Tom Thumb

Hole-in-the-wall charm does not mean sub-par coffee. They’re using the Pony blend from Clement (of the Sensory Lab, Market Lane and ST ALi family) so you’re guaranteed a milk coffee with a caramel apple flavour. All black coffees are made with a Sensory Lab single origin, and the busy baristas are happy to run you through the tasting notes of whatever’s on offer. Despite the constant queue, the team at Tom Thumb are always smiling. There is a small spot to sit in, hidden away upstairs where you can enjoy a Reuben bagel and watch the foot traffic of Flinders Lane wander past, but Tom Thumb’s real game is takeaway. The price is pretty standard for Melbourne coffee – a black brew is $4, a white espresso variety is $4.50, and the filters are $3.50 (but it’s worth the extra dollar for a large). There’s a 50 cent BYO cup discount, and the brand Tom Thumb recommend and sell (Frank Green) has a neat bluetooth device you can sync to your bank so you don’t even need to bring your wallet. In terms of snacks, there’s no better afternoon pick me up than the Butterbings, two brownie cookies with thick buttery cream in between.