05/05/2026
I’ve always loved local cafés.
Not just the coffee—the rhythm of them. The early morning light on the footpath, the regulars drifting in, the quiet nods that turn into conversations. Owning and operating cafés has been a big part of my life, and I’ve seen firsthand how these little places become more than businesses—they become part of the community. A spot where neighbours catch up, friendships form, and the day begins.
But lately, something’s shifting.
I found myself pausing the other morning, looking at a menu with a $5.50 long black. Not with frustration—more with a sense of reality setting in. I understand why. I’ve lived it. The steady rise in cost of goods, rent climbing year after year, card fees quietly taking their cut, weekly superannuation obligations, Award changes, and now the looming removal of junior rates. None of it is small, and none of it is optional.
Café owners aren’t getting greedy—they’re trying to survive.
Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something important is at risk. Because when prices creep up, habits change. The daily coffee becomes an occasional one. The quick chat turns into a wave from across the street. And over time, the places that once held a community together start to fade.
I hope I’m wrong.
Because local cafés aren’t just about coffee—they’re about connection. And once that’s gone, it’s not something you can easily bring back.
