Not Just a Cup of Coffee
Most days start the same way for me. Wake up, get dressed, and walk to a local cafe to grab a takeaway coffee. A simple ritual that has become a constant in my everyday life. This small routine began when first landing in Melbourne back in September of 2023. Coming from Canada, where coffee culture is dominated by chains and pots of brewed coffee, I didn’t understand how good a simple cappuccino or flat white could be. After embarrassingly attempting to order a coffee how I would in Canada, I decided to ditch pot coffee and dive into the world of espresso and milk based drinks. Since then I have tried over 100 cafes in Australia and rated each cup in a note on my phone. What many people see as just a cup of coffee, I view as an experience. Trying a new cafe every day and comparing it to the last has become a small bit of excitement for me, something trivial that boosts my day in a small way.
People often view travel as a series of bucket list items to tick off. They often think and prioritise seeing the most iconic landmarks in a given city or country. Although fulfilling, they do not anticipate or plan for the travel that occurs between these experiences. The local bars, restaurants, streets, and architecture are some of the small things that make a city, town, or country unique. This is what a cup of coffee is for me. By trying a new cafe everyday I am immersing myself in the local community and supporting local business. Sure, back home in Toronto I can do the same thing. However, doing so in a new place, somewhere I chose to be, adds additional meaning to it. To me sipping on a cappuccino in a Melbourne or Sydney cafe has become just as important to me as walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge or lying on the beach.
This sentiment can apply to any trip or experience. In addition to seeing the iconic landmarks, make sure to walk into and try random local businesses. While there try something you have never had before. By walking into a random cafe in Hong Kong for example, you can gain an appreciation for how the locals live and immerse yourself further into the culture. These little experiences are what makes living in Australia worthwhile for me and inspires me to keep living here. By trying something new everyday I ensure that each day is different, and fuels the excitement of living in a foreign country.
5 Best Coffee’s I’ve had in Australia so far:
Jasper Caffeine Dealers - Fitzroy, Melbourne
Jibbi Coffee Roasters - Surry Hills, Sydney
Padres - Paddington, Sydney
Plus Coffee - Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Silo Espresso - Manly, Sydney
