Patricia Coffee Brewers might seem simple on the surface. But look again. With a tiny standing room-only space, it’s the mixture of old-school allure and Melbourne sensibilities that has coffee lovers lining up every morning.

CBD sibling to Industry Beans’ Fitzroy flagship store, this Little Collins Street cafe is a haven of top-quality coffee. Here, bright, minimalist interiors prove a cheery backdrop for your daily caffeine pit-stop, rocking minimal seating, but plenty of charm.

From its cosy flagship space on Flinders Lane, Dukes Coffee Roasters is championing specialty coffee with a conscience, focused on environmental and social sustainability as much as on the final drink. 

Market Lane Collins Street is your destination for espresso and filter coffee, beans and equipment at the top end of the city. Located in historic Portland House, the small Melbourne coffee shop is one of six Market Lane locations.

As Glen Huntly residents have long been aware, local café Workshop Brothers Specialty Coffee is a rare hybrid of both substance and style. The minimalist, super Instagram-worthy space belies some serious coffee know-how.

Located on the corner of Flinders and Exhibition Street, this pastel pink cafe doubles as a retail outlet where customers can purchase coffee not just by the cup, but by the bag. It’s also somewhere you can go for a high-quality cup without being an expert. 

,,Everyday Coffee has long been doling out great coffee in Collingwood and, thankfully, you can now get your hands on its beans in the CBD, too. The cafe’s second outpost is located on Little Collins Street with a sleek and effortlessly cool fit-out. 

When you’re next walking down Collins Street, be sure to seek out this unassuming little pod of delight. Sensory Lab’s space-like cafe has garnered numerous accolades for its curious and artistic aesthetic. 

Though one of the smallest, Brother Baba Budan has to be one of the most frequented coffee shops in the CBD. The Little Bourke Street cafe has just 15 seats inside, so if you’re heading in at coffee peak hour, you’ll have to be lucky to snag a spot. 

Tucked down a CBD lane in a stunning heritage-listed building on Wills Street (just off LaTrobe) in a pocket of the city that’s usually reserved for business only, everything about Operator is unassuming.