If Melbourne has mastered anything, it’s coffee. I drink three cups a day (sometimes four…), yet this city still convinces me I need “just one more” on the way to work. Here, coffee isn’t just caffeine — it’s a lifestyle, a ritual, an identity.
I’ve already worked my way through St Ali, Proud Mary, Axil and Industry Beans — all dangerously impressive in their own ways. The rest of Melbourne’s cult roasters sit firmly on my “must-try next” list, and based on the hype, I’ll probably have new favourites by next week.
This guide dives into the roasters who shaped Melbourne’s global coffee reputation — the pioneers, the purists and the innovators. Some are part of my daily caffeine rotation, others are on my imminent hit list, but all of them define what makes this city the world’s unofficial coffee capital.
A City Built on Beans: Why Melbourne Loves Its Coffee
Melbourne’s coffee identity didn’t appear overnight. It grew through decades of migration, small businesses, experimentation and a cultural shift from convenience to craftsmanship.
By the early 2000s, cafés began moving away from the dark, Italian-style roasts that defined the ’80s and ’90s. Instead, they embraced lighter roasting, transparency and flavour purity — and Melbourne’s third-wave coffee movement was born.
- Farm visits
- Microlots
- Origin education
- Filter brews
- Barista culture
Cafés started roasting in-house; boutique roasteries became national icons. Melbourne’s palate became more curious, more informed and more experimental.
And now? Getting coffee here feels less like buying a drink and more like participating in a citywide ritual.
The 11 Best Coffee Roasters in Melbourne (Including My Personal Favourites)
Below is a mix of roasters I’ve tried, loved and the ones I’m excited to explore next.
1. St Ali — The Original Rule-Breaker (Tried & Loved)
One of the first specialty coffees I ever had that made me stop and genuinely think about flavour. St Ali is loud, bold and unafraid to experiment — and honestly, that’s what made it unforgettable for me.
What Makes St Ali Stand Out:
- Fruit-forward, adventurous roasting
- Early leaders in direct trade
- Punchy espressos & iconic blends
- A true milestone moment in Melbourne coffee
Locations:
12–18 Yarra Pl, South Melbourne VIC 3205
Shop 1, 30 Collins St (Entrance via Collins St or Ridgway Pl), Melbourne VIC 3000
Unit 2 B/706 Lorimer St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
University of Melbourne Arts & Cultural Building, 761 Swanston St, Parkville VIC 3010
Website: https://stali.com.au
Instagram: @st_ali
2. Market Lane Coffee — The Transparency Purist (Next on My List)
Everyone I know who loves filter coffee swears by Market Lane. Their bags list everything — farm, producer, altitude, processing — and their flavour profiles are famously subtle and clean.
Why Coffee Lovers Rate Market Lane:
- Light, balanced roasting
- Farm-to-cup transparency
- Exceptional
- Filter perfection
Locations:
Stall 780, Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141
Queen Victoria Market, 513 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000
110–122 Victoria St, Melbourne VIC 3000
83–85 Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000
358–362 Lt Collins St (Mitchell House), Melbourne VIC 3000
58–60 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
166 Elgin St, Carlton VIC 3053
13–15 Coventry St, South Melbourne VIC 3205
73–75 Weston St, Brunswick East VIC 3057
Prahran Market, Stall 706, South Yarra VIC 3141
Website: https://marketlane.com.au
Instagram: @marketlane
3. Seven Seeds — Melbourne’s Everyday Icon (Next on My List)
Seven Seeds is the roaster you recommend when someone wants coffee without the fuss. Balanced, modern and always reliable — the kind of coffee Melbourne people quietly judge other cities by.
What They Do Best:
- Balanced, sweet profiles
- Accessible yet elevated flavours
- A training hub for the whole industry
- Seasonal single origins that always deliver
Locations:
114 Berkeley St, Carlton VIC 3053
7 Montefiore St, Fairfield VIC 3078
Website: https://sevenseeds.com.au
Instagram: @sevenseedscoffee
4. Brother Baba Budan — The Cult CBD Classic (Next on My List)
Even if you’ve never been inside, you’ve seen photos of the chairs hanging from the ceiling. Intimate, chaotic, iconic — and home to some of the city’s most impressive espresso.
Why It’s a Must-Visit:
- CBD cultural institution
- Reliable, well-crafted brews
- Signature Seven Seeds character
- A Melbourne rite of passage
Address: 359 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Website: https://sevenseeds.com.au/pages/brother-baba-budan
Instagram: @brotherbababudan
5. Patricia Coffee Brewers — Minimalist Perfection (Next on My List)
No seats. No food. No distractions. Patricia focuses purely on excellence — a philosophy that locals clearly appreciate, given the constant queues.
Why Patricia Shines:
- Clean, sweet, refined flavours
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Coffee-first ethos
- A go-to for espresso enthusiasts
Address: Rear of, 493-495 Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Website: https://patriciacoffee.com.au
Instagram: @pcoffeebrewers
6. Bench Coffee Co — The Quiet Overachiever (Next on My List)
Low-key, meticulous, quality-driven. Bench is one of the roasters that Melbourne baristas praise constantly — the kind of brand you hear about through word-of-mouth from people who know their coffee.
Why Bench Is Worth Knowing:
- Japanese-inspired minimalism
- Thoughtfully balanced roasting
- A quiet standout worth seeking out
- Ideal for filter drinkers
Locations:
321 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
305 Slater St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Ground Floor, 412 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3004
10–12 Hope St, Brunswick VIC 3056
80 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Website: https://benchcoffee.co
Instagram: @benchcoffee
7. Disciple Roasters — The Small-Batch Cult Favourite (Next on My List)
Disciple has edge — in the best way. They specialise in expressive, punchy, flavour-forward coffees with personality, and their small-batch approach makes every release feel special.
What Disciple Does Best:
- Bold, memorable flavour
- Micro-lot focused
- Coffee with character
Address: 16 Black St, Brunswick VIC 3056
Website: https://www.discipleroasters.com.au
Instagram: @discipleroasters
8. Dukes Coffee Roasters — Clean, Ethical & Reliable (Next on My List)
Dukes does everything with purpose — ethical sourcing, clean roasting, zero fuss. Their coffee is smooth, structured and dependable.
Why People Love Dukes:
- Exceptionally clean espresso
- Long-term ethical sourcing
- Consistent and well-crafted
- A favourite among everyday drinkers
Address: 247 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Website: https://www.dukescoffee.com.au
Instagram: @dukes_coffee
9. Proud Mary — The Experimental Showstopper (Tried & Loved)
One of the roasters that showed me coffee could offer fruits, florals and full-on complexity. Their releases never miss.
Why Proud Mary Is Unforgettable:
- Experimental processing
- Standout, competition-level coffees
- Vibrant, expressive flavour
- Roasting that redefines coffee
Locations:
172 Oxford St, Collingwood VIC 3066
200 Wellington St, Collingwood VIC 3066
Website: https://www.proudmarycoffee.com.au
Instagram: @proudmarycoffee
10. Industry Beans — The Tech-Driven Future (Tried & Loved)
Industry Beans was one of my early discoveries that made me appreciate the craft behind great coffee. They pair design, technology and flavour in a way that feels very “future Melbourne.”
What to Expect from Industry Beans:
- High-tech roasting setups
- Clean, structured flavour
- Thoughtfully designed cafés
- Standout cold brew and RTD options
Locations:
70-76 Westgarth St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148
345 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Website: https://industrybeans.com
Instagram: @industrybeans
11. Axil Coffee Roasters — The Everyday Champion (Tried & Loved)
My reliable, go-to Melbourne coffee. If I need something consistent, balanced and just right, Axil is the one.
Why Axil Delivers Every Time:
- Award-winning blends
- Exceptionally reliable
- Perfect for daily espresso
- The definition of a Melbourne staple
Locations:
322 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122
586 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn VIC 3122
600 Church St, Cremorne VIC 3121
50 Cotham Rd, Kew VIC 3101
1341 Dandenong Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148
Lower Ground, Melbourne Central, Melbourne VIC 3000
187 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
76 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
17 Southern Cross Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
140 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Website: https://axilcoffee.com.au
Instagram: @axilcoffeeroasters
How to Choose the Right Coffee (According to Someone Who Drinks Too Much of It)
If you’re overwhelmed (relatable), here’s the cheat sheet I actually use:
- Best all-rounder: Axil
- Bold & experimental: Proud Mary
- Light & refined: Market Lane
- Tech-driven precision: Industry Beans
- Consistent everyday brewing: Seven Seeds
- Minimalist coffee purity: Patricia
- Punchy flavour: Disciple
- Ethical + clean: Dukes
- Old-school pioneer energy: St Ali
- CBD classic: Brother Baba Budan
- Hidden gem minimalism: Bench
A Caffeinated Wrap-Up
Melbourne’s coffee scene is as dynamic, expressive and irresistible as the people who line up for it every morning (myself included). Whether you’re fully immersed in the third-wave movement, sipping your way through specialty releases or just trying to stay awake between uni and work, this city has a roaster for every kind day.
I’ll be continuing my mission to try every roaster on this list — probably with three coffees in my system and a fourth on the way. If Melbourne is known for anything, it’s the way a simple cup of coffee becomes a ritual, a story and something that genuinely brings us all together.
FAQ
1. Who are Melbourne’s top coffee roasters?
St Ali, Market Lane, Seven Seeds, Brother Baba Budan, Patricia, Bench, Disciple, Proud Mary, Industry Beans, Dukes and Axil are the top picks for quality, craft and local reputation.
2. Which Melbourne roaster is the most iconic?
St Ali and Seven Seeds are widely credited with shaping modern Melbourne coffee culture.
3. Where can I find the best filter coffee?
Market Lane, Bench Coffee Co and Seven Seeds excel in clean, light-roasted filter profiles.
4. Which roasters offer the most experimental coffees?
Proud Mary and St Ali specialise in rare, expressive, boundary-pushing coffees.
5. What’s the best option for everyday brewing?
Axil, Industry Beans and Dukes offer consistently excellent blends for daily espresso and home brewing.
