Cafés trump pubs when it comes to the way Aussies socialise - Sensationalist Headlines

As Australians continue to reach for their daily flat white, one Brisbane social researcher has discovered how cafes have changed the way we socialise. Over the past decade the cafe scene has taken over many neighbourhoods, while new business towers and apartment complexes now routinely have coffee shops on the ground floor. QUT senior lecturer Emma Felton said her project had showed cafe culture was now a firm fixture in Australian living and provided a meeting place for a diverse range of people. "One of the main drivers is that cities have changed, with more people living in them, and technology has changed the way we live and where we work," Dr Felton said. "It's an urban phenomenon, but it's also happening in suburbs and country towns throughout the country and all over the world." Cafes are even outpacing the craft breweries popping up in many suburbs. "While craft beer is popular, more of us are bonding over coffee," Dr Felton said. "The cafe culture is on the rise and it's more about having a social space that doesn't cost much." https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-10/how-cafe-culture-has-changed-the-way-we-socialise/10793596

I've also noticed hybrid cafes popping up. For example, my hairdresser is a cafe, and a plant shop down the road is a cafe. Cafes and brewerys/pubs work pretty well together. Cafes are good for a brunch or early arvo chill, and brewerys are good for a lunch or dinner or a bit more upbeat evening beer. I also find other countries have absolute shit coffee compared to Australia, it's became something I need to prepare myself for and factor into my plans on case there's actually a (supposedly) good cafe somewhere.

Haha my barber goes the other way, he’ll hand out a few cheeky beers on slow days. Not sure if it’s legal eg if he needs an RSA licence, but it’s not something you complain about lol. And yeah absolutely. At my new job we have a coffee run to a nearby café every morning, and every Friday for lunch we’ll all duck over to the nearby pub for schnitties and beers, and go back for more after close of business. Cafés and pubs are just such an integral part of the Australian identity.

This exists in the UK too. A tattoo shop near me in my hometown has a hairdresser's attached, but also a pretty big cafe; it's bigger than the local Starbucks. Plenty of cafes dotted around my current university city, and there are an equal amount of pubs, but they're rarely as busy. Also, some cafes here close at 9 so pubs are only filled with people that want cheap pre-drinks, or Irishmen. So many Irishmen.

Having moved to the UK I miss good coffee and cafes the most out of everything. Fuck Costa, Nero's, Starbucks, and all the shit, I want a locally owned coffee shop with a proper barista to make me a nice flat white.

depends on where you live, most cafes where I am are independent and serve damn good coffee

Derby is shit for coffee

maybe because im from greece,seeing people spending their time together in cafes seems something that wouldnt be newsworthy here but i didnt know how much that was relevant to other countries out there.

I didn't think it would be big news here either since we have a lot of Greek and Italian immigrants that brought the cafe culture with them, I guess it's just starting to pick up with young Anglo-Aussies too

Yep, would much rather a cafe than a pub anyday tbh, especially with some towns I have to visit for work

Come to Glasgow, great coffee scene.

Have you been to BEAR? I remember it being somewhat above average. If you make the trip to Birmingham there's plenty of great places also.