Best Specialty Coffee Places in Melbourne
Melbourne is regarded as the mecca for specialty coffee enthusiasts. Literally around every corner in the city you can find a specialty coffee spot
While it was (sadly) impossible for me to try all the different specialty coffee spots in Melbourne, I did try a few and wanted to share some of my favourite places here with you!
So, here’s a list of some of the best specialty coffee places in Melbourne, Australia!
Quicklinks:
Proud Mary
Probably one of the most famous specialty coffee spots and brunch places in Melbourne, you can find this cafe in Collingwood. Not only do they have excellent coffee, but they also serve delicious brunch dishes. It’s a popular place in the weekend to come early so that you don’t have to wait too long to get a table.
Open daily from 7AM to 3PM (Mondays to Fridays); 8AM to 3PM (On Weekends)
Auntie Peg’s
The sister cafe of Proud Mary is Auntie Peg’s, literally a few blocks away from said cafe. Often said to be one of the best specialty coffee spots in Melbourne, you notice it right away when you enter the shop that coffee is the focus here, because there is literally nothing else on the menu! We tried a nitro cold brew, that you can see in the picture above, and it was elite.
Every Saturday they have a cupping event, where you can cup different specialty coffees.
Open daily from 8AM to 5PM
Tone Coffee
Another amazing specialty coffee spot that you can find in the area of Prahran. One of their signature drinks is the Tiger bomb, which is a cold espresso drink, poured over chilled milk, and topped with orange zest.
They also have a range of pastries to try that are exceptional. Service is super friendly and it’s dog friendly too - stop by when you’re in the area!
Open daily from 7:30AM - 3:30PM (Monday - Friday), 8:30AM - 4:30PM (Saturdays), 9AM - 4PM (Sundays)
Nigel
Nigel is specialty coffee place that has several locations in Melbourne. They roast their own coffee, under the brand called “Born & Raised”.
They serve a range of specialty coffees, including espresso based drinks and batch brews. They also serve some sweets, such as cookies - the miso cookie is quite something.
The baristas that work at Nigel are extremely friendly and will often make conversation with you.
Opening times depends on the branch
Brother Baba Budan
A tiny specialty coffee spot in the middle of Melbourne CBD, this place serves some of the finest coffee you can find in the city. They were one of the first specialty coffee places in Melbourne and so, you could kind of say, they were there when everything started and now they are a household name in the Melbourne specialty coffee scene.
The cafe itself is quite a funky place with fun music playing and chairs hanging from the ceiling. You can also find some very delicious pastries here, such as cinnamon rolls and cupcakes, amongst other pastries.
Open daily from 7AM to 5PM (Mondays to Fridays), 8AM - 5PM (on Weekends)
MAKER
MAKER is another fantastic spot for a great specialty coffee experience in Melbourne. They’ve got several locations in Melbourne - the one I went to is right in the middle of CBD. There are also a bunch of delicious pastries that you can try at this cafe.
The service at MAKER is top notch - you can even sit near the barista and you can make conversation with them and they ask you what you like and based on that, can recommend you some coffees that they think you may like.
Opening times depend on the branch
Top Paddock Cafe
This hip brunch place is the place to be for a weekend brunch in Melbourne. It’s located in the Richmond neighbourhood on the main Church street. Not only do they have fantastic brunch options, but their coffee game is spot on too.
The atmosphere in the cafe is lovely too, and the decor stylish. If you’re looking for an amazing brunch spot with excellent coffee, Top Paddock cafe is the way to go.
Open daily from 7AM to 4PM (Mondays to Fridays), 8AM to 4PM (On Weekends)
Calēre Coffee
This little Japanese-inspired cafe is located on Gertrude street in the trendy Collingwood neighbourhood. I really loved the minimalist decor of this cafe and the specialty coffee was superb. They also make Swiss Rolls which look super tasty and fluffy. I haven’t tried them yet but next time I visit, I definitely will!
Open daily from 6:30AM to 4PM (Mondays to Fridays), 7:30AM - 4PM (Saturdays), Sunday closed
ACOFFEE
ACOFFEE is another specialty coffee cafe and roaster situated in Collingwood. They’ve got a minimalist white aesthetic decor going on and other than coffee, also have some nice sweets to choose from. They have some outdoor seats too, which is perfect when the sun is shining to have your coffee outside. Inside, they have a big white table, which can be used for some working too.
Open daily from 7AM to 3PM (Mondays to Fridays); 8AM to 4PM (On Weekends)
Chiaki Coffee
Chiaki Coffee is another Japanese-inspired cafe, also located in Collingwood. What’s really interesting about this place is that they not only have specialty coffee but also serve Japanese breakfast dishes, called Ochazuke meal sets, that are small, Japanese dishes served usually for breakfast. It’s definitely a bit different than your usual “Melbourne” brunch, and that makes it all the more special!
Open from 6:30AM to 3:30PM (Tuesdays to Fridays); 7:30AM to 3:30Pm (on Weekends); Closed on Mondays
Market Lane Coffee
Market Lane is a specialty coffee chain that has various branches across the city. Chains in general may have a bit of a bad reputation (especially in the specialty coffee world), but in this case, you’ll always have a decent cup of coffee in you go to any Market Lane location!
Opening times depend on the branch
