Heading out for coffee is a classic WA pastime: whether it’s after a morning cycle, for a lazy Sunday brunch and or a quick pick-me-up on the way to work, the coffee culture is strong.

Our love affair with coffee means we prioritise (and possibly pay too much for) a freshly roasted, milky and delicious barista coffee over the convenience of the instant stuff.

But just how much do you know about the coffee culture in WA?

Pouring good coffee, the WA way

Local coffee guru Kamran Nowduschani of Leftfield Coffee Roasters said he finds West Aussies to be confident and sophisticated coffee consumers.

“WA consumers are well-travelled. They’ve been to many places, tried a lot of things and so they know what they like and stick to it,” he said.

“West Aussies care more about quality and are happy to pay for it. That lifts the average quality of the beans being produced by local roasters and what you end up with is actually very good.”  

There are plenty of variables that go into a good coffee but in simple terms it can be narrowed down to three main factors: the freshness and quality of roasted beans, the type of espresso machine being used and the skill of the barista.

Get all of these things working in sync and you’re likely to score yourself an excellent cup of coffee.

In recent years, local coffee enthusiasts keen to explore the bean roasting process have popped up across WA, bringing fresh and unique aromas to the coffee culture scene.

If you buy beans to make your coffee at home, Kamran’s advice is to source these locally. Support your local coffee bean roasters and you can guarantee freshness and quality.

Order up! Step out of your coffee comfort zone and into the coffee culture space

WA’s a state of coffee lovers, but there’s so much more to coffee than flat whites, cappuccinos or lattes.

Get the lowdown on these six flavour-loaded coffee classics, then stride up to your barista with confidence and get ready for a new caffeine hit.

• Espresso
  For the coffee purists. Steam is forced through finely-ground, dark-roasted beans. Small in size, big on flavour.

• Ristretto
  That big-time coffee hit. Stronger than espresso as it’s the same amount of coffee prepared with half the water.

• Long macchiato  
  Originally two shots of espresso with a dash of milk, WA coffee-lovers upped the ante in the milk department and so the long-mac-topped-up was born.

• Piccolo latte
  The latte’s little brother combines a shot of ristretto with a dose of creamy, milky goodness. A quick hit for those on the run.

• Americano
  A single shot of espresso topped with hot water for a softer flavour. Similar to a long black but without the crema (espresso foam).

• Affogato
  The perfect way to finish a delicious restaurant meal – a shot of espresso poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Delizioso!

10 cafes across WA worth a shot (or two)

The coffee culture across WA is expanding beyond the typical coffee scene in metropolitan areas. Thanks to coffee enthusiast entrepreneurs, and travellers on social media, we can find a good coffee in most places we travel to now.

Café strips in Northbridge, Mt Lawley, Leederville and Fremantle are well established. While the Perth Hills and Swan Valley are newer and thriving coffee hubs for those who want to enjoy their coffee with a side of serenity.

Here are our picks for local WA cafés and roasters well worth a stop:

Blacklist Coffee Roasters, Subiaco
Local roasters and wholesalers known for their range of single-origin coffee and award-winning blends. Looking for something different? Try their coffee meat rub.  

Hobart Deli, North Perth
North Perth’s family-friendly café pours an exclusive Colombian blend from Leftfield Roaster and offers a breakfast menu until 2:00pm – perfect for weekend sleep-ins.

Café Fleur, Geraldton
You’ll find this charming café in the historical west end of Geraldton, using fair trade coffee from the local team at Karvan Coffee and a menu stacked with fresh local produce.

Southern Roasting Co., Manjimup
These speciality roasters started out as a pop-up shop before opening their café in 2017. Today they’re pleasing local coffee-lovers and brewers alike with their retail and wholesale offering.  

Benesse, Australind
A local’s favourite for a quick caffeine fix, this cosy café pours special house-blended coffee and follows things up with delicious dishes made with love.

Offshore Café and Store, Lancelin 
Visit this seaside winner on your next road trip and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with its selection of fresh baked goods and breakfast pleasers, all washed down with some top-notch coffee, of course.

Empire6714, Karratha
Find this family-owned café in Karratha’s city centre, where they whip up an impressive list of breakfast and lunch options alongside some local award-winning coffee.

Wild Mango Café, Kununurra
Feeling peckish? This joint’s known for hearty breakfasts, with locally-roasted Dimattina coffee pouring daily. Keep an eye out for their coffee of the month options, too.

Lowdown, Perth CBD
A regular on Perth’s “best café” lists, city workers flock to Lowdown for top-notch coffee (and some tasty eats) served at speed and at a reasonable price.

Modus, Mt Lawley & Victoria Park
These roast-masters continue started out treating Mount Lawley coffee-lovers with their single-origin, responsibly sourced and locally roasted coffee. Now Vic Park locals can also get in on the act.

Good people, good places, good coffee: that’s truly WA 

Now you know what goes into making the perfect cuppa, be sure to support local and give your barista a word of thanks the next time you place an order.

We hope you take pride in knowing you’re drinking one of the best coffees in the world right here in WA – so where’s your favourite local coffee spot and what’s your go-to coffee order?