Situated on the corner of Puckle Street and Mount Alexander road and filled with the morning sun lies Top Notch; a small cafe offering Moonee Ponds best coffee. You’ll notice them by the small crowd of people overflowing from their front door each morning at 9am but don’t fret, the quick service means you won’t be waiting more than a few minutes at best.

Turning Me Pro-Coffee

I wasn’t always the one for coffee, in fact I used to hate it. Turn the clock back 10 years and there I was working my first real job editing Hollywood movies (a not-so-humble brag, I know). Each Friday our joyous office ‘Culture Team’ would take us out for free morning coffees in an attempt to masquerade our minimum wage payslips. Each time however I would always opt for a hot chocolate whilst my fellow colleagues would be downing their first, second, and even third free coffee of the morning – I was shook. Sure, I gave coffee a try a few times but I couldn’t get over the bitter taste – why would anyone subject themselves to burnt coffee beans? I couldn’t wrap my head around it. That was until about 1 year ago when I decided to try a coffee from Top Notch Moonee Ponds. OH! Now it makes sense. Except this time it was different.

The Cafe on The Corner

So why do Moonee Ponds locals (including myself) love Top Notch so much? Two reasons, the perfectly brewed coffee and the enthusiastically friendly staff. Warmly greeting each of their customers by name (and with a huge smile as though they hadn’t seen you in months), you can’t help but feel more positive about your day ahead. Pair this friendly customer service with the delicious taste of their delectable coffee and it’s easy to see why this business has made such a name for itself, understandably earning their 4.8 star google rating from over 488 reviews at the time of this blog – clearly I’m not the only one obsessed.

I’m no coffee aficionado by any means and my basic white girl skinny latte order is nothing to be impressed by however what I can confidently say is that I ended up trying all the coffee stores along Puckle Street and surrounds during my time living in the area. Varying between good and struggling to consume, Top Notch was the only cafe that consistently provided a good brew every time and at a reasonable price.

Food & Drink Prices

Their prices are super reasonable (especially considering the quality), and as a nice touch they also offer complimentary ambient, still, and sparkling water at the counter for self service. When you place your order with the always-friendly staff, you’ll also spot a tempting selection of food on display. Think fresh rolls, bagels, wraps, toasted sandwiches, and my personal go-to: a double egg & bacon muffin with BBQ sauce (drools). On top of that, there’s an array of bite-sized biscuits, cakes, muffins, and more. Pro tip: don’t leave without trying the passionfruit cake!

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a local or just passing through, you’ll quickly notice that Moonee Ponds has no shortage of cafés. Each spot offering its own personality and seating options. However if you’re looking for a reliably tasty cuppa joe while you’re in the area, take it from a local to go try the amazing coffee from Top Notch. The downside is that I’m likely going to hate the coffee on my trip overseas next month but I know where I’ll be going as soon as I get back to shake off that jet lag.

P.S Never accept a job at a workplace that has a “Culture Team” – no amount of pizza parties will make up for the underlying issues!