Melbourne, Australia is a city considered at the forefront of all things coffee. It is also widely regarded as the “Babycino Capital of the World”, although I understand the scene in Brooklyn isย coming on strong. To see if Melbourne can live up to its title, I headed out for a cafe crawl on a busy Melbourne winter weekend alongside a World Certified Babycino Head Judge to sample the best BCs the city has to offer. The Judgeย also happens to be my 2 year old son, Archer. He was weaned off breast milk onto a demitasse at 10 months; this kid has been drinking babycinos since he was literally a baby. Below is his take on the top babycino offerings from four of Melbourneโ€™s finest cafes.

If you’re unfamiliar with the babycino artform, first read my exploration on what the drink is, where it came from, and how to make it.

Axil_The-shot-back

Axil Coffee is Eastern suburbs elite when it comes to coffee, and itโ€™s babycino service lives up to that high standard. Toddlers arrive in throngs, packed 5 to a Range Rover, their tennis Mumโ€™s in tow, all clamoring for something delicious from this sleek modern industrial coffee barn. Truly, this is a bourgeoisย Babycino,ย coated with enough chocolate to fulfill entire generations of the upper-tax bracket. An unbalanced 70/30 split on the milk is made up for by bang-on temperature. Served in a disposable paper cup, this BC is all about safety from spills, plus it’s convenient for those too young to think about environmental consequences. A greedy double shot-back equaled two thumbs up.

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We head next to the hipster grotto of East Brunswick. If Melbourne ever decides to subjugate hipsters, this will become their slums. The neighborhood is already a breeding ground for inner urbanites and their young foals, who are brought to water at Padre Coffee Roasterโ€™s East Brunswick Project. On a Saturday, these guys smash through Bubba Cโ€™s like Mario on bricks, putting out dozens, no hundreds of babycino’s in the course of a day. This one comes to us at peak service, delivered with organic, locally sourced but sparingly applied cocoa, hitting a 80/20 split on the serve but slightly below temp. The Judge downs it swiftly with a twin shot-back and is content. The bonus marshmallow is an old school nod and its gooey centre soaks up the good times.

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Auction Rooms is highly regarded among Melbourne’s coffee lovers, but they take a highly controversial approach to babycinos, aiming for 90/10 split. Talking to the barista on shift, this comes from a focus on โ€˜milk integrityโ€™. They seem to understand that, as a toddler less than two years off the boob, having milk with a moral compass is important. They serve it up niceโ€™nโ€™proper in a 4oz demitasse, which was shortly savoured and deeply enjoyed by our World Certified Baycino Judge. Only one shot-back, however, left the Judge wanting more. Always a sign of good things.

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The Premises in Kensington is our local frother of moo juice, and home to a straight up classic babycino. These guys are bang on when it comes to quality coffee, from punchy espresso to crisp filter, yet they still love kids! The indie-film-extra waitresses seem to revel in engaging with even the most lilliputian of wee customers, and will expertly put down a delicately balanced 80/20 B.C. at peak temp with a duo of shot-back. The coverage comes from a pure dark cocoa that isnโ€™t overzealous in its offering. This BC is guaranteed to keep the ankle biters feeling adult. The Judge is known by name here, and has a standing order as soon as he sits down.

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Lach Ryan is a Melbourne based humour writer. When not working on the fringes of the coffee industry, he writes at www.blackframes.com.au and hosts The New podcast.

Read Part 1 of Mr. Ryan’s landmark, groundbreaking exploration of the babycino here.ย 

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