January 18
National Gourmet Coffee Day “pours” each January 18.
Whether it’s the rich flavour, or the caffeine boost that can help a person wake up in the morning, coffee has become an important part of the Aussie start (or middle or end) of the day, and for billions’ others worldwide!
With hundreds of varieties of beans, and dozens of interesting ways of brewing, each bringing its own unique flavour, coffee has been developing over the years.
From espresso machines in Italy to fine grounds in a Turkish Ibrik, to the popularity of freeze-dried or instant crystals, coffee has evolved in many ways.
The improvement of coffee in recent decades means that coffee lovers and caffeine addicts alike can have more consistent expectations when it comes to the way their morning cup of Joe is enjoyed.
National Gourmet Coffee Day is a salute to this development of gourmet coffee as its flavour brings joy and delight daily!
The love of coffee is strong in Australia, with more than one in four (27%) indicating they cannot survive the day without it, and 9 in 10 (88%) stating they like it to some extent.
Australians have a deep love for gourmet, specialty coffee, treating it as a cultural ritual focused on quality, craftsmanship, skilled baristas, and unique flavour profiles, evident in their high consumption, sophisticated cafe scene and willingness to pay for premium experiences, even embracing home brewing with machines like Nespresso for consistent quality.
Aussies unique gourmet coffee culture is built around independent cafes and a commitment to quality. This preference for high-quality, artisanal coffee sets Australians apart in the global market.
Our local market is largely driven by small, independently owned cafes. This differs from countries with a higher presence of large chain coffee stores and highlights Australia’s unique dedication to quality over convenience.
Australia’s younger generations have a greater dependency on coffee, with around a third needing it to survive the day (33% Gen Y and 30% Gen X). By comparison the Builders generation are the most likely to see coffee as something nice to have but don’t need it (45%).
We also don’t mind paying for what we love, with more than four in five Australians (84%) spending money on coffee in an average week, based on taste and preference.
The majority of Australians who drink coffee will make a coffee at home on a usual weekday (86%). However, when it comes to purchasing a coffee from a café, younger generations are more likely to do so than their older counterparts (61% Gen Z, 53% Gen Y cf. 36% Gen X, 33% Baby Boomers, 26% Builders).
Coffee drinkers who prefer espresso coffee are the most likely to purchase their coffee from a cafe (60% cf. 36% coffee pods, 22% instant coffee). More than three quarters of those who prefer espresso coffee (77%), however, will make a coffee at home on an average weekday.
The coffee-drinking ritual in Australia is well established. Almost every conversation usually starts with ‘Wanna grab a cup of coffee', whether it's a date, a colleague, or even a best friend.
The coffee in Australia is not about quantity but quality and that's what makes the gourmet coffee so special. It is believed that Australian coffee is the best in the world. Aussies see coffee as a part of their daily routine and it's so important to them that they walk into their favourite cafe every day and even brew coffee at home or in the office, and always to their individual taste and preference.
Coffee drinking is an essential part of the daily lives of Australians. We usually place importance on the quality of the beans, the type, roast and they take their time to brew coffee or enjoy it from their favourite cafes. We can say that we have nailed the approach to coffee drinking and are models for coffees in other parts of the world.
We can recreate our versions of flat white or espresso at home. It's so simple. Well, if we choose the coffee bean of taste and then the method of preparation. Perfection varies, one taste bud to the next. Did I say simple?
We have coffee options everywhere. Cafes are multiplying. Coffee roasteries have increased in popularity. Coffee lovers are trying their hand at roasting, giving people like me access to the best of the best beans. There again, most households now own a barista-style coffee machine, making it incredibly easy for coffee drinkers to get their fix of the sweet brown elixir of life without having to leave the house.
Coffee shops are increasingly the Aussies’ primary social hubs, driven by health consciousness, a desire for inclusive daytime spaces, the rise of "sober socialising" (especially among Gen Z), and the need for affordable, flexible gathering spots. And these cafes are driven by our gourmet coffee preferences.
Australia has a unique relationship with coffee compared to the rest of the world. We know our baristas by name, are proud of our complex coffee orders, and expect a high standard of flavour and quality from every cup. Research shows 59% of Aussies drink coffee for the taste, with the quality of the blend driving customer behaviour (68%), followed by affordability (58%) and coffee shop location (51%).
Our gourmet coffee culture shows no signs of slowing down. The future will likely see (1): An increased demand for specialty coffee where a growing taste for quality will increase the demand for specialty coffee; (2) Australian consumers continue to be aware of the need for ethically sourced and environmentally sustainable coffee practices: and (3) As tastes evolve, cafes may experiment with new brewing methods and even more flavour profiles, keeping Australia’s coffee scene dynamic and forward-thinking.
Australia’s rise as a gourmet coffee powerhouse reflects more than just an increased caffeine intake; it’s a testament to an ongoing culture that values quality, community, and craftsmanship.
Oh, did I say “taste?”
And would that be one shot, or two?
Flat white?
Cappuccino?
Latte?
Short black?
Long black?
Piccolo latte?
Macchiato?
Ristretto?
Skim, soy, oat, almond, or coconut milk?
You name it - we've got it!
.
Fun Fact about Gourmet Coffee:
“Hit me with your best shot”
“Coffee, because adulting is hard.”
“No matter what historians claimed, BC really stood for ‘Before Coffee.’”
“I had some dreams; they were clouds in my coffee.”
National Gourmet Coffee Day “pours” each January 18.
Whether it’s the rich flavour, or the caffeine boost that can help a person wake up in the morning, coffee has become an important part of the Aussie start (or middle or end) of the day, and for billions’ others worldwide!
With hundreds of varieties of beans, and dozens of interesting ways of brewing, each bringing its own unique flavour, coffee has been developing over the years.
From espresso machines in Italy to fine grounds in a Turkish Ibrik, to the popularity of freeze-dried or instant crystals, coffee has evolved in many ways.
The improvement of coffee in recent decades means that coffee lovers and caffeine addicts alike can have more consistent expectations when it comes to the way their morning cup of Joe is enjoyed.
National Gourmet Coffee Day is a salute to this development of gourmet coffee as its flavour brings joy and delight daily!
The love of coffee is strong in Australia, with more than one in four (27%) indicating they cannot survive the day without it, and 9 in 10 (88%) stating they like it to some extent.
Australians have a deep love for gourmet, specialty coffee, treating it as a cultural ritual focused on quality, craftsmanship, skilled baristas, and unique flavour profiles, evident in their high consumption, sophisticated cafe scene and willingness to pay for premium experiences, even embracing home brewing with machines like Nespresso for consistent quality.
Aussies unique gourmet coffee culture is built around independent cafes and a commitment to quality. This preference for high-quality, artisanal coffee sets Australians apart in the global market.
Our local market is largely driven by small, independently owned cafes. This differs from countries with a higher presence of large chain coffee stores and highlights Australia’s unique dedication to quality over convenience.
Australia’s younger generations have a greater dependency on coffee, with around a third needing it to survive the day (33% Gen Y and 30% Gen X). By comparison the Builders generation are the most likely to see coffee as something nice to have but don’t need it (45%).
We also don’t mind paying for what we love, with more than four in five Australians (84%) spending money on coffee in an average week, based on taste and preference.
The majority of Australians who drink coffee will make a coffee at home on a usual weekday (86%). However, when it comes to purchasing a coffee from a café, younger generations are more likely to do so than their older counterparts (61% Gen Z, 53% Gen Y cf. 36% Gen X, 33% Baby Boomers, 26% Builders).
Coffee drinkers who prefer espresso coffee are the most likely to purchase their coffee from a cafe (60% cf. 36% coffee pods, 22% instant coffee). More than three quarters of those who prefer espresso coffee (77%), however, will make a coffee at home on an average weekday.
The coffee-drinking ritual in Australia is well established. Almost every conversation usually starts with ‘Wanna grab a cup of coffee', whether it's a date, a colleague, or even a best friend.
The coffee in Australia is not about quantity but quality and that's what makes the gourmet coffee so special. It is believed that Australian coffee is the best in the world. Aussies see coffee as a part of their daily routine and it's so important to them that they walk into their favourite cafe every day and even brew coffee at home or in the office, and always to their individual taste and preference.
Coffee drinking is an essential part of the daily lives of Australians. We usually place importance on the quality of the beans, the type, roast and they take their time to brew coffee or enjoy it from their favourite cafes. We can say that we have nailed the approach to coffee drinking and are models for coffees in other parts of the world.
We can recreate our versions of flat white or espresso at home. It's so simple. Well, if we choose the coffee bean of taste and then the method of preparation. Perfection varies, one taste bud to the next. Did I say simple?
We have coffee options everywhere. Cafes are multiplying. Coffee roasteries have increased in popularity. Coffee lovers are trying their hand at roasting, giving people like me access to the best of the best beans. There again, most households now own a barista-style coffee machine, making it incredibly easy for coffee drinkers to get their fix of the sweet brown elixir of life without having to leave the house.
Coffee shops are increasingly the Aussies’ primary social hubs, driven by health consciousness, a desire for inclusive daytime spaces, the rise of "sober socialising" (especially among Gen Z), and the need for affordable, flexible gathering spots. And these cafes are driven by our gourmet coffee preferences.
Australia has a unique relationship with coffee compared to the rest of the world. We know our baristas by name, are proud of our complex coffee orders, and expect a high standard of flavour and quality from every cup. Research shows 59% of Aussies drink coffee for the taste, with the quality of the blend driving customer behaviour (68%), followed by affordability (58%) and coffee shop location (51%).
Our gourmet coffee culture shows no signs of slowing down. The future will likely see (1): An increased demand for specialty coffee where a growing taste for quality will increase the demand for specialty coffee; (2) Australian consumers continue to be aware of the need for ethically sourced and environmentally sustainable coffee practices: and (3) As tastes evolve, cafes may experiment with new brewing methods and even more flavour profiles, keeping Australia’s coffee scene dynamic and forward-thinking.
Australia’s rise as a gourmet coffee powerhouse reflects more than just an increased caffeine intake; it’s a testament to an ongoing culture that values quality, community, and craftsmanship.
Oh, did I say “taste?”
And would that be one shot, or two?
Flat white?
Cappuccino?
Latte?
Short black?
Long black?
Piccolo latte?
Macchiato?
Ristretto?
Skim, soy, oat, almond, or coconut milk?
You name it - we've got it!
.
Fun Fact about Gourmet Coffee:
- In Finland, there are two legally mandated ten-minute coffee breaks enforced as part of their work days (something I’m sure we’d have no worries getting behind here in Australia).
- 30% of our nation drink three or more cups of coffee per day.
- 7am is officially Coffee Hour in Australia, with 24% of Aussies drinking coffee between 7am - 8am.
- “Don't talk to me until I've had my morning coffee”: 26% of Aussies drink coffee before doing anything else in the morning.
“Hit me with your best shot”
“Coffee, because adulting is hard.”
“No matter what historians claimed, BC really stood for ‘Before Coffee.’”
“I had some dreams; they were clouds in my coffee.”