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Can you guess which was the first chain of coffee houses to hit Melbourne? Perhaps the 1990’s arrival of the Seattle chain of Starbuck café’s? As a world weary traveler I will always have a soft spot for the comforting oasis that these modern coffee palaces offer. However the honor of the first coffee house chain in Melbourne belongs to the long forgotten “Gibbys”. Opening in Howey Place, Collins Street back in 1923, this chain of 10 coffee houses was a big hit with visiting US servicemen in the 1940’s and was a part of Melbourne coffee culture until the late 1960’s.<> It is this fascinating look at Melbourne’s history via its love of coffee that Maria Paoli brings to life on her walking tours that weave through the streets, arcades and café’s on the “Melbourne Historical Coffee Trek”.<> Our tour fittingly starts at the Grand Windsor Hotel. The Windsor, known during the 1880’s as the “Grand Coffee Palace” was one of 23 Coffee Palaces that graced our city during the Temperance era. Another icon from this era, the long gone”Federal Coffee Palace” on King Street is now honored and remembered in the new “Federation Coffee Palace” situated on the Bourke Street mall.<> But before we arrive at this modern coffee palace to sample their signature coffee, our walking tour stops briefly at the “Society Café” in Bourke Street. Home of the “Spaghetti Mafia”, and a meeting point for the pre WWII Italian immigrant community, the coffee cups at the “Society Café” were occasionally employed to serve an after hour glass of wine. As we head towards our first coffee stop on the tour, we stroll past the famous Florentines restaurant. Home to the city’s first Espresso Machine in 1901, it proved to be as big a drawcard as fine dining on offer.<> Our lesson in coffee history gives way to coffee appreciation as our small group enters the Pelligrini Espresso Bar. Opened by the Pelligrini brothers, Vildo and Leon in 1954, the café started in the shopfront of a tailor business that operated in the rear. Without a kitchen for the first 2 years, the café still managed to offer a full menu , transporting the meals daily from their family home in Clifton Hill. Having one of the first imported Gaggia machines in Melbourne, Pelligrini’s serves fittingly as our classroom to learn the art of a good coffee extraction. Looking for a creamier that bounces back after spooning to the side and a deep golden color to the coffee extraction below, we learn the art of noisily sucking and spraying the extraction across our tongues to experience the full body flavour of the coffee.<> As we head to our next coffee stop, we learn from our guide Maria that Melbourne ’s numerous arcades has proved a strong breeding ground for café’s and coffee bars. While not all have expert Barista’s to produce a great coffee, Maria is generous in providing her group with a long list of coffee gems scattered throughout the city. While everyone scrambles for pen and paper to note Maria’s recommendations for a good Café Latte , a few coffee myths are dispelled. The best coffee makers in the world according to the last world champions were not the Italians, but the Danish! The Japanese came in second and our neighbours across the Tasman came in at number 4.<> With the enjoyment of a good coffee heightened by a sweet accompaniment, we hit Brunetti’s in Swanston street for coffee and pastries. Having been a fixture in Carlton since Pierro Brunetti’s arrival with the Italian Olympic team in 1956, the new café , opening in 2005, entices diners with its window displays of delectable pastries.<> With one last café stop at the “Federal Coffee Palace”, the arched verandah alongside the historic GPO building affords the opportunity to taste their signature coffee, the Moccha Macchiatone. As picturesque as it is delicious, this is a layered coffee of espresso, chocolate, milk and milky froth.<> Coffee and chocolate have always shared a close relationship in Melbourne’s coffee history. Griffiths Cocoa, opening in 1879, was one Australia’s oldest suppliers and roasters of coffee beans while from their Richmond factory, produced mouthwatering chocolate!. To finish off this fascinating and enthralling tour of the city, we finish with a short tram ride to Carlton where we stroll past the University Café that proudly displays the first imported Gaggia machine before heading to a well earned lunch at Di Mattina’s. One last coffee with lunch? Why not!<>

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