STREAT's Cromwell St brings feelgood coffee to Collingwood

Cromwell St is a cafe with a difference. Not only does the new home of non-profit social enterprise STREAT boast a $500,000 artisan bakery, a $200,000 coffee roastery and a $400,000 kitchen, it's probably the only cafe around built by working bee and paid for by philanthropic funds.

At the public face of the newly renovated 150-year-old building (leased to STREAT by Geoff Harris at the very generous price of $5 a year for the next 50 years) is an airy 100-seat cafe, with Di Kerry at the helm.

Once head chef at '90s hotspot Blakes and most recently executive chef at Melbourne Zoo, Kerry and her team of chefs and trainees turn out an all-day breakfast menu – think son-in-law eggs with chilli jam and roti, and black pudding with poached eggs on toast.

STREAT, dedicated to giving disadvantaged youth a leg up with social support and hospitality training programs, started out as a coffee cart in 2010.

About 250 young people have been through training programs at STREAT cafes (also RMIT University, 5 McKillop Street and Melbourne Central). That number is set to increase to 365 a year by 2018, thanks to the Cromwell St hub.

Open Mon-Fri 7am-4pm; Sat-Sun 8am-4pm.

66 Cromwell Street, Collingwood, 03 9629 4222, streat.com.au