One thing Australians pride themselves is their good coffee. Australia’s coffee reputation is so prominent that it’s gaining patronage in New York and other states in America. It’s garnered such a reputation worldwide that Vogue describes “Aussie Cafes” as a new genre of coffee shops in America. People associate Aussie coffee shops with espresso, greetings like “G’day, mate!”, and a light treat like Avocado toast. Indeed, Australian Coffee is being internationally recognised, so let’s look back at how this coffee culture started and how to enjoy coffee the Australian way.
History of Australian Coffee
It was Italian immigrants that brought coffee machines to Australia, back in World War II. Achille Gaggia, a coffee maker, had a coffee machine that was brought to the nation in the 1940s. ABC News quotes Professor May’s comment on Gaggia’s machine: produces “a less bitter formulation with a creamy top that was a taste sensation”. The cafe culture successfully penetrated the Australian experience. It served as an avenue for socialising in Melbourne. However, by 1951, coffee was a lot more expensive than tea. Professor May credits that “the gentrification of inner-city suburbs over time helped fuel coffee culture”.
In the 1960s, patrons of cafes were bohemians, teenagers and migrants. And over time, Australia’s high standard of living enabled coffee-drinking to be a social experience, attracting different kinds of people to the culture. It is around now that the industry was becoming a competitive one and as Australia continued to embrace the coffee culture the culture embraced Australia making it what it is today. A coffee culture admired and imitated around the world.
The Signature Australian Coffee
What best represents Australian Coffee is the Flat White. It’s basically a smoother cappuccino, and Vogue describes it as “not as intense as straight espresso, but not as milky as a latte”.
“Whereas a classic cappuccino has distinct layers of espresso, steamed milk, and froth, a flat white is simply an espresso shot with steamed milk poured straight in, the milk supporting the espresso as opposed to masking it.” – Todd Plummer, Vogue
However, there is still a debate with its actual origin. New Zealand, one of Australia’s main competitors in the coffee industry, claims to have invented it. The two countries are head-on with both having their unique taste. Kiwi uses espresso shots, while Aussies use ristretto shots. In effect, the Kiwi flat white is more caffeinated.
How to Practice the Australian Coffee Culture
Australian Coffee is not just a coffee, but a culture; a whole different experience of enjoying your coffee. From the bespoke service to the taste of the coffee, indeed Australian Coffee is a unique experience that we offer to the world.
1. Enjoy the Full Experience
Drinking coffee in Australia means not just drinking coffee; it’s enjoying it to the fullest. In Australia, coffee is a lifestyle, and Aussies give time for it, dream about it, feel it. We make an effort to go to the nearest cafe every morning. And it’s best paired with delicious breakfast plates that cafes offer.
2. Pay Attention to the Taste
According to the Barista Institute, a seeming requirement for a barista is to know how to do latte art. But it’s not just to make the coffee pretty; it is also a statement of the taste of the coffee. A perfectly frothed milk enables a barista to create art on top, it’s either burnt or not smooth, and ultimately ruins your experience.
3. Be Particular with the Quality
We demand high-quality coffee. We are very particular about the flavour, of the smell, and even the attitude of the barista. We want excellence in all aspects of the experience.
4. Be Unique
A famous quote by David Ogilvy says “Image means personality. Products, like people, have personalities, and they can make or break them in the marketplace.” This is the exact reason why Aussie Cafes are successful in the United States. Each Aussie Cafe is a unique coffee experience: different concepts, interiors, owner’s personalities…each cafe has a different brand image. That’s why it’s enjoyable to go cafe-hopping.
The Bottom Line
Australian Coffee is such a rich culture and it’s no question how it’s so popular and successful across the globe. It may seem just a habit for us Aussies, but for others, it’s like an instant trip to Australia with a whole new, unique, and exciting experience.
