In Melbourne, the only sound more iconic than the ding ding ding of a tram is the hiss of steam and the clatter of cups on Degraves Street.
Today, it’s the go-to spot to bring out-of-town friends for a coffee or a glass of wine — the quintessential Melbourne laneway. But back in 1851, it was home to the steam-powered flour mill of its namesake, William Degraves.
Fast forward 175 years, and it’s swapped sacks of grain for single-origin beans, latte art, and world-class people-watching — all in the shade of café umbrellas and the imposing majesty of the Majorca Building.
Melbourne’s love affair with coffee began brewing in the 1880s with the rise of “coffee palaces” — grand booze-free establishments championed by the temperance movement. After WWII, Italian migrants brought over espresso machines, turning Melbourne into a city of espresso bars and coffee lounges. By the ’60s, we were fully addicted. Tea took a backseat as coffee became king.
