From the farms and roasteries across South America, Africa, and South-East Asia to the swirling latte art bestowed by your local queer barista, each cup of coffee has its own personality; one which has been cultivated over lifetimes of care and appreciation and which is illuminated by individual expression.
Discovering this was not only the start of my journey in the love of coffee, but I’d argue was one of the first steps towards understanding and appreciating our place in the world.
Whether we start our mornings in a takeaway cup (just to get us energised for the day) or whether we’re lucky enough to sit and soak up the atmosphere at our local, every step along this journey contributes to a robust story or care and belonging, and it’s listening to these stories that makes us human, pushing us to understand more in everything we do.
The early mornings in cafes are the first thing I picture when I think about Australian culture. There’s a reason why you’ll see the doors of your local open long before anything else; Australians start their morning earlier than many other countries. Tradies wake up before the crack of dawn to do what they do best. Parents, too, to ensure they have enough time to drop their kids off at school before work. And cafes are there for it all.
It’s for this reason that cafes abroad can seem so different, with the night cafes in Korea reflecting the tight schedules of their work culture, and the independent cafes in Japan opening as late as midday (simply because their owner enjoys a sleep-in).
It’s a reflection of the environment in which they exist. They’re shaped by us- down to the most insignificant of choices.
And in such an isolating life, it’s the ritual of going to a cafe (no matter where in the world) and putting my trust in my community that makes me feel like I’m part of something bigger than myself. Especially when our right to express our identities (queer and otherwise) is firmly cemented within these rituals, it’s something that wouldn’t have existed without the support and dedication of those before us.
Our appreciation for art and the people in our communities has been ingrained into us, and over the years, we’ve made huge strides in progress as we become more and more accepting of the micro-communities that make up who and what we see each day.
And while not all of us care about the origins of our coffee (or the rosetta floating atop our latte), it’s still incredibly important that we respect and uphold the safe spaces that are cafes, especially during these scary and uncertain times.
Australia, I’m proud to say, has become somewhat of a pioneer when it comes to the unwavering support of the LGBTQIA+ community in cafes, with many (if not most) places choosing to openly display their love for our vibrant community through the flying of flags, and/or the presentation of rainbow welcome here stickers.
One of the many strengths that comes from this acceptance is the culmination of ideas and stories to help push for something greater. The fact that so many people care about what they do enough to make an impact on their world around them is what’s truly so special about being a part of creating something.
Even in towns with less visible queer representation, small pockets of the LGBTQIA+ community can be seen proudly fighting for what’s right and pushing for more and more acceptance in the world—something I’ve personally experienced both here and overseas alongside amazing advocates.
It’s because of their passion that so many people push for inclusive events. This same passion is shared by many marginalised communities putting in hard work to spread their love for something. And even if you don’t quite understand this passion, you can at least relax, soak in the atmosphere and make some new friends. These community events bring people together to create memories that last a lifetime, something that the Japanese coffee community, in particular, has been so successful in culminating through the love of their crafts.
Whether it’s music, food or another passion, there’s a safe space for everyone involved regardless of your identity.
No matter if you’re a creative, or just there for the show, it’s impossible to feel like an afterthought in a place so dedicated to appreciating something in such a meaningful way. These small accommodations often matter a great deal to those who need them, and are almost always just the result of listening… as simple as it may sound.
It’s because of these reasons why cafés around the world should always strive to be a safe and inclusive space for everyone, and the truth is, when you really care about those you’re trying to share these experiences with, it comes naturally. When it comes down to it, it can only benefit us to just take a second to take in what the world is saying, and you never know what you might learn as a result.