Australia takes its coffee seriously, almost annoyingly so, if I’m being honest. But after visiting cafe after cafe across the country, I get it now. There’s something different happening here. It’s not just about caffeine; it’s about the entire ritual.
I’ve watched baristas obsess over water temperature, seen people debate brewing methods like they’re discussing fine wine, and stood in line behind chefs who refuse to compromise on their morning espresso. The coffee shops in Sydney, Melbourne, and beyond that I’m sharing aren’t trying to impress you with fancy interiors or trendy menu items. They’re simply places where people who genuinely care about coffee have set up shop, sourced quality beans, and perfected their craft through countless pulls and pours.
Short Answer
The best coffee shops in Australia are Room 10 Espresso, Proud Mary, Higher Ground, Coffee Alchemy, and Monk Bodhi Dharma. Most are located in Sydney, Melbourne, and Hobart.
10 Best Coffee Shops In Australia
Room 10 Espresso, Sydney
I almost walked past Room 10 the first time. It’s tucked down this narrow laneway in Potts Point, and honestly, it doesn’t look like much from the outside. But then I saw the crowd, people literally standing in the street with their coffees, chatting like they had nowhere else to be-it reminded me of the same energetic coffee culture I’d experienced at cafes in Perth Australia.
Inside is even tighter. You’re basically standing next to whoever ordered before you, hoping a stool opens up. But here’s the thing: the person next to me was apparently some well-known chef, and nobody was making a fuss about it. That’s when I realized this place has earned its reputation, just like the other best cafes in Sydney.
They’re using Mecca Espresso beans, and the baristas move with this quiet confidence that comes from making thousands of coffees exactly right.
Good Day Coffee, Tugun
You know that moment on a road trip when you’re desperate for decent coffee but surrounded by depressing service stations? That’s exactly when Good Day Coffee appears on the Gold Coast Highway. I’d driven past it a dozen times before finally stopping, and I immediately regretted not coming sooner.
They’re working with beans from Marvell Street Coffee up in Byron Bay, which already tells you something about their standards. The place has this easy, coastal feel, lots of surfers grabbing their morning fix, people in wetsuits ordering iced coffees like it’s the most natural thing in the world. This laid-back coffee culture echoes what you’ll find at the best cafes in Melbourne, where specialty coffee meets effortless style.
Nothing fancy about the setup, just solid coffee made by people who clearly know their craft.
Barrio Collective Coffee, Canberra
Barrio Collective feels like someone’s passion project that actually worked out. It’s in the ORI Building on Lonsdale Street in Braddon, and the first thing you notice is how small it is. Jack Muirhead and Angus Raddon are running this tight ship without a proper kitchen, which sounds like a disadvantage until you see what they’ve managed.
They’ve turned limited space into an advantage, focusing entirely on coffee while keeping the food simple: sandwiches, rice bowls, things on toast. But the coffee menu? That’s where they’ve gone deep. Aeropress, cold brew, espresso tonics, they’re clearly having fun experimenting.
I watched them explain different brewing methods to a customer like they were genuinely excited about it, not just going through the motions.
Proud Mary, Melbourne
Melbourne has this reputation for coffee snobbery, and Proud Mary is partly responsible for that. They’ve got a Synesso machine, which, if you don’t know, is the kind of equipment that costs more than most people’s cars. But they’re not showing off. They’ve invested in it because they’re roasting their own beans and want to do them justice.
You can get your coffee however you want: V60, AeroPress, cold drip, or just a straightforward espresso. I went with their single origin through a V60, and the barista walked me through what I should be tasting.
The food’s worth mentioning too. I had this avocado and kimchi toast that somehow worked perfectly. It’s the kind of place where everything feels intentional, like they’ve thought through every detail without being precious about it.
Monk Bodhi Dharma, Balaclava
Finding Monk Bodhi Dharma requires some determination. It’s basically in a carpark off Carlisle Street in Balaclava, which seems like an odd choice until you’re actually there. The location works somehow, creating this little oasis away from the main street chaos.
They’re roasting their own beans right there, small batches of seasonal, single estate coffee that they source directly. The whole place is vegan, which I’ll admit made me skeptical about the food at first. But they’ve figured it out.
More importantly, they’re treating their coffee with serious respect. You can watch them roast, ask questions about the beans, and grab some to take home. It feels like a place run by people who genuinely love what they’re doing and want to share that enthusiasm.
Coffee Alchemy, Marrickville
Coffee Alchemy is what happens when someone strips away everything except the coffee itself. Hazel de los Reyes runs this warehouse operation on Addison Road in Marrickville, and she’s not trying to be a full-service cafe. There’s hardly any seating, no food menu, just extraordinary coffee. That’s it.
When I visited, I watched her work with this focused intensity, adjusting grind settings and monitoring extraction times like she was conducting an experiment. Because in a way, she is. She’s roasting the beans herself, controlling every variable, and serving some of the best coffee Sydney has to offer.
If you need a meal with your coffee or want somewhere to sit for an hour, go elsewhere. But if you want to understand what great coffee actually tastes like, this is required visiting.
Pigeon Whole Bakers, Hobart
Walking into Pigeon Whole Bakers on Argyle Street feels like stepping into a European bakery that somehow ended up in Hobart. The family running this place takes their bread seriously. We’re talking stoneground flour, natural levain, the whole traditional approach.
The walls are literally lined with sourdough loaves, bagels, and all these beautiful pastries. I came for the coffee (they’re using Edition Coffee Roasters), but I left with a bagel and half a sourdough loaf because I couldn’t help myself.
The coffee holds its own against the bread, which is saying something. You can tell they’ve put as much thought into their coffee program as they have into their fermentation schedules. It’s the kind of place where locals stop by every morning, and you understand why after one visit.
Ecru Coffee, Hobart
Ecru Coffee is tiny. I mean really tiny. It’s on Criterion Street in Hobart’s CBD, and you could walk past it if you’re not paying attention. But it’s exactly what you need when you’re shopping or rushing between appointments and just want a proper espresso without the fuss.
They’re set up for takeaway, and they’re good at it. The baristas move fast but don’t sacrifice quality, which is harder to pull off than it sounds. If you want to sit and linger, they have a sister cafe called Villino up the street.
But honestly, there’s something satisfying about grabbing a perfectly made espresso from a hole-in-the-wall spot and continuing on with your day. They’ve mastered that one thing, and they do it consistently well.
Higher Ground, Melbourne
Higher Ground on Little Bourke Street is what happens when someone decides to do everything properly instead of chasing trends. It’s a cafe, restaurant, and bar all in one, but somehow it doesn’t feel confused or overreaching. You can come here at 7am for coffee and breakfast, or show up at 8pm for dinner and drinks.
The coffee program doesn’t take a back seat to anything else. They’re treating it with the same seriousness as their food menu. I visited mid-morning and watched them serve everything from quick espressos to elaborate breakfasts without missing a beat.
The space itself is beautiful but not in that overdesigned Instagram way. Everything feels thought-through and intentional. It’s refreshing to find a place that has gotten this big and popular without compromising on what made it good in the first place.
Traveller Espresso, Melbourne
Traveller Espresso on Crossley Street isn’t trying to be your living room. Mark Dundon and Bridget Amor (who come from Seven Seeds and Brother Baba Budan, basically Melbourne coffee royalty) have created a standing-room-only spot designed for one purpose: excellent coffee, fast.
It’s modeled after European espresso bars where you knock back your macchiato and move on with your day. The first time I stopped by, I was in a rush and almost annoyed by the lack of seating. But then I got my coffee and understood immediately.
When you’re this good, you don’t need comfortable chairs and free wifi. People aren’t coming here to work on their laptops; they’re coming because they want the best shot of espresso they can get before their next meeting. It’s pure, focused, and unapologetic about what it is.
