Last weekend, Meg and I went on an hour-long adventure to Manta Ray Coffee Roasters in Nunawading. This is probably the first time that I’ve gone out of my way to visit a coffee shop. It was quite a trek from the CBD, and I don’t think I would do this again anytime soon. But it was definitely an interesting trip to say the least!
Manta Ray
Coffee Roasters
History
I can’t recall when, exactly, I first discovered Manta Ray coffee roasters. It might have been through a post by a fellow barista on Instagram, or because some local coffee shops had their beans on display. Honestly, it could have been both. Regardless, I’ve only heard positive things about the company, and their packaging are also very visually appealing–definitely easy to remember.
If I’m not mistaken, they have been roasting for quite some time now, yet, it is only recently that Manta Ray Coffee Roasters decided to open their roastery to the public and dedicate half the space to establishing a coffee shop. Surprisingly enough, their official website has not gone online yet either. So I wonder how people have been ordering their coffee before this point.
Location | How to get there
As I have previously mentioned, Manta Ray Coffee Roasters is located in Nunawading. The easiest way to get there would be to take an Uber or drive there if you have a car. But if you’re someone who’s heavily relying on public transportation like me, then taking the train is the way to go.
You can take the train from Flinders station, heading towards Lilydale (or Belgrave) and then get off at Mitcham station. From there, you could either catch the 763 bus, or walk for 26 minutes–but keep in mind that buses only come every hour, so you might want to plan your trip accordingly.
Ambiance
When we got to the location, I instantly fell in love with the space. Every inch and corner of this shop just looks sleek, and clean. The aesthetic certainly gives an industrial vibe. Using black furniture and polished concrete floor, it reminds me a little bit of Bench Coffee in the CBD or Lune Croissant in Fitzroy.
I especially like the floating light panel above the bar, also the long wooden table at the back of the shop near the roastery, and the giant piece of rock that merged in the middle of that table–it is such a piece of art. And if you look closely, you can see that the rock reflects a Japanese aesthetic known as wabi-sabi.
Size-wise, Manta Ray Coffee Roasters could possibly be one of; if not the biggest coffee shops I’ve ever been to. It is very spacious, and the space seems to fit more than 50 people comfortably. However, they only got 30 seatings. But again, knowing its location, I feel like 30 seems to be sufficient.
Coffee Equipment
Upon entering Manta Ray Coffee Roasters, I was struck by their impressive coffee setup. My eyes first landed on the LinkBar, which from what I gathered is an automatic milk frother machine similar to UberMilk (its predecessor). Next to it sat the Kees Van Der Westen Slim Jim Triplette- which in my opinion, was the Rolls Royce of espresso machines.
For the espresso grinders, they chose the top-of-the-line Mahlkonig E80s Grind By Weight and the EK 43s. These are both precision machines that will deliver a consistent cup of coffee. I also saw a distribution tool and PuqPress machine tamper on site which helps to ensure each cup is correctly made.
Finally, on the Pour Over side, they went with The Key Grinder & The EG-1 Grinder from Weber Workshops. And concluding the tour of their supreme choices, there was the OTFES O-41 Kassifa Coffee Machine. It’s an automated Pour Over Machine that really turned heads with its intricate design and copper colouring.
Menu | Coffee | Retails
We took a seat at the bar, across from the pour-over machine so that we could watch it in action. Upon seating, we were welcomed and served warmly by Vincent, who happened to be the owner of Manta Ray Coffee Roasters.
We didn’t see any menu just yet, but we already knew what we wanted–and if you haven’t guessed by now–it was their Pour-Over coffee. At the time, there were two different origin options to choose from: Colombia El Diviso Sidra or Kenya. So it was only fair that we both picked one each, although we shared them in the end anyways.
Apart from serving pour-over coffees, they serve your regular espresso-based coffees using their own Manta Ray Coffee blend, as well as a diverse array of teas by Tea Drop. And if you’re looking for something sweet to go along with your drink, they have tart and sliced bars in the glass cabinet
Lastly, you can purchase their coffee beans at the retail counter. You’ll also find tea boxes and equipment for making coffee at home like a french press, Aeropress, hand grinder, or origami dripper. They have all the accessories you need too; like a carafe, portafilter, coffee basket, or ceramic cups. And if you’re looking for something sustainable AND stylish – they’ve got reusable coffee cups!
Reviews
The coffees were incredible, especially the Colombia El Diviso Sidra. It was roasted beautifully and brewed nicely. You can smell and taste that burst of floral and fruitiness in the cup. The Kenya coffee was also terrific; it was more subdued but had a lovely balance of sweetness and tartness.
Meg also tried their flat white but wasn’t as impressed by it compared to the pour-over coffee she had gotten earlier. Additionally, according to her, it was also unfortunate that they only had two choices for the pour-over since she anticipated more variety. Whereas for me, the only downside is probably just the location. All in all, though, I loved it here and would love to return!
Overall, if you can spare the time, and especially if you’re driving, I would definitely recommend that you visit Manta Ray Coffee Roasters in Nunawading. It would be a fun little getaway from the city, and the coffees are amazing so it would be worth the travel!
Thank you so much for reading today’s post. Leave me a comment down below if you have been to Manta Ray Coffee Roasters, and would love to share your opinion with me. I appreciate all of your support so much! I’ll see you in my next one! xo
Summary
- Manta Ray Coffee Roasters
- Mon – Fri : 07:00 AM – 03:00 PM
- Sat – Sun : 08:00 AM – 03:00 PM
- Type : Coffee Shop | Roasters
- Price : $
- Coffee : Yes
- Food : No
- Alcohol : No
- Dessert : Tarts & Bar Slices
- Indoor Capacity : +-30
- Outdoor Capacity : –
- RSVP : Walk-in Only
- Waiting Time : 5 minutes
- Toilet : Yes
- Wifi : Not sure
