Now you may have picked up that I love coffee
And it’s not just because of the energy boost or the comforting aroma while my little internal voice says to me ‘you’ve got this’, but also because I choose to support local businesses when I buy my coffee.
In this blog post, I’ll share some fun facts that explain why you should also consider buying your coffee from a small business instead of a big chain.
Your purchase boosts the Australian economy.
Buying coffee from a small business boosts the Australian economy. In fact, 95% of coffee shops in Australia are independently owned and operated, which means that your money stays in the local economy.
The café industry in Australia is also a significant employer, with approximately 96,000 Australians working in this sector. In 2021 alone, the coffee industry generated a whopping $7.7 billion in revenue.
Your purchase boosts your local community.
Choosing to buy coffee from a small business also benefits your local community.
Big chain coffee shops are available everywhere and at any time. Their goal is to make money and push their branding. But small independent cafes offer a unique experience that is passionate about their craft and enriching their local communities. A small coffee purchase from a big chain isn’t a big deal to them, but it is to a family-run business.
When you support a family-run business, you help to secure their income and future, ensuring industry stability and growth. To ensure viability, they ensure you enjoy the experience, love the coffee, and then come back. Not only because this secures repeat revenue for them – but they’re passionate about what they do – they want to see that enjoyment on your face as you take that first sip.
Big chains have contracts with big suppliers from far-off places to keep costs cheap, while local businesses tend to stay local. Supporting local often means investing in more than one small business.
The quality is guaranteed.
If you’re like me, you have your favourite barista who makes your coffee just right.
You don’t have to be a ‘coffee connoisseur’ to appreciate the work that goes into a good cup. They aren’t pumping out as many cups of coffee as they can without care. They have tried and tested everything to see what tastes the best and what their local customers prefer.
I dare you, ask them where their coffee is from – they’ll be able to tell you not just where, but that coffee’s origin story.
New customers are always welcome, and small café baristas are eager to talk about their products (unless it is absolutely hectic).
They don’t have KPIs like big chains, so they don’t face the same kind of pressure. This means they can be more laid-back and patient.
They want to provide customers with an enjoyable experience. You enjoy your coffee, and returning means they make more money, can put on more staff, and support more local businesses.
Because they establish mutually beneficial relationships with other local businesses, you’re getting quality, seasonal, fresh ingredients.
Please note…
There have been several international incidents that will affect the price of your local cup, so it will go up due to:
- Covid-19 restrictions
- Drought, then frost in Brazil,
- La Nina reduced crops in Columbia by 10%
- Stock prices have increased due to the floods in Australia
- Petrol (and therefore shipping) prices inflated due to…. Well you know……war.
- Coffee comes from remote places, so it is expensive to ship in
Café owners have been hesitant to increase their prices, but they cannot continue absorbing these costs without risking bankruptcy. So, it’s essential to support your local café, even if the prices have increased slightly.
So please, continue to support your local café for your takeaway coffee. Because it isn’t just a cup of coffee, it’s supporting that local business, the local economy, and other local businesses, and the knock-on effect supports the whole Australian economy.
Every coffee has a silver lining.
But to reassure you that you are doing the right thing, I’ll finish with a fun fact.
Research indicates that a moderate, freshly ground coffee intake was associated with a lower risk of dementia than non-coffee drinkers. Conversely, consuming decaf or a heavy intake of instant coffee can increase your chances of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
(Note: It is important to remember that if you have a genetic risk of dementia and drink a lot of coffee, your risk of dementia is higher than if you don’t drink coffee at all).
Buying coffee from a small business is not just about the beverage itself, but also about supporting the local economy, local communities, and other local businesses. Plus, a moderate, freshly ground coffee intake is associated with a lower risk of dementia than non-coffee drinkers. So, the next time you’re buying coffee, consider supporting your local café – your money will go right back into your local community and economy with 96,000 Australians employed in the industry and generating $7.7 billion in 2021 into the Aussie dollar.
Excessive noise affects your coffees taste.
I’ll conclude with a #FunFact: Studies show that most diners are less sensitive to the taste senses associated with coffee while under the influence of noise. The senses of bitterness, aroma and intensity are most affected. Louder noise diminished the ability to attend to specific elements of the experience.
So, to get all these benefits mentioned and enjoy them in an ambient setting that won’t ruin your experience, go and see our favourite baristas at Foliage in Norwood SA. Don’t forget to tell them the Ambient Menu sent you 😉
References
- Statista Research Team. April, 2022. Topic: Coffee market in Australia. [online] Available at: <https://www.statista.com/topics/4615/coffee-market-in-australia/#dossierKeyfigures>
- Towell, N., 2022. Melbourne coffee drinkers warned the $6 flat white is coming. SMH, [online] Available at: <https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/melbourne-coffee-drinkers-warned-the-6-flat-white-is-coming-20220418-p5ae6i.html>
- Yuan Zhang, Hongxi Yang, Shu Li, Zhi Cao, Wei-Dong Li, Tao Yan & Yaogang Wang (2021) Association of coffee and genetic risk with incident dementia in middle-aged and elderly adults, Nutritional Neuroscience, DOI: 10.1080/1028415X.2021.1966868