I loveeee coffee! Ever since I starting working in a cafe (not anymore), I have been falling in love with coffee! Whenever I am free, I go cafehopping in Singapore to try out cafes deem to have good coffee. But Singapore is not a good place to go cafehopping as it can be quite costly due to the availability of coffee beans and high food costs due to high overhead expenses like rental rates and utilities.
Australia is one of the countries that is flooded with cafes all over the city. Most of the Austalia's coffee comes from places like Brazil, Vietnam, Columbia, Indonesia, Mexico and parts of Africa. Melbournians are so obsessed with coffee because there are many awesome cafes around serving good coffee. Just about anywhere you go, you will be able to get a good cup of coffee.
The first cup of coffee that I tried in Australia (Sydney) last year, I can easily taste the difference. The coffee in Australia is much cheaper as compared, and much better! And I am not even saying those popular cafes, it was just a random cafe along the beach. Imagine the quality of a cup of coffee from a popular cafe.. Heaven!
Back in Australia (Melbourne) after a year, I am really excited to go cafehopping around Melbourne, trying out some of the popular cafes! Melbourne is voted as having the world's best coffee and is known as the coffee capital of Australia. You can easily find cafes at almost any corner or street of Melbourne! Here is 12 popular cafes that I went to situated near to places and attractions that I visited. This Aussie city is a paradise for both coffee and cafe lovers!
* The following order is based on the order I visited the cafes, not based on popularity or and other forms of ranking.
1) The Kettle Black
The sister café of Top Paddock, The Kettle Black, quickly gains attention and followers with its beautifully designed café. It is almost impossible to get a table during weekends. Some recommendations include Benedict Style Eggs with Braised Pork Shoulder, Tataki Ocean Trout with Raw Kale and Pickled Vegetable Salad, and Burrata with Raw Heirloom Tomato and Burnt Rainbow Chard.
#1: The Kettle Black.
#2: Alfresco dining of The Kettle Black.
#3: Barista counter.
#4: Secondary barista counter to serve takeaway orders.
#5: Pretty cakes and pastries of The Kettle Black.
#6: Iced Latte, $4.
I didn't order any food since I already had lunch. I ordered an iced latte as it has been a really warm day. The coffee is good but not really to my liking. It's a little bit too sour for me to appreciate.
The Kettle Black: 50 Albert Road, South Melbourne, VIC 3205 | Website | Tel: 03 9088 0721 | Opening hrs: 0700-1600hrs (Mon-Fri), 0800-1600hrs (Sat, Sun).
2) Chez Dre
Chez Dre, located in an alley off South Melbourne Market, is opened by patisserie chef, Andrea Reiss. The French-inspired café consists a range of pastry like tarts, madeleines, gateaux and macarons. After being headhunt by Michelin-star restaurant in Paris, she returned back to Melbourne after gaining extensive working experience in esteemed restaurants in London and Paris, and started Chez Dre.
#7: Turn right into the alley when you see Bibelot. Bibelot is a dessert boutique opened by Chez Dre that focuses on European-inspired desserts, while Chez Dre focuses on French-inspired sweet and savoury delights.
#8: Alley to Chez Dre.
#9: Entrance 1 of Chez Dre.
#10: Entrance 2 of Chez Dre.
#11: Latte ($4) and Lemon Meringue Tart ($8.50).
#12: Flower arrangement on the table.
Both the coffee and the tart was awesome! Honestly, it was one of the most awesome lemon meringue tart that I have ever had, though it will be good if there is slightly more meringue to go with. The coffee was good, but not one of my top 3.
Chez Dre: 285-287 Coventry Street, South Melbourne, VIC 3205 | Website | Tel: 03 9690 2688 | Opening hrs: 0730-1630hrs (daily).
3) Dead Man Espresso
Another café near South Melbourne Market is Dead Man Espresso, located on a quiet corner of Market Street. Dead Man aims to serve one of the best coffees in Melbourne, with top picks of roasters on pour at any time. Seasonal menu featuring herbs and vegetables grown at their rooftop garden.
#13: Dead Man Espresso.
#14: Dead Man Espresso.
#15: This tart looks awesome!
#16: Cappuccino, $4.
Walking distance from Chez Dre is another popular cafe in Melbourne, Dead Man Espresso. Their coffee is slightly mild on the taste and heavier on the flavour. I can clearly taste the roasting flavour hidden in the coffee which I didn't really quite like, so I only managed to finish half the cup.
Dead Man Espresso: 35 Market Street, South Melbourne, VIC 3205 | Website | Tel: 03 9696 3912 | Opening hrs: 0700-1700hrs (Mon-Fri), 0800-1700hrs (Sat, Sun).
4) Breakfast Thieves
Breakfast Thieves is positioned in the remains of an old chocolate factory that serves premium coffee and splendid food.
#17: Breakfast Thieves.
#18: Breakfast Thieves.
#19: Cashier and barista counter of Breakfast Thieves.
#20: Pastries display of Breakfast Thieves.
#21: Super awesome Scrambled Eggs Croissant ($9) with a cup of Cappuccino ($4).
#22: Pastries display of Breakfast Thieves. I seem to see these Little Star Jam Tarts almost everywhere in Melbourne. Is it a Christmas snack or a Melbourne snack?
Breakfast Thieves: 1/420 Gore Street Fitzroy, VIC 3000 | Website | Tel: 03 9416 4884 | Opening hrs: 0700-1700hrs (Mon-Fri), 0800-1700hrs (Sat, Sun).
5) Proud Mary
Proud Mary is an ideal spot for some coffee and relaxation. The café takes pride in delivering quality products, and serves one of the best coffees in Melbourne.
#23: Proud Mary.
#24: Proud Mary.
#25: Bring some Proud Mary coffee beans home.
#26: Interior of Proud Mary.
#27: Barista counter.
#28: Flat White, $3.80.
Proud Mary is a very hippy cafe! The place is very modernly decorated, hip-hopish songs were playing, and the servers were all stylish and some with funky hairdos. I already had breakfast so I ordered just the coffee. I would say this was the BEST coffee that I had in Melbourne!
Proud Mary: 172 Oxford Street, Collingwood VIC 3006 | Website | Tel: 03 9417 1444 | Opening hrs: 0700-1600hrs (Mon-Fri), 0800-1600hrs (Sat, Sun).
6) Market Lane Coffee
Market Lane Coffee is a boutique coffee roaster and retailer created and based in Melbourne. It is one of the best coffee places in Australia, dedicated to serve high quality coffee. Coffee beans are carefully sourced from all over the world, from the best coffee growers that provides superior coffee that are able to stand up on their own without blending.
#29: Market Lane Coffee.
#30: Market Lane Coffee.
#31: Barista counter.
#32: V60 coffee making station.
#33: Side station.
#34: Flat White, $4.50
#35: With my name on the cup!
Market Lane Coffee indeed serves one of the best coffee in Melbourne and is my 3rd favourite cup of coffee amongst all the coffee that I have tried in Melbourne. This cafe does not provide any proper tables and chairs, just some benches against the walls and glass panels.
Market Lane Coffee: Queen Victoria Market, Shop 73-76 Dairy Produce Hall, Corner of Victoria and Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Website | Tel: 03 9320 5822 | Opening hrs: 0700-1400hrs (Tue, Thu), 0700-1600hrs (Fri), 0700-1500hrs (Sat), 0800-1600hrs (Sun). Closed on Mondays.
7) Top Paddock
Top Paddock is a beautiful café with natural lighting and greenery. It serves good food and coffee and the recommended is the soft-shell mud crab roll with fennel and dill salad in a brioche bun, served with lime mayonnaise.
#36: To Top Paddock!
#37: Top Paddock.
#38: Top Paddock.
#39: Interior of Top Paddock.
#40: V60 coffee making.
#41: V60 coffee making.
#42: Huge donuts spotted at Top Paddock!
#43: Flat White, $4.
#44: Blueberry and Ricotta Hotcake with Berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberry and cherry), Organic Maple, Seeds (pine nuts and pumkin seeds) and Double Cream (topped with pink sugar crystals, edible flower and cress), $19.50.
I went on a Saturday morning so the cafe was packed! I'm alone so I don't have to wait long for a seat. I was offered the counter seat which allows me to witness the making process of v60 coffee! The coffee was awesome, with a good balance between taste and flavour, and is my 2nd favourite cup of coffee amongst all the coffee that I have tried in Melbourne. The hotcake is about an inch thick and about 20cm in diameter, good for 2-3 ladies I think! The sides were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with parts of it soaked in the maple syrup. The center however was soft and mushy, with a texture similar to mashed potatoes. It was kind of gross to my liking. The portion was really huge for me, so I only had the crispy sides and the berries.
Top Paddock: 658 Church Street, Richmond VIC 3121 | Website | Tel: 03 9429 4332 | Opening hrs: 0700-1600hrs (Mon-Fri), 0800-1600hrs (Sat, Sun).
8) Toby's Estate
Toby’s Estate started with coffee plantations of Brazil, Guatemala and Colombia, where founder, Toby Smith learnt to grow, roast and cup coffee. Toby returned home and transformed his mom’s garage into a roastery. In 2001, Toby moved out of the garage and the first Toby’s Estate Café, Espresso School and Roastery was opened in Woolloomooloo, Sydney. Today, over 100 passionate coffee enthusiasts have joined Toby at Toby’s Estate, honoring the common goal of serving the best quality coffee possible. It has now branched out to Chippendale, Brisbane, Melbourne and cities out of Australia, Singapore and New York.
#45: Toby's Estate.
#46: Toby's Estate.
#47: To Toby's Estate!
#48: Barista counter.
#49: Cake counter and kitchen.
#50: A display of Toby's Estate's products.
#51: Huge blueberry muffins at Toby's Estate!
#52: Flat White, $4.
Toby's Estate is a pretty spacious cafe, unlike the rest. It has a clean and neat interior design. The coffee is pretty good, probably my 4th favourite cup of coffee amongst the ones I tried in Melbourne.
Toby's Estate: 325 Flinders Lane, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Website | Tel: 03 9429 4332 | Opening hrs: 0700-1700hrs (Mon-Fri), 0900-1600hrs (Sat). Closed on Sundays.
9) Cupcake Central
Sheryl started baking since 2004, working as an IT Consultant. She lost her job during the economic downturn in 2009. Using this opportunity, she started her cupcake online business, catering to parties and functions. However, it became so overwhelmed that the demand outgrew what she could supply from her home kitchen. In 2010, together with her partner, Thin Neu, they started their first cupcake café in Hawthorn, and has now branched out to Melbourne Central and Highpoint.
#53: Melbourne Central (shopping centre).
#54: Cupcake Central.
#55: Cupcake Central.
#56: Interior of Cupcake Central.
#57: Baking calendar for Summer collection.
#58: Cupcake Central cake box.
#59: Mini cupcakes at $2.50 each (regular ones at $4.50 each).
Cupcake Central is famous for their innovative cupcakes. I ordered the mini ones instead of the regulare ones so I could try more flavours. I had 5 as that was the minimum order to get the box.
From the back in clockwise direction:
Salted Caramel - chocolate cake, salted caramel buttercream frsoting, salted caramel sauce, natural pink salt flakes.
Pink Lemonade - pink lemon cake with raspberries, pink lemon frosting, pink wafer cigar, freeze-dried raspberries.
Red Velvet - red chocolate cake, cream cheese frosting, heart sprinkles.
Watermelon - red watermelon cake with chocolate chips, green buttercream, green sprinkles, pink watermelon frosting, chocolate chips.
Devil's Food Chocolate - Belgian chocolate cake, Belgian dark chocoalte frosting, chocolate curls.
My favourite is definitely the watermelon! Such an unique taste and it really do taste like watermelon!
Cupcake Central: Melbourne Central Level 2, 211 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Website | Tel: 03 9077 4542 |Opening hrs: 1000-1900hrs (Mon-Wed, Sat, Sun), 1000-2100hrs (Thu), 0900-2100hrs (Fri).
10) Flipboard Cafe
Flipboard Café is a café that offers multi-level seating space with excellent coffee and awesome healthy food. A great place for some private time or relaxation!
#60: Flipboard Cafe.
#61: Interior of Flipboard Cafe.
#62: Interior of Flipboard Cafe.
#63: Interior of Flipboard Cafe.
#64: Interior of Flipboard Cafe.
#65: Interior of Flipboard Cafe.
#66: Barista counter.
I feel that Flipboard Cafe is not really that popular for their coffee, but popular for their unique interior design, creating more sitting area by dividing the small space into many levels. Coffee ($4)? So-so.. The usual standard.
Flipboard Cafe: 141 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Website | Opening hrs: 0700-1630hrs (Mon-Fri). Closed on Weekends.
11) Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters
Situated just a few shops down from Melbourne institution The Hardware Societe, is Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters, who is popular for their Hash Hot Chocolate that consists of a beaker of hot chocolate served with a tall cup of fairy floss!
#67: Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters.
#68: Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters.
#69: Pastries display of Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters.
#70: Interior of Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters.
#71: Interior of Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters.
#72: Barista counter of Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters.
#73: Coffee in the make!
#74: Flat White, $3.80.
Hash was famous for its Hash Hot Chocolate, but because I was rushing to catch the last shuttle bus to Chadstone, I didn't managed to sit down and try it. A really good business concept of adapting I would say the currently most commonly used symbol "#" as their logo.
Below is an example of the Instagram-worthy hot chocolate that I grabbed from here:
#75: Hash Hot Chocolate.
#76: Ready to pour!
Hash Specialty Coffee & Roasters: 113 Hardware Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | Website | Tel: 03 8529 0284 | Opening hrs: 0700-1600hrs (Mon-Fri), 0800-1700hrs (Sat, Sun).
12) Lindt Chocolate Cafe
Lindt & Sprungli, better known as Lindt, is a Swiss chocolatier and confectionery company. Lindt opened eight chocolate cafes in Australia, four in Sydney and four in Melbourne. The café’s menu focuses on chocolate, signature chocolate drinks and chocolate desserts, as well as breakfast and lunch. The must-try is definitely their hot chocolate!
#77: Lindt Cafe.
#78: Chocolates display of Lindt Cafe.
#79: Chocolates display of Lindt Cafe.
#80: Chocolates display of Lindt Cafe.
#81: Chocolates display of Lindt Cafe.
#82: Cake counter, cashier and more chocolates.
#83: Opera ($10.50): a layered cake of dark chocolate ganache, coffee buttercream and almond sponge cake, served on salted caramel sauce.
#84: Signature Hot Chocolate ($7.50): melted Lindt milk/dark chocolate, served with frothed milk and a piece of Lindt lindor chocolate truffle.
Both the cake and the hot chocolate was awesome! It feels like I was in heaven! Definitely the best opera cake and hot chocolate that I had in my life! The many layers of the cake blended well together, though the ganache was a bit too dry. The chocolate was very rich in flavour, I wish I could drink 10 cups in a go!
Lindt Chocolate Cafe: Jam Factory Shop T7, 500 Chapel Street, South Yarra VIC 3141 | Website | Tel: 03 9090 0009 | Opening hrs: 1200-2200hrs (Mon-Thu, Sun), 1200-0000hrs (Fri, Sat).