CAFE > Bench Coffee Co, Melbourne

Bench coffee has been roasting coffee and building a brand of smart coffee houses around Melbourne including Slater Street, 580, and Saint Dreux. Now on Little Collins Street they have launched a beautiful flagship store, that you would be forgiven for thinking was in Tokyo.

Bench talk about the elegant and familiar flavours we should expect from coffee but they are also purists in sourcing ethically grown and sustainable green beans that are roasted in their facility in Brunswick.

Coffee from Bench is not just about espresso based concoctions, the baristas here are masters of brew and pour over too for more delicate coffee experiences.

The Bench & Co store in Little Collins Street focus on the coffee and the only food served is Dacquoise, which is a biscuit desert with a rich buttercream sandwiched between the meringue biscuits (YUM). There are standing flavours including Matcha and Black Sesame, Raspberry, Belgian Chocolate and Vanilla & Sea Salt.

The new flagship store was designed by architecture firm Arkhe Tekhne and has lots of shiny surfaces and a large mirror feature wall.

At the Roastery in Brunswick you will find a more industrial fit out but an extensive range of coffee, Shokupan (fluffy Japanese bread) toast and pastries from the Little Cardigan bakery which is in one corner of the store.

On St Kilda Road there are now two more ‘Bench’ options, the first is Slater Street which is just near Fawkner Park, the other is in the atrium of the 580 St Kilda Road building.

Image Credit | Bench & Co

SAINT DREUX

The last in the family is Saint Dreux, which is in the Emporium Building, 287 Lonsdale Street in the city where they elevate the traditional Japanese Kissaten to new heights of perfection. Serving classic Katsu Sando (a classic Japanese Pork Cutlet Sandwich) and Castella (Japanese Sponge Cake). Of course they also make delicious coffee.