There are two things I know for certain in this world… 1. My coffee order and 2. That my barista knows it before I even do. 

Australia and it’s love affair with the coffee shop is not a new phenomenon. Espresso coffee came about during the 1940s, whereby Italian immigrants introduced a new technology that allowed for a less bitter and creamier cup of joe. 

The coffee machine was a catalyst for the quintessentially Australian caffeine culture we know today. Unlike it’s caffeine equivalents that included instant coffee or the percolator, the espresso machine allowed for more control of the end product. This was largely attractive to a new bohemian subculture who desired more freedom for experimentation. By the 1960’s, espresso bars began popping up all over Sydney and Melbourne, enticing an eclectic blend of hippies, teenagers and migrants.  

Fast forward to now, coffee shops are more common than gas stations. The coffee scene has become a competitive environment, whereby everyones pushing for a better cup and it isn’t just about the actual coffee. The barista has undergone many courses to qualify for making your coffee. He knows the science beyond the best ‘crema’ and will bend over backwards to create your 3/4 strong extra hot oat milk latte just the way you like it. 

The beans are single origin and rotate seasonally. Each roast is given a name like ‘Harrold’ and served to you in a locally sourced ceramic mug that closely resembles the one you made at a plaster master in 2001. There is a cow up the back for people who still drink actual milk and for the rest of us, there's a palette of 1500 litres of Oatly delivered daily and ready to be turned into your toddlers babyccino froth. Who would have thought the people of chiko roll nation were capable of such a cultural phenomenon?!

Over years of scientific research, we’ve uncovered that the psychostimulant properties of caffeine are not too different from other drugs like cocaine and amphetamines and I do often wonder what motivates me to walk an additional 500m each morning to visit the best coffee shop in my area. ‘Are we all just addicted monkeys?’ or ‘Is the coffee shop the new church?’ are a common feature of my morning ‘existential discourse’ -  A coffee always fixes it. 

Nonetheless, our love of coffee is more complex than we think. The morning routine is a little luxury that also provides us with a sense of community connection. The cafe has become a place of meeting - business, friendly catch ups and even breakups. Coffee is bigger and more influential than we realise -  It is a ritual we can share in common. There is always something pretty cool about walking the quiet streets at 6:00am to grab a takeaway and greeting others doing the exact same thing.