Cafe Review: St. Ali

Location: 12/18 Yarra Pl, South Melbourne
Phone: 03 9686 2990
Link: stali.com.au
Overall Impression: 9/10

J has become quite the coffee enthusiast of late. We find ourselves walking through the most obscure alley ways for coffee. St Ali is J's favourite place for a caffeine hit and it needs no introduction. One of the most distinguished Melbourne institutions for quality coffee, St Ali is a gem. Single origin, house blend, short, long, even siphoned – you are certainly spoiled for choice.

St Ali’s house blend is ultimately my favourite. Subtle without losing its delicate characteristics, it is well-balanced and certainly pleasurable. J and I enjoy it the most in the form of a short macchiato.

Siphon Coffee has been gaining quite a cult following lately. Fashionable back in the 1950s, its popularity has experienced stark ups and downs over the decades but it looks like the trend in favour of it has hit Melbourne like a storm in recent times.

Although delicate and inoffensive, it certainly has not replaced my love for a simple and good short mac. Don’t get me wrong, I can certainly see its appeal but I need my coffee with a little more “POW!”. That said, as far as Siphon Coffee goes, St Ali’s single origin style is the most pleasant we have tried.

It is definitely worth walking through the most obscure alley ways for coffee of this stature.