Melbourne might be deemed by many as the coffee capital of the world, but what you might not know is the espresso culture in Ballarat dates back just as far as our metropolitan neighbours (and tastes just as good).

In fact, Ballarat is home to one of Australia’s original coffee palaces – established at the height of the temperance movement during the gold rush, coffee palaces were intended to be pubs that sold coffee rather than alcohol.
Coffee has been served in Ballarat ever since, and like a fine wine, it’s only getting better over time.

Today, Ballarat is home to talented coffee roasters, baristas and dairy farmers, who together, are the winning trifecta when it comes to a good cup of coffee.

So, where do you find this liquid gold you might ask? We’ve got all the insight you need to find yourself the perfect cuppa.

It all starts with good coffee beans. Serving up Melbourne-made blends and locally roasted beans, it’s not difficult to locate a café with Sensory Lab, Dukes, Seven Seeds, Padra, ST. Ali or Ballarat’s own Hellbilly Roasting or Karon Farm Coffee on the shelves.

Then there’s the milk. You can perfect the bean, and the pour, but we all know it’s the quality of the milk that can make the difference between a good and a great cup.
The good news is that you’re in luck, because the local family behind Inglenook Dairy – who have been producing their delicious milky drop since the early 1900’s – have found the secret to great tasting milk (and it’s served at more than half of the city’s cafes and restaurants).

Find a talented barista who knows their way around a coffee machine and you’ve struck gold.

To help you on your search, we’ve listed some of our favourite places to get a coffee fix in Ballarat.

• 1816 Bakehouse (Hellbilly Roasting)
• Campana’s (Coffee Mio)
• Cobb’s Coffee (Rumble Coffee)
• Common Ground (Allpress Espresso)
• Clothesline Cafe (Code Black Coffee)
• Drive Cafe (Dukes)
• Fika Coffee Brewers (ST Ali)
• The Green House Ballarat (Allpress Espresso)
• Higher Society (Five Senses)
• Husker Du (Matin St Coffee Roasters)
• Hydrant Food Hall (Seven Seeds)
• Johnny Alloo (St Ali and Proud Mary)
• Restaurant Lola (St Ali)
• Lilly’s Ballarat (Padre)
• Tin Roof Ballarat (Code Black Coffee)
• Webster’s Market and Cafe (Industry Beans)
• Yellow Espresso (Axil Coffee)