kinfolk is a café with a slightly different take on daily affairs. We are a social business that not only serves delectable coffee and culinary delights; we redistribute our profits between four development projects, each with its own unique and significant purpose.

Customers may choose to support the likes of a multifarious capacity-building initiative in Rwanda; Children’s rights in Ghana; an education-focused project for young Indigenous Australians or a café that pioneers relationship-building and radical inclusion for Melbourne’s homeless, marginalized and disenchanted.

Another key ingredient of kinfolk is that we run with the assistance of a team of eccentric, loveable and dedicated volunteer waitstaff. With them they bring energy and enthusiasm that money cannot buy.

Please browse for more information on our project partners, volunteering, function inquiries, photos and general chit-chat!

kinfolk emerged by way of a collective of multi-skilled individuals, putting their hearts, hands and heads together. Initially, the kinfolk project was envisaged to be able to provide support for two of YGAP’s (Y-Generation Against Poverty) international project partners. Philip Di Bella got the ball-rolling through a commitment of premium unlimited Di Bella coffee and from here, many more jumped on board! The site for the cafe was chosen at the unused shopfront of the Bourke St Donkey Wheel House, and then we decided to include two Australia based projects into our beneficiaries.

Volunteer carpenters, electricians, plumbers, plasterers, designers, artists and more joined together to fit-out the cafe with donated and found materials.

kinfolk officially opened in May 2010 and since then has taken on a wondrous personality of its own. Volunteers have continued to strengthen in number and the diversity, skill and creativity each team member brings to the table is immeasurable.

Furthermore, it is the cafe’s dedicated array of suppliers and stockists who make our unwavering quality and consistency possible.