I'm not really sure about these chain coffee store - they don't seem to have the same amount of…read morepride in their coffee that the independent places do. Then again, I'm not a huge coffee drinker so I guess it makes it a moot point. However, occassionally I will go out for one, especially when I'm in the city. As for this place, well, the coffee was pretty substandard - not bad, but certainly not the best. Honestly, I think I'll just stick with my independent stores.

Plantation (using beans from Sensory Lab) is definitely my go-to for specialty coffee in the…read moreMelbourne CBD, hidden away in Melbourne Central as an oasis for caffeine lovers in the inner city. Its unlikely placement in the Melbourne Central food court provides a great relief for those after decent coffee in a shopping centre environment. This is definitely not where you go to get one of those disgusting generic-chain-store-frappacino-with-two-pumps-and-extra-cream "beverages". The Cold Drip is a must-have during the warmer weather, and the 'Awakening' special (1 x espresso and 1 x latte, $5) is the perfect midday pick-me-up, especially when having to deal with the lunch hour CBD crowds! Plantation also serves a range of freshly made cakes by Bethany Claire for those with a sweet tooth who are after something to complement their caffeine hit, and they have also recently started serving a small selection of more substantial breakfast goods (savoury croissants, and toasts with homemade jams - also by Bethany Claire) for those hurried mornings! Though located in the hectic Melbourne Central food court, Plantation is an inner city escape for every caffeine lover. Sit in the seats hidden behind the La Marzocco machine for a more peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, or people watch as you sip your coffee from one of the big bucket seats in the bustling food court area out the front. The latte art is amazing, and the coffee - no matter what is ordered - is consistently great. The baristas are ridiculously friendly, are extremely knowledgable about coffee and make the effort to remember your name and order. Follow them on instagram (@plantationmelb) to check out some of their ridiculous latte art! Overall? Five stars. Review originally posted on http://www.ataleoftwobougies.com

Was recommended this spot by my homie who came here in a trial before our big trip to my old hood…read moreand I was super shocked. My normal spot is proud Mary and those who know its name know its not everyday a spot gives it a run for its money. This place surprisingly does. I got a flat white and a hot honey halloumi sandwich and my homie got a long black and the eggs. Everything was heaping quite clean and flavorful. The coffee wasn't overpowering or super milky and I was surprised at how easy it went down given a lot of flat whites I've tried have been all over the spectrum. Prices were easy to stomach given the under 20 for my sandwich and my flat white being 5 bucks. Our waiter was super solid and costantly doing all the things I do appreciate when it comes to customer service even refilling my coffee when I didn't expect to. I do like this spot and I expect this to be a break in the usual rotation in a good way. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu!

Loved this place, the coffee, the staff and the experience. Very friendly staff and great ambiance.read more

What a discovery. I'm usually all about the tiny hole in the wall cafés hidden up some unmarked…read morestairs, in old shop fronts etc. The typical melbourne cafe. This is not one of those. I came along for the yelp cafe smart fundraiser. Huge open layout with high ceilings and lots of well designed furniture. I really liked their range of coffee brewing equipment for sale which unlike some other cafés around town these guys actually use them all (I'm talking to you sensory lab!). The all important coffee test was a thumbs up - quite nice. I also got a espresso brownie to share and while it was nice found it a little dry and could not taste any coffee. Still the open kitchen was really nice and I would definitely consider coming back for a bite to eat and a coffee. It's a nice place to relax with a book or newspaper and large enough to not feel very crowded or cramped. I like it.

High ceilings, nice open cafe and a perfect spot to grab a quiet coffee to sit and enjoy...at least…read moreit was when I ducked in during the school holiday period. I suspect it's probably heaving most other times! If you can grab a seat and stay a while, the staff are absolutely lovely and very knowledgeable. There's free wifi if you've got your laptop with you and a tasty looking breakfast and lunch menu to graze on while you work. The coffee is obviously Toby's Estate, offered in a range of espresso and filter options. You can even have the option of a single or double V60 pour over, which is uncommon in cafes and perfect if you want a filter without paying a full $6+ for a 2 cup. They also sell coffee paraphenalia for home and run espresso courses if you're a budding barista. I didn't end up trying the food, but the pastry chef popped his head out and tried to tempt my friend and I with some tasty treats as we were getting ready to leave. I packed my will power that day, but if you need a pick me up for a case of 3.30itis, Toby's Estate is a great choice.

This cafe is off the beaten path, blinked and you will easily miss it…read more Located in a hidden alleyway of Raffa Pl, precisely next to a gas station. From the outside, this looks like one of the crappiest Cafe I've ever been to in the city, but once inside, the atmosphere transforms into something different... The space actually feels like I'm walking into someone else's backyard! High glass ceiling, wooden furnitures, industrial vibes adorned with lush greeneries hanging throughout the restaurant - what a relaxing ambiance and the kind of place that invites you to hang a little bit longer. Originally, I came to try their famous salmon garden entree, but unfortunately they no longer have that on their menu *Sad*... So I settled for their breakfast pasta and happy to say, it doesn't disappoint in any way. The pasta comes in a pretty ceramic bowl, the presentation was fancy to the eyes, consisting of bacon, three kinds of cheese and poached egg. The dish was seriously creamy without giving you that nauseating feeling, absolutely yum! For my drink, I had the hot chocolate and it was a disappointment, slightly bitter, grainy and watered down, should have stick with the coffee, next time. The pricing was quite affordable per my Melbourne cafe standard. The service was quick and efficient, although I feel they kinda rushed you to order. But that aside, what a delicious find!!

Walking behind the Shell service station down a dodgy Carlton alley doesn't seem like a good time,…read morebut Vertue makes the trip worthwhile. Spinning the alley corner you are immediately greeted with giant open doors and polished floorboards, leading to an impressive counter layered with fresh coffee blends, beans barreled up and ready to be ground, and some great looking snacks to go with your caffine. This is definitely a place for coffee lovers, with various batches of beans available for purchase to take home and brew yourself. They also have a lovely seating area with a menu available for eats, but I was only stopping for coffee. And what a coffee it was! Beautifully roasted with a maple finish that made me feel like I was drinking a coffee flavoured pancake. I have no idea what magical method they use on their soy, but it was light, fluffy and sweet. So go down that dark alley and find one of Carlton's finest establishments.

Melbourne has great coffee and this place stood out amongst the places we tried. Very cool vibe and…read moredecor. The flat white I ordered was excellent . Service is efficient and also very good.

Love the ambience and friendly staff. Ordered a soy latte and it was great. Love the Melbourne…read morecoffee scene.

If you are serious about coffee then let me introduce you to the guys at the East Brunswick…read moreCollective (Padre as it is also known). They too are serious about coffee. In fact so much so that they have done away with the sourdough bread, smoked salmon and rocket salads to concentrate solely on roasting and serving up their own unique blends of coffee. And apart from a few titbits of fresh bakery delights they have delivered daily - coffee is indeed all they serve. If you want to find Melbourne's best coffee then I think you will be hard pressed to walk past Padres. Just make sure that you don't make this mistake as, like so many cafes in Melbourne, it is badly sign posted and very small. So much so that I am pretty sure that the confused people walking up and down the Brunswick end of Lygon St are either in search of the perfect coffee or are named Angela (from the local homeless shelter).

So how's your father? Well they take your favourite caffeinated drink here very seriously. This…read morebusy coffee shop and roaster has helpful, knowledgeable staff at the previously unloved end of Lygon st that's getting more interesting all the time. A casual vibe, small tables for 2 people mixed with communal tables. White walls, sky lights, easy listening music at a good volume and plenty of papers. My macchiato had a choice between 2 single origin beans (Colombia and Ethiopia). Was well ground with a good consistency, smooth, but a touch over roasted for my palate. This is not a brunch place, as they don't pretend to have much in the way of food. There's a few savoury tarts, croissants and muffins but it's the coffee that people come here for. I had a breakfast tart which was flaky and buttery. I devoured it in about 30 seconds. Good place to meet your Dad for a cup of joe plus the sparkling water is a nice touch.

Great coffee, helpful service, and buzzing but chill atmosphere. Really good place for breakfast on…read morea weekend or stop by for a coffee to go.

Another one of those back street Collingwood cafes that I simply not only had to check out, but…read morealso had to sit down for a spot of breakfast. Well, turns out it was okay, but nothing incredibly mind blowing. The coffee was okay, as was the big breakfast, which I felt like at the time. While it was a nice place with friendly staff, not really someplace I'm going to come back to too soon.

We spent a week in Melbourne and I was on a quest to find the best coffee I could find, and I'm…read morealways on the lookout for a good breakfast place. Stagger Lee's was hands down the best flat white I had in the city. I won't list all the places I went, but in the 8 days I was in melbourne I had at least 2 flat whites a day. Melbourne is perhaps one of the BEST coffee cities I've ever visited, and that's saying a lot as I love my coffee. Something about Stagger Lee's coffee was perfect, it had the right amount of richness and boldness without any bitterness, and it was perfection. There were 4 of us, and three of us ordered another round of flat whites which is the only place we've done that haha. I talked enough about the coffee, let's talk about the food! All I can say is WOW! We all enjoyed our dishes. I ordered the Burrata, Spiced Pumpkin, Pickled Beets, and Chili Maple Cashews. It was outstanding, everything matched so well from a taste and texture standpoint. You have the creamy almost sweet burrata, the tangy beets, the crunchy cashews, all with a wonderful dressing. What an outstanding dish. Finally, the workers there were super efficient and friendly. One woman working there reminded me of Kate McKinnon from SNL. I mean that in the most complimenting way possible, just a bundle of good energy throughout. The place was also great, with a good vibe and a relaxed atmosphere.

Super yummy breakfast spot with delicious coffee and a nice little inside seating area.read more