Belafonte Coffee

Overview

For banging bagels, head to Belafonte. From an unassuming shop front in Ormond, grab New York-style bagels, schmears, wholesale roast coffee and drinks, but don't forget to check the opening hours. It's only open 12 hours a week. 

When Shane McGrath couldn't get to 5&Dime for his bagel fix during the COVID lockdowns, he did as many other bored and restless people did, and started baking at home. But while most people's sourdough starters and pastry projects died off as quickly as they started, Shane turned his new bagel-baking skills into a business. 

Shane capitalised on his many years of experience running some of Melbourne's most formative coffee programs (including Square One Coffee Roasters, Veneziano and Dukes) to create his own operation, which he says, focuses on solving problems for other cafe owners. For example, Belafonte supplies beloved Monforte Viennoiserie with its coffee cans. While they bake and roast seven days a week for their wholesale partners, the store only trades for 12, short but sweet hours a week. 

Belafonte Coffee on North Road focuses on quality over quantity. Their offering is deliberately concise. Bagels. Schmears. Coffee. All done properly. Bagels span the traditional gamut of a New York deli, from Everything to poppyseed, cinnamon raisin to blueberry. As do the schmears, which include a spring onion garlic cream cheese. 

And its clientele speaks to the product's quality. You'll find everyone from 5&Dime's owner to the 2026 Australian Barista Champion, sipping on Shane's coffees and chomping on his bagels. 

Images: Supplied. 

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