Victorian cafes that roast their own beans

There is nothing quite like the aroma of roasting coffee beans to wake up the senses and get the taste buds primed for syphon, pour over or cold drip coffee. These regional cafes are serious about the bean; sourcing the best from around the world to roast onsite and serve with a produce-packed brunch.

Moto Bean Coffee Roasters and café is located in an industrial barn in the quaint town of Malmsbury, 25 minutes from Daylesford and just over an hour from Melbourne. The café is filled with the aromas of roasting coffee and uniquely, a display of classic cars and motorcycles. Moto Bean takes great pride in its micro-batch roasted coffee ensuring nothing less than an excellent brew ends up in the cup. Breakfast and lunch is on offer everyday or guests can take away their coffee for a stroll around the Malmsbury Botanic Gardens, just over the road. 50 Clowes Street, Malmsbury 

Sixpence Coffee in the gourmet town of Bright is a family owned small batch coffee roaster that is passionate about bringing quality coffee to North East Victoria – three hours drive from Melbourne. Everything is carefully considered here, from the initial bean selection, through to roasting, brewing, and customer service. An adjoining retail space offers local and visitors a place to talk coffee, buy beans or settle down with a latte. 35 Churchill Avenue, Bright.

While Indian curries and coffee roasting might not be the most obvious pairing, Vivek and Leonie from Myrtleford’s Coffee Chakra make it work to perfection. This popular café in the picturesque town of Myrtleford in Victoria’s High Country serves up house-roasted coffee alongside home-made cakes, muffins and authentic Indian curries and chai. 105 Myrtle St, Myrtleford 

Mansfield Coffee Merchant‘s five kilogram Roastmax coffee roaster sets the tone sitting pride of place in the front window. Customers can choose from a blend or single origin from Ethiopia and brewed via a pour over, aeropress or syphon. The menu includes a broad selection of dishes using locally sourced ingredients. The friendly and inviting service also encourages visitors to return at cocktail hour to try a local wine, beer or espresso martini. 23 Highett Street, Mansfield, +61 3 5779 1703

Ben and Lyn of Blynzz Coffee Roasters are serious about coffee and the labours of their love are evident at their Beechworth cafe. Every green coffee bean is custom roasted to achieve the perfect balance of flavour, aroma, colour and texture. Coffee can be tasted at the brew bar via espresso, cold drip, pour over or siphon brewing. All of the current 19 beans, predominantly from Africa and South America, are freshly roasted and sold whole or ground. Blynzz also offers custom roasting and blending for businesses who wish to create their own signature flavour. 43 Ford St, Beechworth, +61 423 589 962

BEANd is a handcrafted micro coffee roaster, fudge store and café located at the gatway to the nature-lovers playground, Philip Island. Having sourced the best green coffee beans from around the globe, the folk at BEANd then roast them with care to make small batches of coffee daily. The store also offers hungry customers a brunch menu that goes all day, plus home made fudge with a selection to eat in or take away. San Remo +61 407717588

Edmund Schaerf and Elna Schaerf-Trauner bring their fifty years of family tradition and skill to the art of roasting and blending at The Mill Castlemaine – the area’s newest destination for food and artisanal wares. The couple were the first to sign up to the new shared space, opening Das Kaffeehaus moving their successful Coffee Basics small batch roastery into the space and spreading the tempting coffee aromas throughout. 9 Walker Street, Castlemaine, +61 3 5470 6270

Roxburgh House, or ‘The Rox’, boasts its very own coffee brand that is served in house and wholesaled to other businesses. The coffee is brewed to perfection by Roxburgh’s passionate baristas within a bluestone two-storey building and laneway in the stunning Grampians region. Local wines and craft beer are flowing every night to complement their famous Italian style pizza. The cakes and lunches are all made in house with local produce. 64 Thompson Street, Hamilton.

Hello Coffee is a specialty coffee roaster and family-friendly cafe in surf town of Apollo Bay, on the Great Ocean Road. A relaxed vibe to go with a relaxed holiday town and great coffee to drink in house or take away. The cafe serves fresh crumpets, danishes and sweet treats or for something more substantial the smoked and pulled pork roll. A kids area complete with a drawing table, a sit-in car, a book zone keeps all ages entertained. 16 Oak Ave, Apollo Bay, +61 438 443 489

One of the first roasters in the Yarra Valley, Yarra Coffee started at the home of David and Helen Moon. Yarra Coffee now supplies cafes, restaurants and coffee carts throughout Victoria. Using premium Arabic beans from all around the world including organic and fairtrade coffee, roasts are altered to compensate for the many characteristics of each bean. The onsite cafe provides coffee beans, teas and associated hardware, or the baristas can brew up a perfect cup of coffee or tea to enjoy alongside a range of delectable cakes and biscuits. Yarra Coffee & Co Pty Ltd, 182 Main Street, Lilydale, +61 3 97395486