Brother Alec 4.32

One of the first coffee-focussed upstarts to venture north of Separation Street, Brother Alec is exactly what you wouldn't expect from a northside cafe on the hipster-heavy 86 tram line. As cool as Brother Alec may be, owners Jessica Moussi & Malia Sloman have made sure pretentious and unwelcoming it ain't. You're just as likely to see mums and colourful locals getting their daily coffee as you are coolkids on fixies hitting up the Lebanese and American inspired breakfast dishes, and all are welcomed with the same earnest enthusiasm.

That said, good service isn't much without great coffee and both are king here. Brother Alec use a fair-trade organic blend from Espresso Syndicate - a local micro-roaster - and the beans are extracted through a La Marzacco machine to deliver rich, nutty espressos and mellow tasting, picture-perfect lattes that still get you blazing. With Brunswick native, co-owner & head barista Jessica Moussi at the helm, you're in safe hands - she's been making coffee for years and consistently brings the rukus (if by rukus you mean well-crafted espresso coffee).