For a country that prides itself on quality barista coffee culture, it’s odd how difficult it is to find a café open after 3pm when I really need a shot. In suburbs like Waterloo, where I live, it’s hard post-3pm but impossible after 4pm.

I know we’re an early-to-rise, early-to-bed city, especially during the week, but there are things we lose by closing our glorious coffee shops so early. Our famed coffee culture is both a world export and a tourist attraction. Want decent coffee in London? Look for anywhere Australian- or New Zealand-owned.

Quick, drink up, it’s 2.59pm!Credit: iStock

While global cities like London and New York have been infested by Starbucksification, which sees soulless, carbon-copy, commercial coffee brands dominate, the story of Starbucks failing to similarly take over Sydney is the stuff of legend. Sydneysiders largely shunned the coffee conglomerate in favour of local, independent outlets that have kept their individual personality. Starbucks only turned a profit in November, the first time in its 23-year Australian history.

One thing in Starbucks’ favour is that it’s open later; the George Street branch closes at 9pm. To remain competitive, our glorious independent coffee shops should do the same. Not just for tourists. For us. Of course, small business owners struggle with staff costs more than the big multinationals and some close at 3pm because it’s too pricey to stay open later.

But there’s a growing appetite for late-night coffee from Sydneysiders. It’s a common gripe I hear: why must coffee shops close so early? In an increasingly globalised economy, it’s an essential later afternoon fix for those working late.

In a recent lively X thread, I encouraged others to share their hidden post-4pm coffee hubs. It’s become a real Sydney hack: knowing where to get an arvo caffeine fix without resorting to Starbucks or even, *vomits-in-mouth-slightly*, Maccas.

“Buy a coffee machine!” I hear you cry. Not the same. Baristas are trained to make the perfect silky smooth cup, infinitely superior to anything I’d balls up using a machine. But it’s more than the taste, it’s the community, connection and social aspect of going out for coffee.

A café is the most reasonably priced public place to meet friends in a cost-of-living crisis when we can’t as often afford to go to a pub. We don’t say: why drink here? You can easily make this at home! The same is true for coffee. But Sydney isn’t keeping pace with the growing booze-free culture. The pub is triggering for some people who want to avoid alcohol. Coffee shops are healthier social alternatives.