After more than four years of exploring Melbourne’s coffee shops, I’ve become quite familiar with Bench Coffee Co. Having visited almost all their branches (Slater St, Collins St, and St Dreux) – the experiences were always amazing! When I heard about them opening a Roastery last month, I feel like it was just about time. I decided to give it a try – and boy am I glad that I did!
BENCH COFFEE CO.
ROASTERY
ROASTERY
Bench Coffee Co Roastery just opened its doors at the beginning of December 2022. This was my first time ever visiting this place, and from the moment I stepped outside of their door, I knew that this would make for an amazing blog post! Actually, that same thought persisted whenever I visited any of their cafes, but this time, I’m finally committed to writing one.
Location
The visit to Bench Coffee Co Roastery was quite a spontaneous one that day. My friend, Meg texted me around 1:30 PM and asked if I wanted to get coffee, which I accepted without hesitation. After scouring through our coffee shop lists, Bench Roastery seemed to fit all of our criteria (open, fairly new & won’t close anytime soon), thus our trip to Brunswick ensued!
To reach Bench Roastery, we took a two-train journey from the CBD. First, we boarded at Flinders Station and traveled to Southern Cross. From there, we switched trains to Upfield, then got off at Anstey Station. The whole trip was around 30 minutes long. Alternatively, you could also hop aboard Number 19 from Elizabeth St, if you feel like taking a tram ride instead. Either way, both are an effortless trek that will bring you directly near Bench’s doorstep!
Space
As you enter the premise and glance to your left, you’ll be able to spot their enticing transparent pastry kitchen that belongs to Bench’s sister company – Little Cardigan Bakery. Here is where they carry out most of the baking operations and produce delicious bread such as Shokupan, and other delectable pastries that are served in all Bench Coffee cabinets across town.
Tucked next to the kitchen, you’ll discover their coffee bar in all its glory. It is fronted by three expanded communal tables that can conveniently hold up to a maximum of 24 people, with two power plugs in each section. This setup makes it very inviting for students, business people, or digital nomads alike who are looking for an ideal workspace/meeting spot in the area!
If you’re curious about the enclosed space that looked like a container next to the coffee bar (see above picture), that’s where you’ll discover their bathroom-which from what I heard is very lavishly spaced. And lastly, if you move towards the rear of the premise, there is where they roast their coffee beans and possibly stashed them in the storage room right behind it.
Ambiance
A couple of things that I particularly love about visiting a roastery are the industrial nature of it & how expansive the space is- I’m always drawn to them. Especially with Bench, they take this to another level by combining these characters with their simple yet impeccably clean aesthetic – one of the qualities that remains consistent across their brand.
Additionally, another thing that is for certain no matter which Bench Coffee location you visit, is how immaculate their coffee counter’s state. You won’t see milk bottles, tea towels, jugs, or anything unclean on their bench, it is always spotless, and everything is placed neatly in its designated space. This small detail speaks volumes about how seriously they carry out their business, and it’s something that I’ll always applaud them for.
Menu
As we made our way in, we were warmly welcomed by a barista who seemed to be the only one working at the time. I browsed through their menu and immediately noticed an Espresso Tonic – something I had made plenty of from time to time at Gordon, but never enjoyed as a full glass before. With it being sweltering hot outside, and with him recommending it as his favorite drink, I was instantly sold. Meanwhile, Meg opted for the iced filter.
I spied a few pastries on the cabinet and I was hoping to find their famed Dacquoise in there. However, after conversing with the barista, I learned that it is exclusively made for Collin St. Bench- which made me a bit sad as I’d been daydreaming about it the whole trip! Anyways, we decided to not get anything to eat here and plan to have lunch elsewhere after.
Coffee
Both of our coffees were lovely! The espresso tonic was somewhat anything that I was hoping for. Coffee was smooth, it’s sparkly, quite frothy on the top, a little bit sweet & got a tiny kick of bitterness from the quinine. Meg’s iced filter was also light and refreshing, both were a great pairing for our afternoon coffee treat.
Overall, it was an enjoyable afternoon to spend time at Bench Coffee Co. Roastery. I love how big & bright the space is. The fact that they have wi-fi & power plugs also adds huge plus points. The baristas were warm & hospitable (thank you for tasting us a cup of your beautiful brew!), and the coffees were unquestionably good. Oh, they also have sparkling on tap, if you fancy that.
Would recommend visiting Bench Coffee Co whether you’re in St. Kilda road, in the CBD, or in Brunswick! Guarantee to have your coffee & pastry cravings fixed, coffee beans are also up for grabs if you want to top up your coffee shelf at home. Thank you for reading this blog post, and let me know if you have any coffee recommendations for me to go next! I’ll see you on my next one, xo
SUMMARY
- Bench Coffe Co. Roastery Brunswick
- Tuesday – Sunday : 08:00 AM – 04:00 PM
- Closed : Monday
- Type : Coffee Shop | Bakery | Roastery
- Price : $$.
- Coffee : Yes
- Alcohol : No
- Dessert : Pastries
- Indoor Capacity : +-24
- Outdoor Capacity : –
- RSVP : Walk-in Only
- Waiting Time : 5 minutes
- Toilet : Yes
- Wifi : Yes + Power Plugs
