In Melbourne, coffee is a religion, and the city's cafés are the churches. Around every corner is a different brunch joint just begging to be tried out (I volunteer as tribute). From the decadent to the quirky, here are 5 reasons you can't beat Melbourne cafés.

5. You can get your morning coffee from a shipping container

Of course Melbourne has found a way to make a shipping container look chic. Located in the suburb of Footscray, Rudimentary has amazing seasonal breakfast and lunch menus. 

4. ...Or a prison

Aptly named Jury, this Melbourne cafe is on the site of an old prison (don't worry—there are no actual prisoners there anymore). I'd gladly be locked up here if it meant drinking this coffee for 20-to-life.

3. Matcha, matcha, matcha

Matcha Mylkbar is just one of the matcha cafés Melbourne has to offer. The menu (which, btw, is 100% plant-based) boasts matcha pancakes, matcha burger buns, and matcha milkshakes. But don't worry: if you haven't caught matcha madness, there are plenty of non-matcha options on the menu - apple pie latte, anyone?

2. Donuts. Enough said.

Just to make you feel even more like you don't have your sh*t together: Bistro Morgan is a donut store created by a 15-year-old high school student named Morgan Hipworth. With flavours like Ferrero Rocher, salted caramel & cinnamon, and Rocky Horror (rocky road), there's no shortage of choice. Plus, Bistro Morgan is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Melbourne's donut stores. And yes, those are syringes. Filled with caramel. And chocolate. And strawberry filling. And butterscotch. Go nuts.

1. The best coffee. In the world. No ifs, buts, or maybes.

You have not LIVED until you've tried Melbourne coffee. Melburnians take their caffeine hits very, very seriously. In the birthplace of the flat white, you're guaranteed an amazing cup of coffee no matter which Melbourne café you choose for a pick-me-up (and trust me, you'll never run out of new places to try). Turmeric lattes, black lattes, beetroot lattes, blue algae lattes, deconstructed coffee—each new trend outdoes the last. Just try not to be too intimidated by the hipster baristas and coffee snobs.