"Welcome to Five Senses Coffee"

It’s always a welcome relief to come round the bend on Heidelberg Road and see the silhouette of APTE in the distance. It‘s not like a bright neon sign — more a shining lighthouse that welcomes you home. Duck down the side street to get away from traffic and park your car, or somehow use the pedestrian lights to your advantage.

The co-owners of APTE, Nathan and Sarah, like to call it “a go-to destination”. APTE (A Place To Eat) has also come to mean ‘A Perfectly Textured Espresso’.

Nolan is the head barista and proudly wears the mantle of ‘The Coffee Doctor’. His claim to fame is that he topped the state last year at the Western Australian Barista Championships. Couple Nolan’s skills as champion barista with the latest in espresso machine technology — the Synesso, and you have a perfect blend of artistry, understanding and engineering. And that’s just as you walk in the door! Check out the photos and you’ll see that the rest of APTE is also a place of artistry, understanding and engineering — in all sorts of ways.

The warm welcome at APTE helps put you at ease right away. The front-of-house part of the partnership is Nathan. He has a knack for knowing exactly what you want to eat before you even open the menu! And it’s perfect! For this, a round of applause goes to Sarah — her skills in the kitchen perfectly complement Nathan’s side of the partnership.

On this particular day, the holiday trade was brisk and Nathan was on top of his game, making sure everyone was comfortable and being attended to. It was a classic winter’s day in Melbourne and the cafe was warm and cheery. The floor staff carried on with the trademark APTE banter that keeps the place friendly and relaxed.

Perhaps the shining lighthouse analogy can be stretched just a bit more… if APTE is the lighthouse on Heildelburg Road, then the Synesso espresso machine sitting on the counter next to a man who knows how to make really good coffee, is the light that shines like a beacon and draws in the crowds. Well worth dropping by APTE for an exceptional coffee and a hearty meal.

APTE: 538 Heidelberg Rd Alphington