Overview
The origin of Small Batch stems from Andrew Kelly, who fifteen or so years back became very curious about all things coffee. He started by experimenting in his backyard before eventually opening his cafe, Auction Rooms, in 2008. He has since moved on from Auction Rooms, but when he ran it, this spot was regarded as the best cafe in Melbourne — setting the standard for the city's burgeoning cafe scene.
Kelly really gets Melbourne's obsession with coffee and has leaned even more heavily into the scene by setting up Small Batch Roasting Co. in North Melbourne. The ethos here centres around three vital pillars. Firstly, it must taste great. Secondly, it's got to have a positive social impact. And lastly, it needs to support sustainable agriculture. The team focuses on sourcing beans from small producers, roasting them in small batches — hence the name. This way, they can monitor the entire supply chain, carefully maintain quality, and produce a unique and varied selection of coffee. This process is slowly being adopted by other roasters in Melbourne, showing how Kelly is — yet again — leading the industry.
But Small Batch isn't only a coffee roasting spot. Its cellar door opens up to locals in North Melbourne from Monday to Saturday, slinging its own pastries (also, some of the very best in Melbourne) and sandwiches alongside heaps of Aussie produce. You can come here for a flat white and pain au chocolat, and then grab some eggs, bacon and wine to take home. Staff are also incredibly friendly and will help talk you through the long list of coffee beans available.
Small Batch is a proper hidden gem in North Melbourne that's well worth discovering for yourself.
Appears in:
Where to Find the Best Coffee in Melbourne
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