Going Alternative in the Coffee Capital: Which Oat Dealers in Melbourne are Right For You, Based on Desired Vibes

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We're a nation of coffee obsessives. Many of us only consider a day to have truly begun once we've had our first sip of the life-giving elixir in the morning. Melbourne is one of the world's great coffee cities with a cafe to suit every mood.

Good baristas and reliable coffee are worth investing in, especially if you take your daily caffeine with an alternative milk choice. So, together with oat milk purveyor Oatly, we've picked out the best coffee slingers, the greatest brunch pedlars and, yes, the top oat dealers to give you what you need to get your day off to the best possible start.

If You're All About Good Vibes

For those looking for a relaxing space to take a beat away from the non-stop grind of modern life, Acustico has got you. This Brunswick team of oat dealers prides itself on its atmosphere, having provided an intimate haven for the hungry, thirsty and soon-to-be-caffeinated of Melbourne for over a decade.

Over in Fitzroy, there's Archie's All Day. The Instagram bio says it all, "brunch and good vibes – all day". There's a manifesto that anyone can get behind. The oat dealers at Archie's are dedicated to serving you the best coffee and the tastiest food, and they have a wicked way with cocktails if you arrive later in the day.

Aesthetically, Collingwood's City Saints might have more in common with your favourite brewery than your local cafe. This might be a curious statement, but its commitment to having a great range of beans and roasters alongside hearty sandwiches and scrumptious fresh-baked goodies means every trip brings a new flavour experience.

If you're in Collingwood and are looking for something a little different, you can't go wrong with Plug Nickel. The oat dealers at this establishment put a twist on the traditional flat white or cappuccino. Here, you can get a sparkling cold brew, an organic spiced chai or even a coffee-based winter toddy.

Finally, Proud Mary in Collingwood is a wholesale store and a top oat-dealing cafe. Its ambience and attention to detail make it successful in both regards. It offers a wide range of specialty brewing products and by-the-bag beans while also acting as a welcoming community space. It's a great location to catch up with friends, eat good food, and enjoy a killer cup of coffee.

Coffee tasting at Calēre

If You're a Coffee Obsessive

Tucked away on Brunswick Street is Calēre, a cafe that proves the old adage that good things come in small packages. This Fitzroy nook takes its coffee extremely seriously, offering masterclasses and experiences from its highly skilled baristas and oat dealers. If you fancy a brew, you can buy beans by the bag and pair them with a house-made toastie.

Another outlet that takes its coffee seriously, Bench Coffee Company Roastery, keeps things clean, simple and deliberate. Think warehouse vibes, a plethora of coffee-making equipment for true aficionados and one of the most important things a coffee emporium can offer: consistency. Plus, it offers a subscription bean delivery service so you can perfect your coffee skills at home.

Brunswick's Kōhī No Deshi is from the same team behind Disciple Coffee, which only serves its coffee black. Unlike its older sibling, it takes the exact opposite approach when it comes to milk. In fact, here, you have the choice of eleven different types of milk (oat included, duh), plus a myriad of other variety drinks to change up your usual coffee order — think toffee apple and caramel peach.

Finally, Wood and Co. scour the globe for the very best. These oat dealers are driven by the desire to find that elusive perfect cup of coffee and even offer step-by-step brewing instructions on their website alongside their superbly stocked online store.

Archie's All Day

If You Need a Quality Feed with Your Cuppa

In Collingwood, there's Alimentari. This is more than just a cafe. It's a kitchen serving the best in Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine, it's a store offering sweet treats alongside stylish home décor and it's a beloved Fitzroy deli. More than all of these, though, it's part of the oat-dealing community thanks to its Smith Street kitchen and patisserie.

Also in Collingwood is Chiaki. The name translates to "a thousand autumns," and this is reflected in its vibes. Step inside this oat-dealing establishment, and you'll feel as though time slows down. You'll want to savour every sip of excellent coffee and every bite of the Japanese breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.

If you want some South American flavour with your morning cup of joe, head to Sonido in Fitzroy and enjoy authentic arepas and empanadas with your coffee. Aussies do cafes well, but we all could benefit from a little Latin flair in our lives.

For the sweet treat fiends out there, Brusnwick's Green Refectory is a cake lover's heaven. The team here bake a wide selection of cakes, from traditional favourites like carrot cake to their own signature creations, like the Tim Tam cheesecake. Not much goes better with cake than a good cup of coffee, so this is definitely a match made in heaven.

If you want the ambience and design of a West Coast American diner but in Brunswick, you need Walrus in your life. These oat dealers offer stacked burgers and thick slices of pie and even have their own vintage filter coffee machine to fully commit to the bit.

Finally, you've likely heard of Tarts Anon. With tarts so good that they're announced in drops via Instagram that sell out instantly, it's fair to say this Collingwood spot has been a huge word-of-mouth success since its 2020 launch. However, you still have the option to go in person, grab a coffee and enjoy the creations of former 'Dinner by Heston' pastry chef Gareth Whitton here or its Cremorne sibling.

Explore all these venues through the Oatly oat dealer network, which will be active from Monday, September 16, to Sunday, September 22. For more information, to hear oats mooing, leave a message or redeem a code for a free oat coffee at participating cafes, dial 1800-OATFIX.