T3 flyer needing caffeine before security? Hudsons Coffee sits landside in Melbourne Airport’s Terminal 3, near the domestic check-in counters. That means you can grab a flat white before dropping bags for Virgin Australia or Rex, or meet someone arriving without going through screening. Seating is limited and spills into the public concourse, so think quick stop rather than a long sit-down.
Hudsons runs early to late in T3, typically opening before the first departures around 5:00 and trading into the evening bank of flights after 20:00. Coffee is standard Australian kiosk pricing: budget around AU$5–6 for a regular latte or flat white and AU$7–9 if you add a muffin or pastry. Expect the usual espresso menu plus basic hot chocolate and tea.
Food skews grab-and-go. You’ll see pre-made sandwiches, focaccias, and wraps in the fridge, plus pastries on the counter. Most items land in the AU$7–12 bracket, with small cakes and slices a bit cheaper. It’s airport-quality, not CBD café level, but fine if you just need something in hand before a 90-minute hop to Sydney or Brisbane.
The shop carries a 54 rating in our scoring, which puts it squarely in the “functional” tier at MEL rather than a destination stop. Coffee quality is generally consistent but not standout, and there’s nothing here you can’t find in a city Hudsons or similar chain. On the plus side, queues tend to move faster than at some smaller kiosks in T4.
Practical tip: if you care about temperature, ask for your coffee “extra hot” at Hudsons in T3; baristas here move quickly for the morning rush and drinks can run on the cooler side when they’re pushing through the 07:00–09:00 wave.