Welcome to our shiny new series, Budget Ballin’—a curated collection of Melbourne’s best eats and drinks that will have you living the good life without the hefty price tag. We’ll be covering all bases from midweek bites and fancy chef menus to call-in-sick-worthy happy hours.
First up, we're taking on Melbourne’s rich and diverse coffee scene. While our culture grew around the beloved caffeinated beverage, so too did the price tag. Many punters ditched their local brews for the dollar cups at 7-Eleven, traded in their iced oat lattes for espresso, or invested in a swanky Breville for home just so they didn’t have to forgo their daily caffeine hit.
As cozzie livs rages on, we’ve found the best spots in and around Melbourne that are dropping the primo price on quality brews.
Mile End Bagels
Rear/694 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn
115 Burnley Street, Richmond
Image credit: Mile End Bagels | Supplied
Having reached institute status for their NYC-inspired, wood-fired bagels, Mile End is also pouring some of the cheapest coffee in town. Any sized cup is going for just $3 from 7:30am to 9am every weekday. Iced or cold, with any milk you’d like. It used to be a thing at the Hawthorn site only, but the outpost in Richmond recently jumped aboard the chump change coffee train.
Tram Cafe
555 La Trobe Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: William Angliss Institute | Supplied
Dispensing brews out of a completely transformed retired W-class Melbourne tram, this cafe doubles as a training facility—upskilling the next generation of legendary baristas coming out of William Angliss Institute. Which means for you, coffee is only a sweet $3.60 for a small, available anytime Tram Cafe is open on weekdays from 8am to 3pm.
Otherside Coffee
555 La Trobe Street, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Otherside Coffee | Instagram
Otherside Coffee was one of the first cafes in recent cozzie liv times to take a stance against staunch coffee prices. Smalls are just $3.40 a pop and large are $3.80 with no added cost for extra shots or alternative milk. Bonus points for the plethora of locations across the city: North Melbourne, South Yarra, and three in the CBD.
Heart Of Carlton
189 Elgin Street, Carlton
Image credit: Heart Of Carlton | Instagram
In Carlton, there’s a tiny but mighty cafe called Heart Of Carlton. Life partners Nadeeen and Michael run the Elgin Street spot, following a “1970 prices” ethos for the entire offering. It makes coffee only $4 a pop, plus a tight range of fresh baguettes, homemade pasta, and sweet delights don't exceed the $5 mark. Go get it Monday to Saturday from 6am.
If video is more your thing:
LaManna
10 English Street, Essendon Fields
Image credit: LaManna Essendon Fields | Website
Family-owned greengrocer and delicatessen LaManna does it all. Offering an impeccable range of fresh fruit and veg for your weekly shop, and serving up some of Melbourne’s best sangas from their gourmet panini bar. They also happen to have some of the cheapest coffee in Melbourne. Take their regular-sized coffees for example—one perfectly dialed in bad boy will only put you out $3.80.
Dukes Coffee Roasters
247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne CBD
Image credit: Dukes Coffee Roasters | Instagram
Stepping outside of the milky latte game for this cheap brew, Dukes Coffee Roasters is doing filter coffee for just $4 a cup. Usually they have five organic blends to choose from, all roasted in-house at their slick roastery in Richmond. If you’re feeling out of your depth but keen to down some filter, the team really knows their stuff, so don’t be shy to ask them what’s hot.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
We know coffee comes in all shapes and sizes—it’s not just the soy caps and three-quarter filled lattes. So for slightly outside the usual, here are a couple more spots that score an honorable mention in our cheap brew guide:
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Romanello: Newcomer Romanello on Therry Street—known for their Italian eats—is leaning into that la dolce vita with $2 espresso.
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iKon: Korean convenience store is best known for its DIY ramen bar, K-snacks, and viral drink pouches, but iKon is also pumping out buzzy brews from an automated machine with cups starting at $2. Go get it in Hawthorn and the recently opened CBD digs.
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Image credit: Dukes Coffee | Instagram
Welcome to our shiny new series, Budget Ballin’—a curated collection of Melbourne’s best eats and drinks that will have you living the good life without a crazy price tag.