They’re followed by the 8am office workers sneaking in scrambled eggs, the students after some avocado toast before the school bus leaves, the muesli lovers, the inner-city hipster types chasing bowls of goodness, the people who duck in for a takeaway coffee and croissant in a brown bag.
From 9am it’s pretty much a free-for-all: the mothers’ groups, the couples with their dogs (“do you serve puppacinos?“), the acai aficionados, the lunchtime daters, the yoga mums treating themselves with a chai after exercise, the older folks who just want to share some peppermint tea with their friends, those like me who stare into their coffee foam trying to figure out exactly what kind of animal shape is depicted there before they feast on a three-egg omelette.
It’s a chance to watch society in microcosm; to people watch, to talk to patrons about their dogs, to learn more about the baristas and the waitstaff (my wife is a particularly skilled “waitress whisperer”, an expert at getting to know people from all over the world). Forget about the pub in Cheers where “everybody knows your name” – it’s the staff at the local cafe who remember your name and your order now (“three-egg omelette and large cappuccino, right?” ).
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Yes, Melbourne likes to think it has Sydney beat in the best cafe stakes – particularly when it comes to coffee – but I’ll take Sydney’s sunshine and harbour views over Melbourne’s gloomy weather any day. Besides, enjoying the new cafe season and Australia’s expertise in cafe culture is something that every Australian can enjoy. Now pass the pink Himalayan salt and share that section of the paper.
