An Italian restaurant has been accused of attacking Melbourne’s beloved cafe culture with a ‘mean-spirited’ assault on coffee lovers.
A war is brewing in latte-loving Melbourne with council heavies warning Traveller Coffee owners it will sting them with fines if their customers continue to use benches situated directly across the road from it.
Becco Restaurant, on Crossley Street at the top end of Melbourne – has placed signs on the benches asking people not to sit on them – even when it’s closed.
Melburnians gather outside Traveller Coffee on Crossley Street. Signs have been placed on benches across the road warning them not to think about sitting there
Standing room only: A sign has been placed on benches warning coffee lovers not to sit on them
Traveller Coffee is packed each morning as Melburnians gather for a hot or cold brew from its little cafe on Crossley Street
The signs are directed at the coffee lovers who line-up outside the popular cafe to get their morning brew.
On Monday, customers stood and clogged the narrow street with no-one daring to sit on the wooden benches.
Customers have told Daily Mail Australia the situation had become ridiculous over recent weeks.
‘It’s just mean spirited,’ one customer said. ‘I mean it’s one thing to ask people not to sit there when it’s open, but the place doesn’t open until midday.’
But the restaurant appears to have the support of Melbourne City Council, which has warned the cafe to keep its customers off its neighbour’s seats.
One worker, who wished to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia council staff had visited the cafe after receiving complaints from Becco.
Traveller Coffee is positioned just down the street from Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar, which put Melbourne on the international coffee map
Pellegrini’s owner Sisto Malaspina was tragically killed in a terror attack in 2018. He was given a state funeral such was Melbourne’s love for the coffee maestro
Customers enjoying a coffee at Traveller’s Coffee can be seen standing in the street just down the road from the iconic Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar
‘They told us to keep our customers off the benches, even when they’re not open, otherwise we face penalties,’ he said.
Customers believe the bench saga is a direct attack on Melbourne’s coffee culture.
Traveller Coffee is located just metres from Melbourne’s iconic Pelligrini Espresso Bar, which put Melbourne on the coffee map thanks to co-owner Sisto Malaspina.
Mr Malaspina, 74, died in 2018 after he was attacked by 30-year-old Somali-born Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, who crashed his vehicle loaded with gas bottles in the Melbourne CBD, stabbing three people, before he was shot dead by police.
‘Sisto would be turning in his grave,’ a cold brew-sipping office worker told Daily Mail Australia.
Two weeks before he died, Monash journalism student Nishant Kulkarni interviewed Mr Malaspina, who spoke of the brew’s importance to Melbourne.
‘You just have a coffee to keep you company, it’s like a companion, it’s like a friend,’ he said at the time.
‘Our coffee is more than nourishment to the body, it’s nourishment to the soul.’
Such was Melbourne’s love and respect for the coffee icon, he was given a state funeral.
Coffee lovers on one side, bubbles lovers on the other. The bubbles fans get to sit on wooden benches outside Becco. Coffee lovers have been told to sit elsewhere even when the restaurant is closed
Becco calls itself a ‘Melbourne legend’ with ‘outside seating down the very New York style laneway’.
At his service, Reverend monsignor Greg Bennet said Mr Malaspina’s customers would always cherish their hospitality experiences long after the espresso cup was left on the counter.
‘A cup of coffee, served with joy, with warmth, humour and concern can truly make the world a better place,’ he said.
Traveller Coffee is no stranger to the bustling Melbourne coffee scene and has been serving hot and cold brews from its Crossley Street location since 2013.
In addition to Melbourne’s warm favourites, Traveller has enjoyed a cult following for its cold creations.
Such is the popularity of its Seven Seeds Espresso Blend that it now sells cans and four litre casks of its cold brew.
The cafe shares a warm regard among Melburnians for its friendly staff and eco-friendly ways, which allows customers to return coffee bean canisters.
Meanwhile Becco describes itself as a ‘Melbourne legend’.
‘Great for lunch, dinner or drinks at our fabulous bar, with outside seating down the very New York style laneway,’ its website states.
‘A buzzy vibe, with warm lighting for intimate occasions, award winning modern Italian food, and an extensive wine list.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Melbourne City Council, Becco and Traveller for comment.