Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/491374
44 STiR tea & coffee industry international n the land "Down Under", drinking coffee has become as much a part of the daily lifestyle as enjoying an ice-cold beer after work, savoring a rich and tasty steak-and- kidney pie for lunch, or relishing a glass of flavorsome domestic wine at dinner. It certainly wouldn't be wrong to claim that a very large proportion of Australians are, in fact, almost obsessive coffee lovers. After all, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that in 2012 – the latest data released – an astonishing 57.3% of those 18 and older consume coffee or coffee-related drinks daily. Coffee to the forefront "Although Australia was a tea-drinking nation, following its British roots, American soldiers first popularized coffee in the country during the Second World War," explains Brent Williams, president of the Australian Specialty Coffee Association (ASCA). "A wave of Italian immigration in the middle of the 20th century further helped spread coffee [consumption] in Sydney. Espresso-based coffees are today the drink of choice throughout the country, with lattes being most popular, closely followed by cappuc- cinos and flat whites," he said. The younger generation also has increasingly embraced specialty coffees in recent years."Virtually all drinks are espresso-based, although some specialty cafés are pro- moting alternative brewing methods via brewed coffee to better highlight the nuances of very high-grade coffees," said Williams. "I think we are going to see filter coffee grow as consumers become more aware of high-grade coffees. Our strong foodie scene also has embraced specialty coffee, with hundreds of local roasters creating a competi- tive market with high quality coffee available virtually everywhere," he said, adding that "Australian coffee consumers are some of the most discerning in the world." I Australia and New Zealand share a British tea-drinking heritage but their coffee consuming cultures are by no means boring or stagnant. In fact, the recent past has brought on remarkable developments in both countries – at a pace that is accelerating. By Thomas Schmid Two Countries, One Passion Coffee in Australia and New Zealand Photo Credit: courtesy of Bunker Coffee Bunker Coffee: Literally a hole-in-the wall serving specialty brew