Dominic Pellegrino joins Eat It to discuss Melbourne Coffee Roasters: A History, tracing the evolution of Melbourne's coffee culture from the colony's first coffee houses to the city's reputation as a global coffee capital.

Drawing on years of interviews with pioneering roasters, Pellegrino charts coffee's three major waves in Australia. He explains how early colonial coffee was often adulterated with chicory, split peas and other fillers, before post-war Italian migration transformed espresso from a niche cultural tradition into a defining part of Melbourne life.

Later waves saw specialty roasting, lighter profiles and a growing appreciation of provenance, flavour and brewing techniques such as pour-over coffee.

The conversation explores the personalities behind Melbourne's coffee industry, including Joseph Di Mattina, whose vision helped establish Mocha Pan, alongside early pioneers from Vittoria, Coffee Mio and other influential roasters. Tune in for Dominic's reflections on the migration stories and entrepreneurial ambition that transformed espresso into one of Melbourne's defining cultural identities.