Melbourne, Australia is internationally recognised as one of the world's coffee cities. With iconic cafes such as Pellegrini's and Brunetti's, and the highest number of traditional and specialty coffee roasters in the country, it's easy to understand why.
Melbourne Coffee Roasters- A History reveals the origins of a coffee-drinking city. From early colonial settlement to the post-war boom of Italian, Greek and Jewish immigrants, author Dominic Pellegrino reveals the changes brought about, both by these immigrants and because of them, in the way this city roasted, bought, sold, distributed, and drank coffee.
The book tells the stories of Melbourne's Post WWII founding roasters - their triumphs, struggles, trials and errors - as told by the roasters themselves. Managers, founders, roasters and staff from iconic brands such as Vittoria, Mocopan, Genovese and others have informed the author's research, bringing unique perspectives to the history of coffee in Australia - particularly traditional, espresso-style coffee, as drunk traditionally by Italians.
At its core, this is the story of migration, when, at each juncture - before the wars, during and after - immigration was the catalyst that changed Australia forever.
Not Yet Published
ISBN
9781922779663
Publish date
02 June 2026
Page count
320
Dimensions
180 x 235 mm
About the author
Dominic Pellegrino was director of Mocopan Coffee, one of Australia's founding coffee roasters, from 1982 to 1995. During this time, he witnessed many key changes in the industry, from when coffee ranked a lowly second to tea to the first trial by McDonalds for selling coffee from their Swanston Street store, which became the world-wide phenomenon that we now know as McCafé. Pellegrino is dedicated to sharing the history of coffee in this country, informed by his own family connection to one of the founding espresso roasters.