GoGet a Coffee! The Best Social Enterprise Cafes in Melbourne
Top Five Social Enterprise Cafes in Melbourne: Where Coffee Meets Compassion
There's something that hits differently with that sweet smell of coffee as you walk through any given alleyway in Melbourne. Renowned worldwide for its specialty coffee scene, there's a lesser-known secret about dozens of these venues that goes beyond a well-brewed batchy: they serve up our morning fuel with a dose of do-good on the side! Some of the best cafes in Melbourne are social enterprises! From combating homelessness to supporting sustainable practices, these cafes are prime spots for those who love their coffee with a conscience. With your GoGet, you'll be able to have breakfast in Collingwood and lunch in the CBD at South Melbourne, or make a weekend of it and hit them all! With rentals available all over the city, hiring a car is as smooth as the crema on your double espresso.
STREAT Cafe in Collingwood. Photo supplied by STREAT
The Little Social: Tackling Youth Homelessness
Ever been down a little well-known graffitied alley called Hosier Lane? Then you've likely seen a hole-in-the-wall coffee shop operating with a mission to empower at-risk youth and young people with disabilities through hands-on skills and mentoring from hospitality industry experts. Along with its newer sister cafe at the Victorian Pride Centre, these cafes serve as a training ground where young individuals build confidence and employable skills in a supportive, judgment-free environment. Every coffee purchased at The Little Social helps reinvest profits back into Youth Projects, the organisation providing youth and homelessness programs since 1985. By visiting The Little Social, patrons not only enjoy a great culinary experience but also contribute to meaningful social change, supporting the next generation in finding their footing in the world. They also have locations in St Kilda and Prahran.
The Little Social on Hosier Lane. Photo Supplied by The Little Social
Moon Rabbit Cafe: Pioneering Social Change in Preston
Moon Rabbit Cafe is a community-driven enterprise in Preston that operates under the auspices of the Bridge, a local community organisation. This charming local cafe focuses on "people and planet first", reducing waste and providing training opportunities for people with disabilities. It's a place where you can find delicious, ethically sourced coffee and homemade treats catering to many different dietary needs. They focus on seasonal produce and use every part of food before sending scraps to their enrich360 Food Waste Dehydrator, creating high-quality fertiliser. Visitors to Moon Rabbit Cafe can sense the community spirit the moment they step in, with two courtyard spaces, outdoor undercover dining, and a sand pit for children.
STREAT: Tackling Homelessness with Every Sip
STREAT is more than just a cafe; it’s a lifeline for Australian, at-risk youth. Located in Collingwood, this social enterprise cafe in Melbourne provides hospitality training and employment opportunities to homeless and disadvantaged young people. With a menu that boasts expertly crafted coffees and gourmet meals, STREAT is a place where dining contributes directly to social change.
The cafe’s impact is profound, offering both immediate aid in the form of jobs and long-term solutions through to skill development. STREAT’s success story is evident in its expansion across multiple locations, each continuing the mission of empowering Melbourne’s youth since 2010. The Collingwood location has a rustic meets modern vibe with a large outdoor garden dining area, perfect for those summer arvos in Melbourne.
An aerial view of STREAT Cafe on Cromwell Street. Photo supplied by STREAT
Home.one: Brewing Opportunities for Homeless Youth
In the bustling suburb of Brunswick, Home.one is a not-for-profit transforming lives by providing homeless youth with job opportunities in the hospitality industry. A hole-in-the-wall with a big community impact, you'll find locals sitting on makeshift seats with milk crates eating bagels or six different flavours of artisanal porridge. The breakfast proceeds are donated to Eat Up Australia and coffee/bagel funds go to Launch Housing. This cafe acts as a training ground for young people who have faced significant challenges, but the atmosphere at Home.one makes you feel right at home.
With a plant-based menu, locally sourced ingredients, and coffee from Wood & Co. Roastery, you'll be zipping down Sydney Road in your GoGet to eat brekkie at this hot spot.
Co-Ground: Coffee with a Conscience in Collingwood
Co-Ground is another standout social enterprise cafe in Melbourne, with permanent locations at Swinburne University in Hawthorn and Lifeblood in West Melbourne, collaborating with For Change Co. It operates with a clear mission: to support education and livelihood projects in the Asia-Pacific region. Co-Ground's approach is community-centric, running coffee carts at an array of events all over the Victorian region.
Proudly using Five Senses coffee beans, Co-Ground always strives to work with like-minded businesses who want to give back. Five Senses holds a B Corporation certification, symbolising their dedication to high social and environmental standards. Additionally, they have achieved Carbon Neutral status. They also engage in various Impact People Positively (IPP) projects to foster strong, supportive communities at the source of their coffee and beyond.
Conclusion
These five cafes exemplify the best of Melbourne’s social enterprise scene, proving that a simple cup of barista-made coffee can be a powerful vehicle for social change. And what better way to get there than with a vehicle through GoGet, which also aims to reduce the community's carbon footprint by carsharing? As you plan your cafe-hopping adventure to explore some of the best cafes in Melbourne, keep in mind we have cars available across the city! You'll support a sustainable mode of transportation that complements the socially responsible ethos of your cafe destinations.
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