Sydney wakes up and smells the coffee, and orders a double ristretto

SYDNEY, (AFP) - Of the many myths about coffee, the most pervasive is that Australians turn their noses up at it in favour of tea -- a cultural hangover passed on from the British along with cricket and the monarchy.

But Sydney's burgening coffee bar scene is evidence to the contrary and, with coffee consumption rapidly rising over the past decade, a new generation has emerged which is as well informed about their choice of bean as it is about the choice of grape in Australian wines.

Scott Callaghan, coordinator of Sydney's Gourmet Coffee Institute says it's now possible to hear people walk into a coffee shop and say: "I'll have a double ristretto of your Sumatran Mandheling."

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