It doesn’t take a PhD to know that coffee is a complex science. Jason, Peita and Tasmin Messer aren’t scientists, but they know that a good coffee takes more than an espresso shot mixed with warm milk. The family is behind The Chemistry of Coffee – a Hawthorne-based cafe that is taking a different approach to caffeine with a fun, science-themed tactic that is all about providing variety. The Chemistry of Coffee gives sippers the chance to sample a range of drinks in test tubes, allowing patrons to have their java alongside a turmeric or matcha latte. If you love your specialty coffee, the team also pour cold-drip and syphon varieties into the tubes and are more than happy to wax lyrical about the beans currently on offer. Should you take your coffee with soy or zymil, you’ll be stoked to know that you won’t be charged extra!

The Messers have imbued this clever approach to coffee with their love of home-cooked fare. Everything on the menu evokes a classic homely vibe, from Grandma’s cheesecake in the treats cabinet to the waffles coated in house-made caramel sauce (a secret family recipe). Every meal on the menu boasts generous portions, which can be scaled back if you are only looking to snack, with the likes of avocado on toast, the Big Bang brekkie burger, yoghurt and granola, and a bacon and egg bagel featuring. Gluten-free bread is available at no extra cost, once again ensuring that those with dietary requirements aren’t stung with another hit to the wallet. Finally, the milkshakes here are crafted with care and come in glass beakers – if science class was this fun we all might be curing diseases instead of drinking our weight in coffee and milkshakes!

The Chemistry of Coffee is undergoing a soft launch and will be adding plenty of new additions in the coming weeks. Head to the Stumble Guide for more details.