Melbourne

mimmo124

Hi All,

I am planning a trip over to melbourne in december and would like any of you living there to give me some hints of where to go find some great espresso.

Also where is the best places to go and sites to see in and around melbourne, I have heard about a street that starts with "L" Liechart, Lygon?? were there is apparently a big coffee and bar scene?

any advice is appreciated

Mimmo

Unknown

Suggest you take a plunger or a stovetop!!!!! Not much in Lygon St.  There is a disgusting place next to the Grinders Shop in Lygon St. May be best to have a hit before you leave home.

admin

Hi Mimmo - you might like to check out what some fairly knowledgeable people have been saying about coffee in Melbourne (see thread below...), suffice it to say that it's not that positive, but there are some places definitely worth trying: Desgraves, in the city always seems to be rated well; Pound, is a fairly new place in Chapel Street (Sth Yarra), & most people say good things about Wall 280 in Balaclava (although one correspondent says that only their milk-based espresso's are any good).

FreshCoffee2

Hang on a sec everyone.... I see a big difference between liking coffee for coffees sake, and lounging around in some cafe or other killing time for social reasons. The two ARE NOT mutually exclusive. If you like coffee, you can make your own after breakfast, to your own satisfaction, then go out to do whatever it is you do during the day. If you wish to have another while at work, (and your boss does not see the value in supplying his staff with a nice easy to use automatic espresso machine) you can pull out your plunger and indulge again... "Attendance" at some cafe is not required, unless there is some social reason for doing so and this is usually because hunger strikes. A cup of coffee is therefore secondary to the primary or real reason for visiting the "cafe", which of course is actually an "eatery" in real terms.   On this occasion therefore I find myself in agreement with Lee (albeit for different reasons) in that when I travel, I like to pack a plunger and some of my own favourite coffee to brew up in the morning before I go out. On the other hand, many people in the industry visit cafes in order to see what trends are developing in the market etc. but in real terms this is a necessary (and perhaps pleasurable) part of business, not the bullnuts of having to get some kind of coffee "hit". Is this a very long way of saying I cant answer the question? What was the question anyway? Fresh Coffee.

KN

Mimmo I have found the coffee at Lygon Food Store in Lygon St consistently good, if not great, and their simple Italian food is wonderful. It's near the corner of Faraday St. Go to Brunetti's, across the road, for food and atmosphere (particularly their sweets!) but don't bother about the coffee which is consistently ordinary. Lygon St is a bit touristy, but don't completely give up hope. As for the rest of Melbourne, take the plunge and form your own opinion about the espresso there. Check the usual signs - check out the coffee people are drinking there (how does it look?), check the grinder (is it clean?), the steam wand (no caked on milk), and go where others are (not the deserted places). I can't guarantee a memorable espresso, but at least you tried and you can report back to us on your return! KN

Spjarli_Coffee

Where to begin... As for coffee roasters, I can recommend the following independent roasters (in no particular order) *Coffee Max, Burke Rd, Camberwell (about 12 km east of CBD) *The Coffee Company, Carlisle St, Balaclava (inner south-east suburb, close to St Kilda, Prahran, Caulfield http://www.coffeecompany.com.au/) *Jasper Coffee, Brunswick St, Fitzroy (inner east). Furthermore, Genovese Coffee, a larger company established in 1970 and located in Coburg, roast the best beans to be found in cafes. Although not as widespread as the bigger players in the field, you can pretty much guarantee that if the coffee being served is Genovese it will be a good coffee. As for cafes serving excellent coffee *Wall Two 80, in Balaclava, is just around the corner from The Coffee Company but serves Genovese. Excellent lattes. *Pellegrini's . A Melbourne institution, Bourke St, City. If the coffee wasn't great I'd still come here for the ambience. *Caffe E Torto, Lt Collins St, City. Another great Italian espresso bar serving Genovese. And the list could go on. There is bad coffee to be had in Melbourne, although I would venture that it is better than the bad Sydney coffee and the best Melbourne coffee is far superior to anything else in Australia, IMHO! Thought I'd better add a long-overdue defence of Melbourne coffee and try to balance the Sydney-centricity of these pages. Hope this list is of some help.

Unknown

Im not sure what some of these guys are talking about Wall 280 is a little overrated. Rude service and the coffee is a little flat. The milk is great but there is no favour in the coffee. I've seen a barista there making a mistake with a short black by pouring it in a glass. He poured it straight into a cold short black cup. Of course coffee was cold and there was no crema. Pelligrini's the so called heart of coffee in Melbourne is one of the worst places to go for coffee. Old re-heated milk. Sour coffee. Even the Vittoria reps say its bad. Places i believe are on another level are Atomica on brunswick street Local roaster that makes amazing blends and great coffee. Rays on brunswick street use a local roast. They dont roast themselves but have great coffee Newtown on Brunswick street are pretty good They use Jaspers coffee which is ok they make great milk base coffees. Expresso is good. Maltitude cafe they serve atomica coffee in melbourne CBD Very good Expresso there