For the world’s best cup of coffee, head to gourmet hotspot Melbourne
Melbourne is not only Australia’s hippest city and host of a Formula 1 race. It’s also the place to go for the ultimate caffeine hit, as we discovered on a Porsche Travel Experience
For Melburnians, the black drink represents a philosophy of lifeIn Melbourne, more than 2,000 cafés and some of the world’s best baristas cater to pampered palates. Before the start of the Porsche Travel Experience Australia, it was only right that we took a short detour downtown on a hunt for the best beans not just in the city but perhaps even the world.Most coffee blends are roasted in Melbourne by local baristasCold drip, short black, long macchiato, flat white, affogato, aero-pressed, batch brew or deconstructed – we look at the board above the shiny stainless steel machines and feel overwhelmed with the choice of coffee available. There are countless combinations of different preparation methods, filter options and milk variations for the coffee drinker. On top of that, there’s a choice of coffee beans that rival anywhere else on the planet.Deconstructed coffee: you determine the mixing ratio and the intensityMelbourne’s coffee roasters appreciate seasonal harvests and discovering the latest brewing methods. Most blends make use of 100 per cent arabica, which are locally roasted and prepared with varying degrees of heat and treatment processes by the local baristas, who are treated rather like celebrity chefs down here. These coffee professionals compete to make the best espresso of their own creation. The supreme art of coffee brewingWe’re standing at the counter of Seven Seeds, between coffee bushes, bicycles and rainwater tanks, with Mark Dundon, one of the visionaries of the coffee scene. His coffee shop, which is located next to the University of Melbourne, is beautiful. It’s even won a coveted sustainability design award. Mark imports the beans from the world’s best growing areas, and they’re always of pure grade and only from selected plantations. He calls it excellent micro-batch coffee. Coffee beans are as sacred here as wine is in Italy or France.Each café has its own understanding of the art of brewing coffee. We learn that it’s all about the perfect brewing technique and the correct ratio of coffee to water. No wonder that some cafés feel akin to laboratories. The background noise is one of gurgling, hissing and dripping. “The coffee must taste harmonious and never be too bitter in flavour,” says Mark. It’s easy to appreciate why Melburnians seek out their favourite baristas and stay relaxed even during long waits.
Our geographically-isolated location has fostered this independent DIY coffee culture
Looking for more charming coffee spots?
Book your Travel Experience Tuscany
Continue reading
How to become a better race driver with individual training courses from Porsche
Once you’ve developed a passion for hot laps on cold ice, what’s next? For experienced amateur race driver Katarina Kyvalova it meant embarking on an individual training session with a Porsche Ice Experience instructor
Read more
Where is the Porsche Museum?
Travel through time and discover the history of Porsche at its Stuttgart museum, via its unique collection of legendary sportscars, racecars and prototypes
Read more
Driving on Grand Prix circuits with the Porsche Track Experience
Experience the thrill of the world’s greatest tracks with the Porsche Track Experience from behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 RS or 718 Cayman GT4 RS – painted Grand Prix White, of course.
Read more