Coffee corner: How Spout Cafe became a local staple
It’s just past 2 pm on a Friday at Spout Café in Ripponlea, and you’d never guess the team is just an hour from closing. Locals still stream in steadily, tucking into late lunches or lingering over long blacks. Owner Jonathan Dvash moves through the space like he’s hosting a neighbourhood lunch. He greets customers by name, with a handshake here and a familiar check-in there. Eventually, he joins us at a table in the back – caffeinated offering in hand – and asks with a smile, ‘So, what do you want to know about Spout?’
Taking a punt on Ripponlea
Spout opened its doors in March 2012 – long before Ripponlea became the café pocket it is today. Back then, it was a quieter strip, known more for its strong religious community than flat whites.
‘We took a bit of a punt,’ Jonathan admits. ‘I was working for someone else at the time, but then this shop came up for lease and I just thought, why not? The rent was reasonable, the area had potential and I wanted to go out on my own after working in hospitality for so many years.
‘Fourteen years later, we’re still here.’
And what started as a risk turned into a beloved local fixture.
‘We didn’t know if it would work,’ he says. ‘But the community showed up. And they haven’t stopped.’
Make yourself at home!
From the beginning, Spout was never trying to be trendy. It was built to be familiar.
‘We wanted something that the locals could feel comfortable in,’ Jonathan says. ‘Nothing pretentious. Just laid back, everyday vibes.’
The look? A blend of borrowed inspiration, small tweaks over time and a lot of instinct.
‘We started by going out to other cafés and taking inspiration from different bits and pieces that stood out to us,’ Jonathan continues. ‘Then, we brought it all together at our shop.’
Of course, they brought in professionals to guide the design. But it was always more about feel than formula.
‘Things evolved naturally from there – the communal table, the bar setup – it didn’t all happen on day one,’ he says.
Crafting coffee with character
Spout’s coffee offering is proudly consistent – and deeply personal.
‘We’ve been with Allpress from the start,’ says Jonathan. ‘I worked with them 13 years ago, and we’ve built a good relationship. They were tiny back then, just starting out in Melbourne.’
While other roasters have come knocking, Jonathan’s loyalty is steadfast.
‘Allpress has grown a lot, but they’re still true to what they do – so we’ve stayed true to them since the day we opened. You don’t want to burn bridges in business. Relationships matter.’
And the customers can taste it. Every cup of coffee at Spout is grounded in years of trust built on quality.
Middle Eastern warmth on every plate
When it comes to food, Spout has its own signature flavour.
‘From day one, we leaned into that Middle Eastern taste,’ Jonathan explains. ‘It suits the area, and we wanted to build from those flavours.’
The menu may have pivoted slightly over time, but the staples haven’t budged an inch.
‘The shakshuka’s been the same since day one,’ he says. ‘Same recipe, same taste. And people love that it hasn’t changed.’
And that sums up Spout’s refreshingly simple approach: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Built for the regulars
Nearly 14 years in, and Spout is now part of the fabric of Ripponlea.
‘We know our regulars,’ Jonathan says. ‘Where their kids go to school, what holidays they’ve just come back from. It’s a family feel. That matters around here.’
So much so that at this point, people will come in for a chat just as much as a coffee.
‘A barista is like a psychologist,’ Jonathan laughs. ‘You talk, you feel better, then you head off into the world.’
That personal connection stretches beyond the café walls, too.
‘The whole street’s tight knit. I shop at the IGA across the road, have a drink at the Lyrebird Lounge, grab an after-work bite at Mission District. We all support each other.’
And that’s exactly what makes this pocket of the world so loved – a community held together by small rituals and unwavering loyalty.
