As a child, I don’t ever recall going out to a café for breakfast. It was undoubtedly something my family could ill-afford, and I am pretty sure there were little or no options available. However, a café breakfast or brunch is a common occurrence today, and coffee has been a central part of this cultural shift.
Post-war immigration introduced an espresso boom when European immigrants wanted to create a tastier coffee brew. The gentrification of inner-city suburbs in the 1980s helped fuel this coffee culture. There was a clear nexus between the rising café culture and Melbourne’s inner city’s discovery and commodification.
Australia’s relatively high standard of living played a part, and people had the time to enjoy a coffee as a social experience. But this experience remained the domain of affluent inner Melbourne suburbs. As a resident of the outer suburbs, I would have to travel to the inner suburbs of Fitzroy, Collingwood or Carlton to enjoy breakfast with a cup of my favourite coffee.
Since the 2000s, the trend has stretched beyond these inner-city neighbourhoods. The proliferation of coffee roasters and trained baristas now means that all Melburnians have come to expect the highest quality of coffee in their cup. As a result, the café culture has now become a ubiquitous entity in the outer suburbs of Melbourne.
Post-war immigration introduced an espresso boom when European immigrants wanted to create a tastier coffee brew. The gentrification of inner-city suburbs in the 1980s helped fuel this coffee culture. There was a clear nexus between the rising café culture and Melbourne’s inner city’s discovery and commodification.
Australia’s relatively high standard of living played a part, and people had the time to enjoy a coffee as a social experience. But this experience remained the domain of affluent inner Melbourne suburbs. As a resident of the outer suburbs, I would have to travel to the inner suburbs of Fitzroy, Collingwood or Carlton to enjoy breakfast with a cup of my favourite coffee.
Since the 2000s, the trend has stretched beyond these inner-city neighbourhoods. The proliferation of coffee roasters and trained baristas now means that all Melburnians have come to expect the highest quality of coffee in their cup. As a result, the café culture has now become a ubiquitous entity in the outer suburbs of Melbourne.
peterdannock