Today is International Coffee Day and Melbourne is the coffee capital of Australia. In addition, Melbourne is the third most vegan-friendly city in the world. So, when it comes to vegan coffee you can expect a plethora of choices here. Not only vegan coffee, but you can locate a range of chai, hot chocolates, turmeric lattes as well as a long list of plant-based milks.
On International Coffee Day, where can you source the best vegan coffee in Melbourne without compromising on quality and taste? What should you look out for? Here are some helpful tips so you can discover the best vegan coffee in Melbourne today and the rest of the week.
Are coffee beans vegan?
Well, that depends on the supplier. You want to ensure that your local café is using vegan coffee beans that are eco-friendly and sustainable. Coffee beans are naturally vegan, but a vegan coffee producer should be producing their coffee beans with the welfare of native animals in mind.
Is habitat being protected or depleted for crops? Is the coffee producer implementing sustainable practices and ethically employing local workers? Are animals used in the process? How far did the coffee beans have to travel before they arrive in your cup? Your local vegan coffee barista should be able to provide you with the coffee bean brand they use so you can look them up and conduct your own research. I know my local café, Soulpod Foods, uses Melba Coffee & Tea. Melba is a local supplier in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne that’s fair trade certified, and rainforest alliance certified.
Now, it’s time to choose your plant-based milk
There’s an abundance of plant-based milks on the market now. As well as soy, there’s rice milk, oat milk, almond milk, pea-protein milk, macadamia milk…There are so many choices! It’s best to choose milk that’s creamy by nature. Soy milk or oat milk is best but a creamier version of almond milk will help if you have an allergy to soy or oats. If you choose soy milk, but if you have a gluten allergy or coeliac disease, you need to ensure the soy milk doesn’t have barley added to it. Soy has always been my go-to, but why not try something different each time? That way, you can determine your preference.
It all comes down to the grinding and packing…
When your local barista makes your coffee, he or she should be grinding the coffee and packing it firmly, but not too tightly. A firm pack ensures the steamed water passes through the ground coffee without creating a bitter taste. If your coffee smells or tastes bitter, it means that the coffee is burnt.
Once your coffee is ground and dripped, there should be a creamy ‘crema’ on top. If you order a latte for example, the steamed milk is added and you can see about a one-centimetre layer of crema rise to the top. A decent (un-burnt) layer of crema like this ensures you’ll have a tasty coffee experience.
Avoid ordering your milk ‘extra hot’
During my travels, I’ve noticed that many customers order their milk ‘extra hot’. More often than not, people ask for this because they want their coffee to arrive to the table hot. Sometimes, a busy café will let their coffees sit and wait at the bar for the next wait staff to run it. However, extra hot milk alters the taste of the coffee and you even run the risk of receiving burnt milk, too. Avoid ordering extra hot milk and chat to the business about their staffing arrangement instead. Alternatively, try ordering your coffee early in the ordering process or visit your local café outside peak times.
Enjoy your vegan coffee indoors or take it away in an eco-friendly cup
According to the University of Melbourne, it’s estimated that Australians use 1 billion disposable coffee cups each year. That’s an astonishing amount of waste! If you have the time, and you want to reduce your impact, choose to enjoy your vegan coffee at the café by sitting down. You’ll save on waste and you’ll spend some time to rest and relax in the process.
Even better, you can invest in a reusable cup. Some cafes will even give you a discount on the cost of your vegan coffee if you bring your own cup. There are many brands on the market so it’s best to find a brand that’s made from eco-friendly fibres. If you forget your reusable cup, then keep the cup in the car so it’s ready for your next order. You might also want to encourage your café to use compostable cups with recyclable lids for those customers who don’t own a reusable cup. The café might be willing to give you their coffee ground waste for your compost bin, too. It doesn’t hurt to ask.
Some of the best places in Melbourne to enjoy good vegan coffee
There are so many places in Melbourne so it may feel daunting to find a spot for great vegan coffee. To help you on your journey, here are some of my favourites plus some of their other signature hot beverages. Not all places are strictly vegan, but still offer vegan options. For more spots, you can check out the Fire & Tea Aussie vegan directory.
- Nevedya for coffee, masala chai and mushroom cacao elixir
- One For The Crow for coffee
- Power Plant Café for coffee and turmeric latte
- Smith & Deli for coffee, flavoured hot chocolate, mocha and chai latte
- Soulpod Foods for coffee, and flavoured latte and chai
- Two Cats Espresso for coffee, matcha and golden latte
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