Overview
If this pandemic has given you a newfound appreciation of speedy grab-and-go options, then, boy, does Market Lane Coffee have a treat for you. The specialty roaster has taken cues from our ever-efficient Japanese mates and installed a new vending machine out the front of its Brunswick East Roastery. Instead of Boss Coffee and Pocari Sweat, it is stocked with coffee filter papers and various packs of Market Lane beans, ready to take home and be transformed into your morning cuppa.
The concept for this new addition has been brewing for a while, but it as the recent lockdowns — which forced the city's hospitality venues to close to dine-in customers and change to takeaway-only — that accelerated its creation.
"We loved the idea of people being able to come to our roastery at any time of day and being able to load up on freshly roasted coffee beans or last minute filter papers for their brewers," explained Market Lane Co-Founder and Director Fleur Studd. "When COVID-19 hit, this idea felt even more relevant and urgent, as it enables people to buy our coffees in a contactless manner, at whatever time is convenient to them."
Abigail Varney
So, there's no need to restrict your caffeine fix to conventional cafe hours — this beauty is open for business 24/7. Just don't forget about that stage four curfew (from 8pm–5am daily) and five kilometre travel limit in your rush to get top-quality beans.
The Weston Street vending machine is slinging a range of freshly roasted coffee beans in 250-gram and one-kilo bags, with options to suit both espresso and filter brews. Maybe you fancy the dark chocolate and orange notes of the seasonal espresso roast, or perhaps you like the blueberry and caramel finish on the Ethiopian aroresa espresso. Prices start from $16, running up to $68 for one of the big guys. The machine's also got a selection of filter papers for pour over, Aeropress and Moccamaster machines, ranging from $6 to $10.
Find Market Lane HQ and its coffee bean vending machine at 126 Weston Street, Brunswick East.
Images: Abigail Varney