Melbourne Coffee Roasters

Explore the origins of Melbourne's coffee culture through this meticulously researched history.

Melbourne, Australia is internationally recognised as one of the world's coffee cities. With iconic cafes such as Pellegrini's and Brunetti's, and the highest number of traditional and specialty coffee roasters in the country, it's easy to understand why.

Melbourne Coffee Roasters: A History reveals the origins of a coffee-drinking city. From early colonial settlement to the post-war boom of Italian, Greek and Jewish immigrants, author Dominic Pellegrino reveals the changes brought about, both by these immigrants and because of them, in the way this city roasted, bought, sold, distributed, and drank coffee.

The book tells the stories of Melbourne's post-WWII founding roasters - their triumphs, struggles, trials and errors - as told by the roasters themselves. Managers, founders, roasters and staff from iconic brands such as Vittoria, Mocopan, Genovese and others have informed the author's research, bringing unique perspectives to the history of coffee in Australia - particularly traditional, espresso-style coffee, as drunk traditionally by Italians.

At its core, this is the story of migration, when, at each juncture - before the wars, during and after - immigration was the catalyst that changed Australia forever.