Small Batch Roasting Co. — Restaurant in Melbourne

Small Batch Roasting Co greets you with the comforting scent of freshly ground beans the moment you step off the footpath. Inside, sunlight bounces off polished concrete floors and onto rows of hessian coffee sacks stacked beside the gleaming roaster. The space feels equal parts working roastery and neighbourhood hangout, with long communal tables up front and a quieter nook tucked near the retail shelves for anyone needing laptop time.

Coffee is the clear headline. The house Espresso Blend lands rich and chocolaty, balanced by a citrus lift that comes through neatly in a flat white. Single origins rotate every few days; baristas are quick to explain tasting notes without slipping into lecture mode, and they pour filter flights if you want to compare origins side by side. Alternative milks sit ready on the bench and are textured with the same care as dairy, while a seasonal cold brew taps from a sleek chrome tower during warmer months.

The small food menu punches above its weight. A Reuben toastie comes layered with brisket that melts into the rye, and the miso butter banana bread hits the perfect point between sweet and savoury. Pastries arrive daily from a local bakery and vanish by late morning, so early birds reap the reward. Service strikes a confident but unfussy note; staff greet regulars by name and newcomers with equal warmth, keep water jugs topped without prompting, and happily grind takeaway beans to your preferred method.

Ambient music sits at conversation level, free Wi-Fi holds steady, and a row of power points along the wall makes lingering easy. For those on the run, grab-and-go cups move swiftly through a separate queue. With meticulous coffee, thoughtful food and a relaxed vibe that invites both quick pit stops and slow Saturday mornings, Small Batch continues to set the bar for Melbourne’s...

Tucked away in a North Melbourne laneway you’ll find Melbourne’s original specialty coffee roasters, wholesalers and take-away patisserie, Small Batch Roasting Co. They also sell sandwiches, beer, wine and various pantry goods – most of which are house-made. Andrew Kelly, the original man behind Auction Rooms Cafe focuses on ethical and sustainable practices in all aspects of his business, including how the coffee beans are sourced. I’m not a coffee drinker so I came for their incredible pastries, making them my favourite pastries in Melbourne.

Let me cut to the chase – these pastries were perfect. The flaky layers were delicate but buttery, the flavours were present but not too over-bearing, the sweet options were not too sweet but enough to satisfy your sugar cravings. The Tiramisu gets a special mention because I didn’t think I could love my favourite dessert more than I already do, and I’m proven otherwise. Incredible!!!

Everything evidently looked and tasted fresh, there was a fresh crispness to everything – no stale pastries found here. Quality is up there and you absolutely get what you pay for.

There’s nothing on their (current) menu that looks nor sounds disappointing. If my experience is anything to go by, you could blindly choose a pastry and it wouldn’t disappoint. They’ve definitely placed themselves as my favourite pastries in Melbourne, the variety and quality is like no other. This may have been my first visit but it definitely...

☕️🥐I tend to go for savoury pastries more than sweet, Small Batch is possibly the best pastry place (coffee too!) in Melb imo, and my go to for classic flavours with their own spin on it.

My favourite this time was the mortadella & creamy stracciatella (croissant + stretched curd cheese = ultimate combo). Make sure to get in early – you'll never find a good croissant in the afternoon.

🫒𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 ($8.5)- sweet & tangy pickled friggitello peppers 🧅𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐮 𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐭 ($8)• house made sauerkraut and Pyengana cheddar enveloped with caramelised cipollini onions & mustard 🧀𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢 & 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭 ($7)• the house-fermented chilli was not strong, more of a plain cheesy twist with the raclette and gruyere ☕️𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐮 ($8)• delicious!! house made savoiardi biscuit drenched in Ethiopoan single origin espresso & rich zabaglione topped with shavings of Small Batch choc cacao nibs 🍫𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐮 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐜 ($6.5)• aromatic wattleseed folded throughout the crisp croissant with two decadent Small Batch roasted single origin...