Brother Baba Budan

When I'm in Melbourne there's one cafe I make always try to get to at least once. Brother Baba Budan is the sister cafe to the highly rated Seven Seeds Roastery in Carlton so the beans on offer are top notch. However, I don't make it a must-do because their espresso is fantastic (it is) or because it's has one of the coolest cafe interiors ever (it does), but because in addition to that they have one of the small handful of Clover coffee machines in Australia.

Without boring you with too many details, the Clover is a rather expensive piece of kit that makes a brewed, french-press style coffee in a very controlled manner and delivers a much, much better tasting cup. The depth of flavour and characteristics the emerge from single-origin beans through the clover is unparalleled. It delivered a cup of coffee that is about the closest thing I've had in a cafe to what is achieved during cupping. It's so good actually that in 2008, after having tasted a Clover, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, bought the entire company and effectively took them off the market entirely (they only supply Starbucks now). Bastard.

Thankfully a few cafes had already bought Clovers and we get to enjoy the results with really good coffee. It's not advertised conspicuously so you kind of have to be in the know, but towards the back, above the bar-seating will be that day's single-origin Clover offering with some brief tasting notes. I won't harp on too much more about it, but absolutely positively try it, it's not like any coffee you've had before.

The usual range of espresso based drinks is available from the very capable baristas operating a Synesso Cyncra at the front of the shop and Seven Seeds coffee is available for retail along with a small but carefully chosen array of hand grinders, pour-overs and other modern DIY coffee paraphenalia.

With only a couple of tables at the front of the shop and a handful of seats along the bar at the side, Brother Baba Budan is a small space. Real estate agents would call it 'cosy', but it's an apt description. There is a very fine line along an odd clash of grimy (but not off putting - check out the carelessly trendy unrenovated walls behind the counter and low-rent cash register) and super chic (just look up for the cacophony of suspended wooden chairs and exposed lightbulbs) that Brother Baba Budan treads very carefully and very well. The place oozes coolness and homely warming comfort; if you manage to grab a seat you're likely not to leave for a while. A must-visit, add it to your list.

Brother Baba Budan
359 Little Bourke St.
Melbourne, Victoria
03 9606 0449
www.sevenseeds.com.au