Degraves Espresso (23-35 Degraves Street, Melbourne)

Degraves Espresso is tucked away in one of Melbourne's great cobblestone lanes, and catches the bustling morning crowd commuting from the nearby Flinders Street station to the office.

The staff are switched on, drink their own coffees while they work, and ooze attitude. The brown leather booths and high ceiling give the place a cozy, New York feel. I was perched at the window (great for people watching), next to a like-minded individual sipping a latte and reading the paper.

Breakfast is a hit here, and this one is definitely the pick of Degraves Street.

Oh, and the coffee is superb.

Turtle Cafe (34 Glenhuntly Rd, Elwood)

Turtle is a mandatory stop for Kelly and I on a Sunday afternoon, after rollerblading up and down Beaconsfield Parade. The mere layout of the place is quirky - situated on an oddly shaped intersection so the building looks like a stumpy triangle.

The place is filled with characters straight off Secret Life of Us. I love it. The locals come here alone, just nursing a coffee and reading the paper. Coming here with Kelly is a real treat - she seems to know the entire neighbourhood, so I'm introduced to 10 new people every time we go.

One little gripe I have though (or another quirk of the venue), is every time we go, I wonder if our order has been lost - the coffees seem to take forever to arrive. This is puzzling as the staff appear to be quite frantic and snappy.

That aside, my soy latte is brewed to perfection each time, hot enough to raise my body temperature after an afternoon in the winter sea breeze, and cool enough to enjoy it quickly. Lunch or breakfast here is a real treat too - try the warm winter vegetable salad, or poached eggs with avocado.

A fashionable, local Elwood hangout.

7/10

Gust Cofetarie (174 - 176 Queen St, Melbourne)

From the outside, Gust does not look like anything special - except for the sign proclaiming it has an award-winning barrista. Situated just around the corner from the office, of course I had to try it.

I've been several times now, and each time cannot go past their short macciato. My philosophy is, if you can drink it in its most pure form and enjoy it, it's got to be good coffee. Last time I visited I was having a heart-felt conversation with a good friend of mine, and four shots of coffee later, we walked out buzzing.

A good short macc or espresso is like eating chocolate which is 95% cocoa - it's so toxic, but you can really savour each millilitre and let it's syrup just permeate your mouth. Mmmm.

Gust's environment is like a sophisticated cafeteria with a Japanese bent, with a few lounges and armchairs on the sides. The colour scheme features red which I always like, but I tend to prefer a more intimate, loungy feel in coffee shops. Still, the coffee is a definite winner - well worth a visit just for the espresso.

7/10

Gattica's (223 Carlisle St, Balaclava)

I was introduced to this gem of a hideaway on Carlisle St, Balaclava, late on a Saturday night after seeing a play in the area. It was a bitterly cold Melbourne night, but as we opened the door, the warmth of the place and its aroma of fabulously roasted coffee prompted an all round "Ahhhh..." The windows were steamed over to boot.

A few locals were lounging around in what can only be described as a delightfully comfortable but shagadelic atmosphere.

My soy latte was beautifully creamy, the perfect temperature and my friends' hot chocolates looked homely and scrumptious.

Having since been past in the day time, this place looks like a local favourite and it's easy to see why.

8/10