Coffee and Melbourne. Just like strawberries and cream, wine and cheese or fish and chips, they go hand in hand. Melbournians love their cup of joe, be it in the early pre-work rush hour or over lunch with friends. No matter which way you have it, coffee is a part of everyone’s life. You can’t go down any street in the CBD without catching a whiff of roasting beans or the glance of a commuter with cup in hand. If you drink it or not, coffee is something that has become part of the city’s cultural identity. Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics research backs that up. showing coffee consumption in Australia is dramatically on the rise.
In almost every age group, coffee is the number one choice for men, where’s for the women, a simple tea is still popular. However consumption was closely linked with age. The 31-50 age group is the big insight, showing females definitely prefer a tea but its vice versa for the males. The overall numbers, however, tell the big story. In the lat 5 years the numbers have grown, with 46% of people, almost half the population, drinking coffee compared to 38% that drink tea.
Let’s break those stats down further. While options such as a cappuccino or latte are still most popular, especially in Melbourne, there’s a growth in people consuming black coffee. Coffee drinkers are far more picky and educated than what they were 10 years ago thanks to the evolution of the industry and variation of options available to them. Those picky people might be bloody annoying as they opt for extra shots, strange roasts or weird orders you can’t even pronounce. But their love of coffee has boosted the popularity dramatically and is affecting the industry in a big way.
Especially Melbourne enthusiasts, who are now looking for something to pair up their picky coffee order. From some of the busiest coffee
districts in Lygon St and Degraves St, to the smaller niche hot spots in Fitzroy and Brunswick, cafe’s have never seen so much foot traffic in their lifespan. This demand for coffee is in turn growing customer’s demands for food and comfort. While many people still rely on a quick takeaway on their way to work or on a break from the office, many cafe’s have transformed into restaurants and dining spaces where people can enjoy their hot beverage over a meal or even just to sit down with friends or work colleagues.
Varying beans and sources from across the world, coupled with the acceptance of catering for more dietary requirements, means that coffee enthusiasts are more inclined to enjoy their coffee with a nice muffin or sandwich, all while sitting back and taking comfort in the cafe. It definitely sounds more appealing than facing the blistering coldness of the city on your way back to the office! With that in mind, many small business owners have made the jump to opening up a cafe to help fill the demand in the market.
As seen in data recorded by the City of Melbourne, the amount of cafes and restaurants in the CBD has grown exponentially over the last 8 years when in comparison to Pubs and Takeaway Food Services. Despite the popularity of the latter two, establishments that serve coffee on a daily basis have popped up far more regularly across the city, with a booming 50% growth in registered trading names.
The countless new stores and shopfronts that have opened up have encouraged current business owners to make big changes. From things such as updating and upgrading their menus to, as further data shows, fitting more seats into their establishments. Even some of the most popular cafes in already popular coffee districts in Melbourne have had to make renovations to ensure that their businesses still remain competitive and can fit in all the coffee lovers while of course meeting all of their picky requirements.
So next time the boss sends you out on a coffee run for the office or you pop out for a quick break during a stressful day, and the temptation to sit back and relax while sipping away is too good, embrace it! Because you won’t have to look hard for a seat, as the city comforts you with it’s many warm cafes and welcoming hidden hot spots, almost delightfully as the cuppa will taste itself. Speaking of which, I think I might go grab one now…
