Victorians spend more on coffee than other Australians, new survey reveals

WE know that Victorians love their coffee — and a new survey proves we are the nation’s top coffee drinkers. But what’s the pleasure costing us?

Proud Victorian Raquel Potenza enjoys a latte. Picture: Alex Coppel

VICTORIANS are the nation’s top coffee drinkers, racking up a $2.7 billion annual bill for their cuppa, says a new survey.

Each Victorian spends an average $564 a year on coffee compared to $451 for people in New South Wales.

Victorians also spend the most on public transport, with an annual average bill of $801 compared to $587 in NSW, according to the Victorian Communities 2018 survey.

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Proud Victorian Raquel Potenza enjoys a latte. Picture: Alex Coppel

The Bank of Melbourne poll of nearly 1200 people revealed we are the most loyal of all Australians — 94 per cent of Victorians are proud to be from the state, and 71 per cent declare they wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in Australia.

“Victoria, like the other Australian mainland states, has a certain character making it unique and different from the rest,” said Bank of Melbourne chief executive ­Michelle Winzer.

“I suspect Victorians are more likely to feel that the grass is greenest right here if they feel connected to their local community.”

One thing they are connected to is their coffee, drinking about 13 million cups a week at a cost of $52 million.

While our share of the national population is just over a quarter, Victorians’ coffee consumption is $2.7 billion a year, or 29 per cent of the nation’s.

Owner of Yellow Bird Cafe in Windsor, Clint Hyndman, said cafe culture was growing.

“People are not just addicted to the coffee, but also to the routine of coming into a cafe for a takeaway and ­socialising with the barista and other customers,” he said.

As for eating out, we each spend an average $55.70 a week, about the same as West Australians.

Commuters at Flinders Street railway station.

The survey also revealed Victorians spend $5.45 each a trip, or $74 million a week combined on public transport, compared to $4.49 a trip and $72 million a week in NSW.

Almost nine in 10 Victorians think it’s important to be exposed to other cultural influences and 62 per cent disagreed with the statement: “I feel there is a lack of multicultural diversity in my area.”

The Bank of Melbourne commissioned Lonergan Research to survey 1179 adults aged 18-plus and 285 Victorian business leaders.

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