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Hello and welcome to my very first Coffee Hits series in which I will be sharing with you a few places that serve coffee in and around Melbourne.

What started out as a Mad Coffee Trail adventure (Part 1 and Part 2) has become a growing obsession for me to find and document as many coffee hits as possible in my spare time.

In Part 1 of this series, I will share with you the two things that Melburnians pride themselves with when asked to talk about their city:

  1. Lane-ways
  2. Coffees

Throw in the trifecta point that it’s hidden and hard to find, you have got yourself a Melbourne coffee adventure. Go by yourself! Heck, bring your friend or grab some tourists on the way.

So, are you ready? You will need:

  1. A Map (hardcopy or softcopy, the choice is yours)
  2. Patience
  3. Bravery
  4. Trust in me *winks*

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Cup of Truth – Degraves St, Melbourne CBD

First person to admit walking down some dark subterranean staircase leading down to a subway without some semblance of fear and panic, put your hands up!

That’s what K-ster and I felt as I led her down the quiet steps during lunch hour. She kept saying, “Where are you taking me?”

I kept reassuring her that we would be greeted by coffee, somewhere, somehow. As we rounded the corner the sounds of a barista machine tinkled to us and I breathed a sigh of relief. I was going by pure instinct and vague instructions from my readers!

Located right beneath busy Degraves Street in the subway connecting Flinders Street Station to Flinders Lane, Cup of Truth is literally a coffee stand built into the walls of the subway. Kinda cool. Kinda exciting. A hole-in-the-wall coffee stand. Brilliant!

Serving coffee punters as early as 6.45am, baristas Courtney Patterson (yup the Metro ad guy! Barista, not Barrister :P) and Verity Govett are jovial and pleasant as they serve their 4000 odd customers every morning during their rush to get into work.

Beans: Axil and Guests Blends
Equipment: Synesso 3-Group, Mazzer Super Jolly
Ka-Ching! $: $3 for an espresso, $3.50 for a small latte

*Disclaimer: All food ratings & review are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality at the time of visit

Food/ Cuisine: Coffee
Dining Style: Coffee Stand

Opening Hours: 
Monday to Thursday, 6:45am – 3:45pm
Friday, 6:45am – 2:45pm

Address:
12 Campbell Arcade
Degraves Street Subway (below Flinders Street)
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: 0498 256 786

Website: http://cupoftruth.com.au/

Twitter: @cupoftruth

How to get there:

Cup of Truth on Urbanspoon

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Little King CafeFlinders Ln, Melbourne CBD

Located on the grounds of a church (no, I’m not kidding) sits a tiny, cute and homey cafe run by Ellie King (whose nickname growing up was Little King).

To get here, simply walk down the alley off Flinders Lane (right across the Westin driveway) to the back of Melbourne’s St Paul’s Cathedral.

Don’t be put off by the various homeless individuals sleeping right in front of this cafe, walk straight in and you’ll be greeted with enthusiasm by both Ellie and Jess.

They happen to serve food there as well, and the morning when I visited, Ellie had convinced Jess to carve up a pumpkin for pumpkin soup.

Menu is pretty ad hoc when it comes to mains (soups, salads and sandwiches) but they do have a fix menu of toasts, porridge and pastries from Dench.

Beans: PadrÃĐ
Ka-Ching! $: $3.40 for a latte

*Disclaimer: All food ratings & review are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality at the time of visit

Food/ Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast & Lunch
Dining Style: Cafe

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday, 7:30am – 3:30pm
Saturday, 10:00am – 4:30pm

Address:
Shop 4, 209 Flinders Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: (03) 9654 0030

Website: http://littlekingcafe.com/

Twitter: @LittleKingCafe

How to get there:

Little King Cafe on Urbanspoon

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The Little Mule Cycle & Co. CafeSomerset Pl, Melbourne CBD

If you’re looking to chill out and have a cup of coffee, some breakfast (or lunch) whilst you repair your bicycle or get some bike gears, hop on down Somerset Place (just off Little Bourke Street).

This is a case of what happens when two IT professionals quit their jobs to combine their love for bicycles and coffee and set up shop down a hidden alley of Melbourne.

Serving all day breakfasts, salads, sandwiches and soups, Little Mule serves up a pretty decent cup of coffee and meal.

Come one, come all, there is a seat for you be it the comfy sofa by the corner, the bench by the wall, the giant communal table smack bang in the middle. If sharing is not your thing, there are tables where you can segregate yourself to as you enjoy the coffee and meal of your choice.

Beans: Supreme
Equipment: La Marzocco Linea
Ka-Ching! $: $3.60 and +$0.40 for Soy Milk

*Disclaimer: All food ratings & review are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality at the time of visit

Food/ Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast & Lunch
Dining Style: Cafe

Opening Hours: 
Monday to Friday, 7:30am – 3:00pm
Saturday, 9:30am – 3:00pm

Address:
19 Somerset Place
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: (03) 9670 4904

Website: http://www.thelittlemule.com/pages/cafe

Twitter: @thelittlemule

How to get there:

The Little Mule Cycle Co. & Cafe on Urbanspoon

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Manchester Press – Rankins Lane, Melbourne CBD

Manchester Press burst on the scene as the place to visit if you wanted fun coffee art. None of perfect rosettas’ you see other cafes churning out.

This is the place to get some boobies on your coffee! Literally.

Although I’ve never had any boobies grace my latte art. Disappointing, I know. But I’ve had awesome art from these guys including a twin headed Asian looking girl. It’s amazing.

Walk down the alley (which occasionally has huge dumpsters blocking the way or a truck parked tightly in the alley) right next to the famous BBB to get to this warehouse joint.

Head here if you are in need of some cheer. It seems that you must now request for coffee art before it graces your coffee. I didn’t the first time and was told that I had to ask for it.

What’s good to eat here are also tasty bagels, sweet or savoury the choice is yours.

Beans: 8 oz.
Equipment: La Marzocco
Ka-Ching! $: $3.50

*Disclaimer: All food ratings & review are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality at the time of visit

Food/ Cuisine: Coffee, Breakfast & Lunch
Dining Style: Cafe

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday, 7:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday & Sunday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Address:
8 Rankins Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: (03) 9600 4054

Website: http://www.8oz.com.au/

How to get there:

Manchester Press on Urbanspoon

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Patricia Coffee BrewersLittle Bourke St, Melbourne CBD

Patricia’s is literally my second home in the mornings before I head into work. I make special effort to walk pass them on the way to work almost every morning to get my Seven Seeds hit.

Located down the lane-way between William Street and the NAB building (where Movida Acqui is) in what looks like a drop-off zone and a revamped lawyers office, lies PCB.

The crew at PCB are friendly, jovial and know their coffees. They serve various pastries and are currently selling caneles! NOMS!

A little win for them is that they serve a glass of sparkling water along with their coffee if you choose to have it there 🙂

Beans: Seven Seeds and Guests (including Proud Mary, Small Batch and Market Lane)
Equipment: Synesso Cyncra
Ka-Ching! $: $3.50 – $3.80

*Disclaimer: All food ratings & review are purely based on my own experiences and how I feel about the service, food and quality at the time of visit

Food/ Cuisine: Coffee & Snacks
Dining Style: Cafe

Opening Hours: 
Monday to Friday, 7:00am – 4:00pm

Address:
Cnr Little Bourke & Little William Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: (03) 9642 2237

Website: http://www.patriciacoffee.com.au/

Twitter: @PCoffeeBrewers

How to get there:

Patricia Coffee Brewers on Urbanspoon