Coffee culture has become a big business in Australia. The Aussies are one of the biggest coffee drinkers per capita in the world, and we take it seriously.
We love our coffee so much that there’s an entire competition dedicated to it. The World Barista Championship is held every year in Melbourne. With baristas from around the globe competing against one another to create the best brew, they have a chance at winning the championship title and $35,000 prize money.
But just what are Australia’s most popular coffee drinks? The latest Square Australian Coffee Report was put together using data gathered from thousands of coffee bars and cafes across the country and the data revealed the following results.
#1 Latte
The nation’s number one coffee drink is the latte—which is a type of espresso-based drink originating in Italy. The word latte is Italian for milk, so simply translated a coffee latte is a coffee drink with milk in it. The basic ingredients include espresso and steamed milk, and the distinguishing characteristic of a latte is the micro-foam on the top of the beverage.
While the exact recipe may vary from café to café, most coffee lattes include one or two shots of espresso, steamed milk and sugar. There are also several different variations of the original latte, which no doubt appeals to the drink’s popularity. The most basic form is a latte macchiato, which has a small amount of foam at the top. There is also a latte americano, which has espresso and hot water, but no milk.
#2 Flat White
A flat white is a form of coffee drink that can be found in most cafes in Australia and New Zealand. It is becoming more and more popular as a staple drink in many cafes, especially as an alternative to the latte.
It is made with espresso and steamed milk with hot, frothy milk on top. It has a richness similar to that of an Americano, but with a smoother texture.
The flat white originated in Sydney and has now become a popular coffee drink throughout the world gaining popularity in both Europe and the US. In Australia, it is a common breakfast beverage, although it can, of course, be enjoyed at any time in the day.
#3 Cappuccino
Cappuccino was invented in Italy and became popular when espresso machines became popular at the beginning of the 20th century. The name is a surname derived from the Italian family name Capuchin and refers to the colour of the hoods worn by members of religious orders belonging to the order of Saint Francis of Assisi.
The drink is a combination of espresso, steamed milk, and foamed milk on top. But there are several variations of the drink, including one with equal parts espresso, milk and foam; another with more foam than milk, and yet another that omits the espresso entirely and is served in a large bowl-shaped cup. Often, cappuccino is served with a pattern in the milk foam and may be finished off with a dusting of cocoa powder.
#4: Long Black
The long black is a coffee drink made of espresso and hot water. It is made from 100% of the coffee beans. No milk, no sugar, just coffee.
Although an authentic long black is made with espresso, it can be made with a percolator or just boiled water from a kettle and is often simply referred to as just a humble ‘black coffee’.
#5: Espresso
The espresso machine, which he called the ‘fast coffee machine’, was invented by Luigi Bezzera in the late 1890s in Venice. Espresso translates into English as ‘fast’.
Espresso is a concentrated coffee brewed by forcing pressurized water through finely- ground coffee beans. It is widely known as the most popular method of preparing coffee and is commonly served in small cups. The espresso is also mixed with water or milk to create an americano or latte.
Coffee is King
While the latte may be the nation’s favourite drink, the flattie is the most popular way to drink coffee in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland, whereas, in New South Wales, cappuccino is tops.
These are just the top 5 coffee drinks in Australia but with so many different variations there is a coffee drink out there for everyone to suit virtually all tastes. One thing we can all agree on is that Aussie’s love their coffee—so much so that calling it the national drink of Australia wouldn’t be far wrong.
