I recently heard of a new coffee shop that just opened up in Collingwood called 5000 Miles ULA. Its name surely is unique, which got me quite curious and led me to do some ‘stalking’ on their Instagram account. Unfortunately, their page didn’t reveal much other than their address, opening hours and one photo – but what stuck out to me were the three accounts they follow: Path, Calere & MantaRay; all of which are easily some of my top coffee spots here in Melbourne!
5000 Miles ULA Collingwood
Armed with that bit of information and a glimmer of hope, I journeyed to ULA during the last week of December. Initially, my plan was to shop at Bunnings and IKEA; however, much to my surprise, ULA was conveniently located along the way. And to top it off, they happened to be open over the holidays too – what a luck!
Location
To get there, we hopped on to the tram (either no 12 or 109) from the CBD and got off at Wellington St/Victoria Pde. From there, it was a quick 4 minutes stroll away. If you’re having trouble locating 5000 Miles Ula on Google Maps, don’t fret – since they’re relatively new, it seems like it is yet to be registered. Instead, simply type in their address on the search bar and it will take you to the Yorkshire Brewery Tower; which is precisely where they are located!
Ambiance
The moment I stepped into ULA, it immediately felt like home! The building had an old-fashioned townhouse vibe with its industrial design and brick walls. There were high ceilings with expansive windows that let in lots of natural light, complemented by the earthy tones mixed with matte black interiors – this was definitely my place to be.
Although we arrived when the shop was practically empty, shortly after sitting down the atmosphere started to buzz! Fortunately, I managed to take some photos for the blog, so I hope you enjoy them all.
We were greeted by the only two people working at the time, presumably must have been the owners of ULA. Unfortunately, as usual, I was too busy taking photos and videos for my social media channels that I yet again failed to actually make meaningful connections or in depth-conversations with them. But despite this oversight on my part, they were incredibly hospitable as well as doing their best to ensure everyone felt taken care of. All those who visited appeared very chilled and contented just being present. This place is undoubtedly a hidden gem.
Menu
Gazing upon ULA’s menu revealed that they are not only offering specialty coffee on the black or pour-over coffees, but they also used single origin for their milk based drinks. Which explains why their pricing is on the higher end. However, rest assured you’ll get what you pay for here; after all these days getting a cup of coffee can be considered an indulgence.
Along with specialty coffee, ULA served single origin teas on the brew bar too. At the time of my visit, they exclusively sourced their teas from the Wuyi Mountains of China; two black and two oolong.While I’m more of a coffee person myself, those who prefer tea will undoubtedly appreciate that these premium teas are available to be brewed in the shop.
We opted for two pour-over coffees, both roasted by MantaRay. The first being Kenya Thiririka AA and the second one – special off of the menu – came from Yunnan province in China. We had never tasted coffee from this particular region before and listening to the owner’s description about it, we just couldn’t wait to try!
Coffee
Both of our coffees were fantastic, especially the one from Yunnan, we were both absolutely blown away! The pink honey peach notes was so remarkable it didn’t feel like drinking coffee at all! Billy was so impressed, he couldn’t help but get us a bag to continue enjoying this beans from home.
Apparently, the coffee industry in Yunnan, China has seen a surge of growth the past decade. It is currently the second largest producer in the nation, with over 40% of all Chinese coffees originating from this province alone! The highlands of the province make the perfect location for growing specialty coffee, with the main production area being in the city of Pu’er. It’s estimated that more than 85% of China’s coffee will have been sourced from Yunnan!
Overall, our visit to 5000 Miles ULA was a great experience. From the moment we stepped inside, the atmosphere, and most importantly – the coffee, everything was divine! Especially their single origin coffees from Yunnan that left us speechless. If you’re ever in Melbourne looking for an amazing cup of coffee, ULA is definitely worth checking out!
Summary
- 5000 Miles ULA
- So Far 07:30 AM – 03:30 PM
- Type : Coffee & Tea Shop
- Price : $$
- Coffee : Yes
- Alcohol : No
- Dessert : Not Yet?
- Indoor Capacity : +-10
- Outdoor Capacity : +-10
- RSVP : Walk-in Only
- Waiting Time : 5-10 minutes
- Toilet : Not sure
- Wifi : Not sure
