Shortstop Coffee & Donuts

If you're after donuts in Melbourne that feel more like a proper dessert than a sugar hit, Shortstop Coffee & Donuts is worth a visit. It's a small cafe-style shop where the donuts are made on-site through the day, using natural ingredients, and paired with specialty coffee from premium roasters and organic milk. Their own line says it plainly: coffee and donuts, simple, delicious and made fresh.

The flavours are what people talk about. We've heard the maple walnut and brown butter donut described as the best one a visitor had ever tried, and the earl grey and rose version comes up a lot too, praised for being balanced rather than too sweet. The Australian honey and sea salt donut has its own fans, with one local calling the texture incredibly soft and the sweet-salty balance spot on. The dough gets plenty of love, soft and fluffy without being dry, and there are matcha and seasonal options for anyone who wants to go beyond the classics.

One person found the strawberry donut too faint on flavour, and thought one of the cinnamon and maple options could use a little more punch or a little less sugar. The coffee mostly gets a thumbs up, described as strong and a good match for the donuts, and the staff come across as friendly and kind.

On the practical side, it's a tiny spot with only a handful of seats, so expect to take your treats to go more often than not. They offer takeaway, delivery, dine-in and custom cake orders, and the business runs a pre-order system, handy if you're collecting a box for the office. They're open daily, with the weekday start a little earlier than the weekend one, though it's worth checking the hours before you head in.

You'll find the shop on Sutherland St in the Melbourne CBD, an easy stop if you're wandering the city and want a good coffee with something special on the side.