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C Story / Louise Reynolds
In the late 1800s, the Temperance
movement saw more people abstaining
from alcohol. As a result, coffee palaces
became social hubs in Melbourne as
people moved away from drinking in pubs.
Coffee street stalls were a common sight
in Melbourne from the 1850s to 1920s.
They provided cheap snacks and coffee
throughout the day for Melbourne’s
workers and became a significant part
of the city as a result of the population
boom from the 1850s Gold Rush.
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The Mel-
bourne
Coffee Life
From Historic Street Stalls to Modern Cafes
Melbourne is known around the world as a coffee lover’s par-
adise. It’s home to hundreds of top quality coffee shops staffed by
some of the world’s best baristas. The city has a wonderful mix of
stalwart cafe, that have been institutions for decades, and cool new
kids on the block starting to make their mark on the cafe scene.
Melburnians’ passion for coffee is nearly as old as the city
itself. The first popular cafes were established in the late 1800s but
we know coffee was part of Melbourne life even earlier. In mid-
2022, archaeologists working on the site of the city’s new metro
tunnel discovered perfectly preserved coffee beans said to be 167
years old! They were found where an old grocery store once stood
during Victoria’s Gold Rush era.
The city’s coffee culture really took off after World War II
when waves of immigrants from Europe made Melbourne their new
home. Italian immigrants brought coffee machines with them and
introduced the city to espresso. Many set up shop Carlton, creating
the Little Italy of Lygon Street, which remains a centre of Mel-
bourne’s cafe culture. Greek Australians opened coffee shops in
Lonsdale Street, giving downtown Melbourne its own Little Greece.
Another cafe hot spot sprung up in beachside St Kilda, now famous
for its European-style coffee and cake shops.
Today, a growing number of Melbourne coffee shops are roast-
ing their own beans or sourcing them from local roasters. Competi-
tion to create the best coffee blends is heating up. Food is also an
important part of the Melbourne cafe scene. Locals love heading out
for breakfast and brunch on the weekends, challenging cafe cooks
to come up with tempting menu items.
Melburnians and visitors alike are spoilt for choice. Here is
where you can find some of Melbourne’s best and newest places for
great coffee and cafe food.
The Mel-
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bourne