Coffee in Melbourne: A Visitor’s View

I didn’t visit Melbourne last time I was in Australia. But even back then, Australians said I should check it out if I return. Well, we put Melbourne to the top of our list for our 2026 trip. My wife and I are both into specialty coffee, and we heard that coffee in Melbourne would be a treat for us.

Here’s a bit of what we found, including a list of the Melbourne coffee shops we visited.

A few things to note for people who haven’t been to Australia:

1.  A big percentage of the coffee served is espresso based. There are some brewed coffee and pourovers, of course. But you’ll notice decent-quality espresso machines EVERYWHERE in Australia.
2. In the U.S., you typically head to the cash register/get in line, order and then grab a seat. In Australian cafes, you might grab your seat first (I noticed this applied to breweries, too). So it’s more like a sit-down restaurant.
3. I noticed a lot of the cafes gave you a choice of white or black espresso drinks. And not every one of them did things the same. For example, you might order a white drink at one cafe and get whatever they think that means. Then, you’ll go to another coffee shop a few blocks away, order a white and they’ll ask “cappucino, flat white or latte.” I included as many photos as possible of my drinks because — aside from the mont blanc — I didn’t always remember what I ordered and where.

For context, I typically drink a cortado or a macchiato at my local coffee houses. But I’ll also go for an espresso tonic during warmer months — or even some other concoction that the barista is excited about. I’ll also get pourovers now and then. I didn’t exactly take the best notes (or really any) on how everything tasted; I was also getting hammered by a lot of sensory input and processing what had been happening throughout the days. But I assure anyone who like Third Wave coffee that any of these places will make you happy.

The overall impression of the Melbourne coffee scene is that you’re never far from a place that has first-class baristas, beans and drinks. The percentage of top-caliber coffee versus your typical meh coffee is off the charts, even close to the Melbourne CBD. There are also plenty of other cafes that I didn’t mention here, and many of them looked legit. If I didn’t mention one of your favorite places to get coffee in Melbourne, tell me all about it!

Good Measure — home of the mont blanc

I didn’t know it at the time, but the mont blanc is a well-known coffee drink around Brisbane. Good Measure is particularly known for their version of the drink, with some sources claiming that this particular cafe made it popular.

While I was checking out the menu, I noticed a server delivering an unknown-to-me drink that just looked downright artistic. I asked about it, and it turns out that’s the mount blanc — a combination of cold brew mixed with black sugar and then topped with a layer of cold foam and a sprinkle of orange zest and nutmeg. The sweetness didn’t overwhelm me and I could’ve guzzled many more of these to the point that I’d be completely flying on caffeine.

This was actually my only mount blanc of the trip. I was wrong. I should’ve had far more of them. If you’re reading this as you plan to visit Melbourne, drink an extra mont blanc or three for me. Nobody here has them yet.

Also worth mentioning: To order, scan the menu’s QR code. You can order and pay. A server will bring your drink out. Be sure to look for seating in the back if the front is crowded.

Path Melbourne — one serious coffee house

Someone on Reddit considers Path Melbourne nothing short of world class, so I had to visit. I got an early start one morning and headed straight to Path Melbourne, where I waited a few minutes for them to open.

Now this is NOT the place to order a mont blanc (it’s not even on the menu). I wouldn’t even get anything with milk here. The beans are too interesting and carefully sourced to warrant any additions. So stick with espresso or a pourover.

It seems that Path’s selection of beans might vary over time. The Carombolo beans I had don’t appear on their website now. I selected those beans based on Path’s flavor wheel of citrus, floral, berry and chocolate flavors. With espresso, I usually prefer citrus and berry flavors.

The menu also describes the process used on the beans, so you’ll see references like washed or honey. You can also see the beans’ country of origin.

One of the baristas delivered my coffee a few minutes after I ordered. She gave me a description of the beans and a few thoughts of her own about it. The espresso was just the right temperature to drink immediately. And I know a lot of people think that straight espresso shots are bitter, but Path — like Glitch in Tokyo — proves that’s not always true. Top-quality beans in the hands of a serious barista is the exception. And Path knows the way.

Patricia Coffee Brewers — worth the long line

Coffee shops that attract huge crowds make me skeptical. I start wondering if they’re more known for drinks people want to put on Instagram rather than quality drinks.

Patricia draws a lot of people, with a long line snaking out the door. But I assure you, they make a terrific white coffee. It was exactly the right temperature, which is always a good sign. It had a slight natural sweetness from the milk, while still emphasizing the beans (more on the chocolately/nutty side to my taste).

Despite the massive line, Patricia managed two important things: The drinks were perfectly made and the baristas were extremely friendly. A massive line of people waiting for drinks can be stressful for a cafe crew, but they didn’t seem to sweat it at all.

Brother Baba Budan — great place to relax over your coffee

I wound up at Brother Baba Budan twice, once ordering a cortado (first day there and I hadn’t figured things out yet) and some sort of white coffee the second time. Something about this place made me want to linger a bit. Just a nice atmosphere.

The preparation of my drinks was consistently good. No bitter or sour flavors, nothing so hot that it would scald the tongue. They know what they’re doing. They even managed to get some latte art into my cortado — which seems tricky in such a small cup.

Brother Baba Budan takes beans seriously, so this is another place where I’d opt for unsweetened drinks with minimal milk. I regret not trying a pourover — with their selection of beans, I’d bet that would’ve been a good choice.

Mystery spot near Brother Baba Budan

A few times, I noticed Pinned Coffee, which is just a short walk down the alley from Brother Baba Budan. They always had a long line when I passed by, so I never did get to check them out. If you’ve been there, feel free to comment about your experience.

Ember & Oak — not in Melbourne, but worth mentioning

If you plan to head a bit further south to Phillip Island, you’ll find a few nice spots to grab an espresso. Ember & Oak was my favorite — the baristas are chatty and friendly in addition to knowing how to make great espresso drinks. We’re talking great microfoam, just the right temperature, nice latte art … all of which added up to great taste.

If I lived in Cowes, the town on the north side of Phillip Island, I’d be a regular at Ember & Oak. It’s the nicest place to hang out with an espresso, especially when the winter wind is blowing.

I’m not sure what beans they used or whether they switch it up now and then. But whatever they used worked out nice for a few whites.