for Thought, an initiative that feeds hungry kids in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Contact Details

Updated: September 25th, 2023

We do not seek or accept payment from the cafes, restaurants, bars and shops listed in the Directory – inclusion is at our discretion. Venue profiles are written by independent freelancers paid by Broadsheet.

Share