Six Points Cafe & Bar — Restaurant in Melbourne

The Coffee Cupboard, just down from Moonee Ponds Junction, is the best little coffee shop ever. Ironically I didn't walk in to drink coffee at all. I'd been running around doing paperwork that day and had hardly eaten. (Never leave it to the very last day to accept a place in a highly regarded out-of-zone high school.) It was after one o'clock and I just needed something to eat before I either fainted or caught the wrong bus and ended up in Digger's Rest by mistake.

The barista was happy to make me an off-the menu snack and charged me less for it which was nice. I ordered coffee too. Their social media pages show the usual pretty photos of rosettes, hearts and swans suspended in coffee froth. It's a nice touch but let's face it: any Melbourne barista worth their salt can do that (though I'm sure it would be highly impressive in Adelaide). What they can't put on their FB page is what matters: the taste and texture. The wall behind the counter boasts a flow chart illustrating the 17 different ways to make coffee. Ahem... yep, sure I knew that. One also needs to select either straight coffee or choose from two or three different blends currently on offer. The baristas make it easy to choose though: they know their stuff. When they speak of coffee it sounds like they are discussing a fine wine or artisan cheese.

Another coffee connoisseur (I didn’t used to be one before I walked onto that café) a young lady, was choosing between the two current options: Raspberry Candy or Hit Man. "I think I'd prefer the Raspberry Candy." Then her eyes beamed as if she had just recognised a long-forgotten acquaintance. "Oh yes, I DID try the Hit Man before." Then she and Tim discuss the coffee like two Star Wars nerds enthusing over the latest movie release.

Now before you say "Raspberry candy???" like you are describing a five year old's party bag, I must say it really does work. The name is an apt label for the blend rather than an ingredients list. It has a delicious flavour: not sweet at all. Few cafés could pull this off. I was hooked.

All the customers were regulars great coffee fans. Tim knew everyone, their preferences and and how often they come there. "See you next week!" "How was the coffee? I made a slight change in the blend since last time, did you notice?" (He hadn't.) "It's a strong skinny for you?" (I imagine a sports cyclist's physic.)

These were all local people who seemed to live or work on the area.

The only thing that stopped me thinking I was an engineer from the League of Gentleman's "local shop for local people" was that I had already joined the cult myself. This was no ordinary coffee.

Their beans are roasted by Owa, a Canberra based company that uses "direct trade". They have built up relationships with the farmers to produce a higher quality of bean and it shows. They say that the farmers also do better than with fair trade but I'm no expert. It gets the ethics tick anyway, and that's what matters to me.

Bar tables over-look the street and a walkway. They have bar stools and in my current state I could can imagine falling off before I had something to eat. "Are you okay ma'am?" Better avoid embarrassment and sit at one of the two tables in the tiny café instead. (It's not called the coffee cupboard for nothing.) This may seem weird but I really liked the height of the chairs. Lanky bean-stalk types would not believe how many chairs are a tad too tall for the average woman or short man. For once I could actually sit with my feet flat on the floor. Amazing stories. A bookcase holds a range of reading material and my table even had a ball-puzzle maze and some other contraption I could not quite identify.

If you enjoy an average cup of coffee and want to continue to do so, then avoid The Coffee Cupboard at all costs!

I reckon catching two busses to high school might to too much for my child next year. I’ll just have to catch the first bus with him to Moonee Ponds junction every morning. ;) Such sacrifices...

This place is definitely a hidden gem. It’s quite unassuming from the outside but once inside it’s a warm and inviting space with some really cool wall art on display.

The staff are some of the friendliest I’ve come across and service was efficient too. The menu has lots of great options with a Brazilian influence so you’ll find creative twists on the classics along with some more unique dishes you won’t find elsewhere. The house made sourdough muffins are excellent, and the pao de queijo were the best I’ve ever had.

Overall the food was delicious and portions were generous. Coffee was also good and they’re licensed if you’re looking for something a little stronger. This is one place I’ll definitely be...

Very friendly and helpful staff!

I had a quick lunch here with my baby. As soon as I arrived at the entrance, a staff member (perhaps the manager?) came over to help carry my pram up the two steps.

I ordered a coffee and eggs on toast, asking for one egg poached as usual and the other boiled hard for my baby. Both he and the chef kindly accommodated my request. Without me even asking, they also prepared cutlery for my baby and served the meal already divided onto two plates—one for me and one for my baby. The English muffin they kindly offered instead of toast was delicious too!

The staff were friendly and attentive throughout my visit, and their excellent customer service really...