Gate-side coffee option before security in T4
Hanna's Cafe sits landside in Terminal T4 at Melbourne Airport, just before the security checkpoint for Jetstar and Rex departures. It opens Monday to Friday from 6:00am to 5:30pm, and it is completely closed on Saturdays and Sundays, so weekday morning and afternoon flyers get all the benefit. Being pre-security, it works both for passengers and anyone waiting to pick up arrivals from the T4 forecourt.
This is a basic local café with a low price tier ($), so think quick espresso drinks, tea, soft drinks, and simple cabinet food rather than chef-driven plates. Expect grab-and-go items like sandwiches, pastries, and slices at prices that usually land under AUD 10, with coffee sitting in the AUD 4–6 range depending on size and extras. It fills a gap in T4, which otherwise leans heavily on chain outlets deeper in the concourse.
Hanna's carries a modest rating of 54 on aggregate review sites, which signals "acceptable in a pinch" rather than a detour-worthy stop. You come here to kill 10 minutes with a flat white and a muffin or to grab a quick snack before security, not to linger over brunch. If you care a lot about coffee quality, many regular MEL flyers suggest heading airside in T1–T3 on another day instead, but for a 7:30am Monday T4 departure this is simply the nearest shot of caffeine.
One thing to remember: the café shutters at 5:30pm sharp on weekdays, and it never opens on weekends, so evening or Saturday/Sunday flights out of T4 need a different plan. Build a small buffer if you want to grab something here, because you still need to clear security after paying. The practical move is to pick up a drink and snack together so you do not queue twice before your T4 gate call.