Yooooooo Hooooooo!!!! *waves and jumps up and down excitedly*

Are you high from caffeine as yet?

From my first Coffee Hits guide which took you in and out of Melbourne’s iconic lane-ways, I now take you on the second part of this back-to-back post on the next set of five places to hit up.

If the first Coffee Hits Guide took you down hidden lane-ways and staircases where you have never thought to venture down before, this second lot is the exact opposite. In that it is easily accessible to anyone who chooses to walk by.

Two, of which I might add sit nestled in convenient shopping centres (i.e. David Jones and Melbourne Central).

Are you ready for the next five? Here, we go!

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Brother Baba Budan – Little Bourke St, Melbourne CBD

The famous Brother Baba Budan or affectionately known to regulars as BBB has been part of the Melbourne city coffee scene for the last 5 years. It doesn’t matter if you are armed to the fingernail in tattoos, in low slung skinny jeans or in a full crisp business suit, BBB attracts one and all.

Sister outlet to Seven Seeds up in the north of Melbourne city’s matchbox, BBB churns out a ridiculous amount of coffee to punters of all sizes, colour and dress-code.

There are no discernible signs on this Little Bourke Street cafe.

A good indication to knowing if you’ve found the right place is by the numerous wooden chairs hanging from the ceiling and a silver coffee shovel as the door knob.

Come here for excellent coffees including the famed Geisha coffees from Panama *BEAMS*

Beans: Seven Seeds
Equipment: Clover, 2 Synesso machines
Ka-Ching! $: $3.80 – $15 (depending on what you get, i.e. pourover, filter, clover, etc)

*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: Specialty Coffee
Dining Style: Cafe

Opening Hours: 
Monday to Wednesday & Saturday, 7:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday, 7:00am – 6:00pm
Friday, 7:00am – 7:00pm
Sunday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Address:
359 Little Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

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

Twitter: @brotherbudan

How to get there:

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Captain’s of Industry – Somerset Pl, Melbourne CBD

If you’re looking for somewhere interesting to showcase Melbourne’s quirkiness or just needing a bespoke footwear, gentleman’s tailor and outfitter or barber whilst you enjoy a quiet sandwich and a decent coffee, Captain’s of Industry is certainly the place to be.

Pairing fashion, men’s grooming to food and drinks sounds like a brilliant idea to me.

Come to get a tailored suit, sandwiches, grooming materials, coffee and watch the busy world fly by as you gaze across the iconic Melbourne GPO.

They also do dinners on Wednesday and Thursday and an Oyster Jazz night every Friday.

What’s there not to love?

Beans: unknown
Equipment: Lola II by Grimac
Ka-Ching! $: $3.50 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 & Modern Australian
Dining Style: Cafe / Bistro

Opening Hours: 
Wednesday to Thursday, 10:00am – 8:00pm
Friday, 10:00am – 5:00pm followed by late night oysters & jazz
Saturday & Sunday, 9:00am – 5:00pm

Address:
Level 1, 2 Somerset Place
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: (03) 9670 4405

Website: http://captainsofindustry.com.au/

How to get there:

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Naked Espresso Bar – Little Bourke St, Melbourne CBD

Co-owned by former Elevenses owners, Naked Espresso quickly came on the coffee scene and has built up a formidable following in the business district area. No easy feat given that BBB is half a block from them on the same street.

Serving their signature house blend coffees as well as guests blends, Naked Espresso does a pretty awesome job in coffee.

Come here for a relax feel where baristas know you by name even if you’ve only been there two or three times!

Even though they serve a mean cup of golden brew, I can never go pass their Masala Chai as well, which I highly recommend.

Beans: House beans Naked Espresso and Guests (including Axil, Small Batch, Proud Mary, Market Lane and Reverence)
Equipment: La Marzocco
Ka-Ching! $: $3.90 – $4.30 (depending on what you get, i.e. aeropress, syphon, cascara, pour-over, etc)

*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 – 4:00pm

Address:
390 Little Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: (03) 9670 3569

Website: http://nakedespressobar.com.au/

Twitter: @Naked_Espresso

How to get there:

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Plantation – Melbourne Central, Melbourne CBD

I love the fact that when I’m busy shopping at Melbourne Central and I can’t be bothered to walk any further due to my heavy shopping bags and the stares from my beloved, that I can rely on Plantation to serve me a good coffee and allow me a temporary respite from my excessive habits.

If you are still capable of shopping, wander up to the front part of the cafe for a browse on coffee geekery equipment. I want it all!!!

What I love about Plantation is that it is situated away from the mad crowds and at the opposite corner of the busy revamped food court.

Come here to have a lovely smooth coffee or a cold drip.

Head over to Cupcake Central whilst you’re at it for fabulously fresh cupcakes (hint: get the red velvet!).

Beans: St Ali, Sensory Lab
Equipment: La Marzocco
Ka-Ching! $: $3.80 (they also do a wide range of cold drips here)

*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: Specialty Coffee
Dining Style: Cafe

Opening Hours: 
Monday to Wednesday, 8am – 6pm
Thursday, 8am – 8pm
Friday, 8am – 9pm
Saturday to Sunday, 10am – 6pm

Address:
Shop 253
Level 2 Dining Hall
Melbourne Central
300 La Trobe Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: (03) 9654 8758

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

Twitter: @Plantation_Melb

How to get there:

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Sensory Lab – Little Collins St, Melbourne CBD

If Melbourne Central is not your thing and you much prefer ducking in and out of shops and lane-ways for your retail therapy, there’s always its sister cafe located at the end of the menswear department of David Jones.

If Plantation specialises in cold-drips, Sensory Lab would specialise in syphons and all things beanery.

It looks like a cross-over of a chemical lab and a vintage retro cafe, but do drop in for a coffee tasting experience, retail therapy or relaxation from your retail therapy.

They even do barista courses!

Beans: St Ali
Equipment: La Marzocco Linea Slayer
Ka-Ching! $: $3.80 – $15 (depending on what you get, i.e. syphon, etc)

*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: Specialty Coffee
Dining Style: Cafe

Opening Hours: 
Monday to Wednesday, 7:30am – 7:00pm
Thursday & Friday, 7:30am – 9:00pm
Saturday, 8:30am – 7:00pm
Sunday, 9:30am – 7:00pm

Address:
David Jones
297 Little Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

Tel: (03) 9643 2222

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

Twitter: @SENSORY_LAB

How to get there:

 

Where should my next 5 Coffee Hits guide venture to? I’m open to suggestions and opinions. Armed with a camera and a notepad, I’m in the process of getting my Coffee Hits Part 3 underway but I’ll chuck in any good suggestions.

At this stage, I’m only concentrating on the Melbourne CBD area as it’s convenient for me to get to before work and during lunch hours.

If the cafe you suggest sits outside the CBD zone and is open on the weekends, I’m happy to go investigation-ing as well 🙂 Toodles and thank you for your support and enthusiasm!