96 Cafe & Eatery — Restaurant in Melbourne

After lunch we headed to 96 Cafe for coffee and were seated at a table directly opposite the coffee machine. Two of us ordered flat whites but after the first sip, we were both extremely disappointed. When the barista who was also seems like the owner and he approached our table, I told him that the coffee tasted like milk without any coffee flavor. He didn't respond and simply walked back to the coffee machine. Moments later, he returned with a glass of coffee, topping up half a shot for each of us and asked how it was. I told him it wasn’t much better. Curiously I started observing how he made the coffee since we had a clear view of the coffee machine from our seat with his back towards us. I was shocked when I saw him scoop three tablespoons of used wet coffee grounds into a black pitcher, add some hot water and let it soak behind the coffee machine which is near to the sink. He then wiped the milk frother on the machine, heated it up, poured the coffee mixture through a sieve into a mug and served it to a customer. Such unethical practices are appalling, especially in Melbourne, where cafes are renowned for their high standards. This kind of behavior not only reflects poorly on the individual unethical practices but also risks tarnishing Melbourne’s famous coffee culture, which prides itself on quality...

It’s a shame that the business cannot obey what their menu says! On their menu apparently says coffee combo including ALMOND CROSSIANT / CHOC. CROSSIANT with ANY hot coffee of your choice for $9.6. However, the staff insisted arguing that was$11. Also I asked him if the coffee combos can be with any hot coffee, he answered Yes, but when I tried to order matcha latte, he said NO! The more made us unhappy was that when I asked if senior card can be used, but he answered no Sunday , only for weekdays. However, on the menu apparently it says senior discount available All Week! We don’t want to argue with him to ruin our Sunday and the others were waiting, so still paid the above combos with a receipt. Plenty local cafes around we’ve been to and never seen a cafe can be so terribly ignored the menu. Your service absolutely doesn’t match with your menu. Come on, you can just throw it away and if you cannot afford it, you shouldn’t put it...

I used to enjoy coffee at Nuts About Coffee. Today, I noticed an in-store advertisement mentioning that 96 Cafe is their sister store, so I decided to try their brunch. The restaurant is located on the same street, featuring a unique and tasteful design that blends Asian elements with a modern touch. It’s also accommodating for children and pets. I noticed a large panda on the roof as I was leaving—quite amusing. The dishes were delicious, fresh, and photogenic. Although it was a bit busy during lunch, leading to longer wait times, the owner promptly addressed this by offering us complimentary desserts. The total for three people was under 90 AUD, which is quite reasonable given Melbourne’s rising prices. I’ll definitely bring friends next time and hope they maintain their high standards. A final note: the photo-printed coffee is a unique feature, but drinking my own face...