Nation-leading response indicates Territorians are trading in love for beer to become cafe kings
IT’S official: Darwinites have swapped their Darwin stubbies for cups and mugs, and become the most passionate coffee lovers in the nation
Northern Territory
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IT’S official: Darwinites have swapped their Darwin stubbies for cups and mugs, and become the most passionate coffee lovers in the nation.
The Top End capital has shown it is worthy of the title of Australia’s cafe capital after a nation-leading response from Territorians to a high profile food critic’s search for Australia’s best cafe.
Through News Corp Australia’s Delicious Local search for Australia’s best cafes, food critic Matt Preston said Territorians had been incredibly vocal in sharing their favourite destination for a cup of Joe, breaking down age old stereotypes.
“It’s a good mark of the old cliche of Darwin being somewhere people didn’t wear shoes, had a gun rack in the back of their ute and like to drink beer as not necessarily being true,” Mr Preston told the NT News.
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“The old stereotypes are being buried by this new generation of Darwinians popping out, enjoying a coffee with a croissant or a wrap at their local cafe.
“Rather than having their milk with rum, Territorians are now having their milk in lattes with 90s roasted beans.”
Mr Preston said it was no surprise the cafes with most nominations were those in natural settings, such as Eva’s Cafe at the Botanic Gardens.
“That’s always been the way – you think of the Mindil Markets. Territorians love taking advantage of the outdoors,” he said.
“It’s something very much a part of Darwin. It’s great to see those sorts of places opening up.
“It does beg the question, what’s next for Darwin – coffee is also part of the laneways, the cool new sideways which now exist. It’s changed an awful lot in the 10 years I’ve been there, there’s lots of stuff to discover.
“People who see Darwin as a big steak kind of place are missing out.”
Hospitality NT chief executive Alex Bruce said while Darwin had long boasted quality coffee and cafes, baristas might be upping their game to help southerners feel at home.
“Darwin’s got a vibrant and mature cafe scene and you do get really good coffees up here," he said.
“It’s clear there’s a hipster drought in Melbourne, and a bunch of COVID refugees are up here enjoying our coffee culture.”
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Eva’s Cafe events and cafe manager Sophie Charles said coffee culture was good for Darwin.
“If you have a coffee to start your day it helps you hydrate, take a minute and enjoy your surrounds,” she said.
A shortlist for voting on the Territory’s best cafe will be published today – then we’ll do the Big Reveal on Monday, February 1.
Originally published as Nation-leading response indicates Territorians are trading in love for beer to become cafe kings
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