This article features insights from Australian coffee expert and Campos Chief Coffee Officer, Adam Matheson. It is also based on our own personal experience, in-depth research and customer reviews of coffee shops in Melbourne.

With that in mind, it’s time to turn our attention to Melbourne’s best coffee. Whether you are looking for a flat white, latte or batch brew, you’ll find it at these hotspots. Here is a list of the best coffee shops in Melbourne.

As the first cafe in Melbourne to roast its own coffee in house, you won’t question that Atomica Coffee produces the best coffee in Melbourne. They provide boutique coffee roasting and wholesaling to sate the most refined coffee palettes – and noses. They take no shortcuts on quality and always put the product first. The coffee roasters pay tribute to the past while always staying on top of new processes of extraction that are coming through. Their secret is individually roasting, which helps bring out the flavour of each bean.

Inspired by the movement known as the Third Wave of coffee roasters, Melbournians Steve and Trevor Simmons in 2010 set up a tiny garage and began roasting. Industry Beans has now established itself as one of the most internationally renowned Melbourne coffee shops. This Fitzroy warehouse is a popular coffee roastery, cafe and brew bar that delivers top-quality seasonal coffee from key growing regions in Central America, Africa and Asia.

Best for: Smoothies

Best for: Families

Best for: On The Go

While some people may consider the best coffee shops in Melbourne to be pretentious, St Ali believes themselves to be simply curious. Frontman Salvatore Malatesta says yes to things no one would have thought possible. In 2005 St Ali broke through the wall of specialty coffee in Melbourne and brought it to the masses. They are the original innovators, finding the rare finds and being led by the pursuit of the perfect product and process rather than by fads or trends.

Best for: Drinks

Best for: Vegan and Vegetarian Options

Another Proud Coffee institution, Aunty Peg’s serves some of the best coffee on the planet, let alone the best coffee in Melbourne. Aunty Pegs aims to be a welcoming, inclusive space in which your favourite coffee is brewed by a one-on-one barista. Their door is always open, their oven always on and their roasters exuding intoxicating coffee aromas.

Axil promises a sustainably produced product that results in quality coffee in your cup. Their coffee is picked, roasted and served by hand to be enjoyed by you, mug in hand. Their baristas are always striving to learn more about the best coffee methods and products from around the globe, meaning you know Axil is one of the best coffee shops in Melbourne and beyond.

The traditional myth of the discoverer of the brew, Omar, inspires the founders of one of the top Melbourne coffee shops, Omar and the Marvellous Coffee Bird. Outcast and on the cusp of death, Omar received a bean-laden branch from a bird and upon boiling the beans and drinking the result was revitalised. Coffee is now the second most traded commodity in the world, inspiring drinkers and brewers around the world, none more so than founding owners Dean Atkins and Andy Gelman. They believe there should never be compromise on quality and if it’s not the best it can be, they simply won’t serve it. They want to get people excited about coffee and the many nuanced flavours that different beans and roasts elucidate.

If you want a cafe that understands the froth difference between a cappuccino and a flat white, with staff that don’t scoff when you ask for your favourite South American blend, look no further than The Premises.  They’ve got the most scrumptious meals made with fresh, seasonal produce (the slow-roasted pulled pork with homemade chutney is a must) have friendly staff and of course some of the best coffee in Melbourne. Coffee industry veterans Alex Anderson and Kate Holloway use high quality beans from Seven Seeds and together with their team of baristas, create a homey cafe that is discerning with the top-notch coffee and food they serve, but not the customers they welcome. The premises might serve the best specialty coffee Melbourne has to offer.

Best for: Breakfast

When you’re browsing Melbourne cafes, there’s a few things to consider:

Specialty coffee refers to the whole coffee process from growing to roasting and extracting; from farmer to mug. These Melbourne coffee shops take their coffee seriously and ensure that every stage of the process involves the utmost precision and care. Just be aware: once you taste the smooth, intoxicating single-origin coffees of the best coffee shops in Melbourne, you’ll never go back.

If you’re looking for alternatives or other options from the famous Melbourne Coffee Shops, you might want to check out other sights and scenes in the city that we’ve listed below. As well as these, take a look at our 24 Best Coffee Machines For Your Daily Brew if you want to get that premium coffee experience at home or use our guide  26 Different Types of Coffee Explained: A Complete Guide . We feature Sydney based coffee maker and specialist Adam Matheson in this article to help you learn more about what goes into an amazing cup of joe.