When a visiting celebrity takes aim at something Australians hold dear, you can bet there'll be a reaction. But Charlie Hunnam's recent brutal assessment of Melbourne's world-famous coffee scene has touched a particularly sensitive nerve—one that runs deep through decades of cultural identity and immigrant heritage.
The 45-year-old British actor, best known for his role in Sons of Anarchy, didn't mince words during his appearance on ABC's breakfast radio show this week.
'Do you miss the coffee at all, or are you sick of people talking about the coffee?' host Willem Verhoeven asked. Hunnam responded that he was 'tired of people talking about the coffee'.
But he didn't stop there. The Newcastle-born star launched into a scathing critique that would make any Melbourne barista wince: 'Stop—for the love of God—claiming you have the best coffee in the world, because you're making a mockery of it,' he said.
'I think your coffee sucks. It's like a lukewarm, milky, coffee milkshake.'
The cultural clash behind the criticism
Hunnam's preference is clear—he wants 'a strong, punchy cup of dark roast black coffee where, like, the spoon will stand straight up.' It's a distinctly British approach to coffee that clashes dramatically with Melbourne's Italian-influenced espresso culture.
Despite his coffee complaints, Hunnam did acknowledge that Melbourne was one of his 'favourite cities in the world, maybe my favourite city in the world' - adding 'Sorry, lovely people of Melbourne, because I do adore you.'
The actor has spent considerable time in Melbourne, having filmed The True History of The Kelly Gang there in 2019 and returned in 2021 to film Shantaram for Apple TV.
Currently, he's riding high on the success of his lauded role as serial killer Ed Gein in Netflix's Monster series.
The immigrant roots of Australia's coffee obsession
To understand why Hunnam's comments hit so hard, you need to appreciate the deep cultural roots of Australian coffee culture. Melbourne's coffee story begins in earnest after World War II, when waves of European immigrants—particularly Italians and Greeks—arrived in Australia, bringing a love for espresso.
At the time, Melbourne's café scene was modest, with tea still the dominant drink of choice—a reality many seniors will remember from their younger days. In 1952, the first espresso machines began to appear in Australia, and many fine Italian coffee houses were emerging in Melbourne and Sydney.
Melbourne's coffee heritage
Pellegrini's Espresso Bar and Legend Café often lay claim to being Melbourne's first 'real' espresso bars, opening their doors in 1954 and 1956 respectively.
After World War II, Italian and Greek immigrants brought their stovetop espresso makers to the country, and in the 1950s, a network of Italian cafes and coffee shops began serving espresso across Australia.
Australia's greatest coffee export
The flat white—regarded as Australia's greatest culinary export, may trace its origins to Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s.
The most convincing evidence points to Sydney, where the exact phrase 'flat white' appeared on the coffee menu in Preston's cafe, Moors Espresso Bar, in 1985 in Sydney's Chinatown area.
The flat white was born from the combination of Italian cafe culture and Antipodian casualness. It emerged when customers accustomed to simple coffee at home encountered the sophisticated Italian cafe culture brought by new immigrants.
Did you know?
Did you know?
Today, 95 per cent of Australia's coffee shops are independently owned, showing how deeply the artisanal approach to coffee has become embedded in Australian culture. This resistance to chain dominance helps maintain the quality standards Melbourne is famous for.
The reaction reveals deeper cultural pride
The response to Hunnam's comments on social media was swift and telling. One Instagram user pointed out the irony: 'Mind you an American telling us about coffee.' (Hunnam is definitely British—he was born in Newcastle.)
This defensive reaction speaks to something deeper than coffee preferences. Coffee devotees in Melbourne proclaim superiority, with CNN's Andrew Demaria writing that critics harbor 'jealousy because we Melburnians know we have the best coffee in the world, built upon a strong Greek and Italian migrant influence.'
A generational divide in coffee appreciation
Australians tend to prefer coffee with very little sugar or flavouring added, and the focus is on the quality of the bean and the brewing process. This represents a stark contrast to the heavily flavoured, chain-store approach that dominates in many other countries.
By the 2000s, Melbourne had become Australia's third-wave coffee epicentre, emphasising bean origin, brewing methods, and barista craft. The city's love for flat whites, single origins, pour-overs, and latte art soon gained international acclaim.
For many Australian seniors, this evolution represents a remarkable transformation they witnessed firsthand—from a tea-drinking nation to one where Melbourne is sometimes called the 'coffee capital of the world' with its plethora of cafés and roasteries.
What makes Australian coffee culture unique
- Built on post-war Italian and Greek immigration
- 95 per cent of coffee shops are independently owned
- Focus on quality beans and brewing technique over flavoured drinks
- Created the flat white, now enjoyed worldwide
- Emphasis on cafe culture and community spaces
The bigger picture
Hunnam's comments, while provocative, highlight an interesting cultural divide. His preference for strong, black coffee reflects traditional British tastes, while Melbourne's approach celebrates the nuanced, milk-based drinks perfected by Italian immigrants and their descendants.
This reminds us big trends can come from small towns, and that multicultural influence can be easily taken for granted in something as basic as your daily cup of coffee.
Perhaps what's most revealing isn't whether Hunnam is right or wrong about Melbourne's coffee, but how passionately Australians defend something that has become so central to their cultural identity.
What This Means For You
Whether you agree with Charlie Hunnam's assessment or stand firmly with Melbourne's coffee defenders, one thing is certain—this debate has stirred up more than just coffee grounds. It's touched on issues of cultural identity, immigrant heritage, and the pride that comes from creating something uniquely Australian.
What do you think about Hunnam's coffee critique? Do you remember Melbourne's transformation from a tea-drinking city to a coffee capital? Share your thoughts and coffee memories in the comments below.
Original Article
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-15163873/Charlie-Hunnam-coffee-Melbourne.html
Netflix star dumps on Aus city in scathing review
Cited text: “Do you miss the coffee at all, or are you sick of people talking about the coffee?” Verhoeven said. Hunnam responded that he was “tired of people tal...
Excerpt: 'Do you miss the coffee at all, or are you sick of people talking about the coffee?' host Willem Verhoeven asked.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2025/10/06/charlie-hunnam-coffee-melbourne
Netflix star dumps on Aus city in scathing review
Cited text: “Stop—for the love of God—claiming you have the best coffee in the world, because you’re making a mockery of it,” he said.
Excerpt: 'Stop—for the love of God—claiming you have the best coffee in the world, because you're making a mockery of it,' he said.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2025/10/06/charlie-hunnam-coffee-melbourne
Netflix star dumps on Aus city in scathing review
Cited text: He told Verhoeven that Melbourne was one of his “favourite cities in the world, maybe my favourite city in the world”—except for one thing.
Excerpt: Despite his coffee complaints, Hunnam did acknowledge that Melbourne was one of his 'favourite cities in the world, maybe my favourite city in the world'
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2025/10/06/charlie-hunnam-coffee-melbourne
Netflix star dumps on Aus city in scathing review
Cited text: “Sorry, lovely people of Melbourne, because I do adore you.”
Excerpt: adding 'Sorry, lovely people of Melbourne, because I do adore you.'
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2025/10/06/charlie-hunnam-coffee-melbourne
Netflix star dumps on Aus city in scathing review
Cited text: Hunnam also spent a stint in Melbourne in 2019 to film The True History of The Kelly Gang.
Excerpt: filmed The True History of The Kelly Gang there in 2019
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2025/10/06/charlie-hunnam-coffee-melbourne
Netflix star dumps on Aus city in scathing review
Cited text: ... Hunnam was last in Melbourne in 2021 to film an adaptation of the best-selling book Shantaram for Apple TV.
Excerpt: returned in 2021 to film Shantaram for Apple TV.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2025/10/06/charlie-hunnam-coffee-melbourne
What Makes Melbourne’s Coffee Culture A Rich Brew Of History & Passion
Cited text: Melbourne’s coffee story begins in earnest after World War II, when waves of European immigrants—particularly Italians and Greeks—arrived in Australia...
Excerpt: Melbourne's coffee story begins in earnest after World War II, when waves of European immigrants—particularly Italians and Greeks—arrived in Australia, bringing a love for espresso.
https://www.outlooktraveller.com/ex...where-to-get-best-coffee-culture-of-melbourne
What Makes Melbourne’s Coffee Culture A Rich Brew Of History & Passion
Cited text: At the time, Melbourne’s café scene was modest, with tea still the dominant drink of choice and bars being the top pick on weekends.
Excerpt: At the time, Melbourne's café scene was modest, with tea still the dominant drink of choice
https://www.outlooktraveller.com/ex...where-to-get-best-coffee-culture-of-melbourne
Coffee culture in Australia—Wikipedia
Cited text: In 1952, the first espresso machines began to appear in Australia, and many fine Italian coffee houses were emerging in Melbourne and Sydney.
Excerpt: In 1952, the first espresso machines began to appear in Australia, and many fine Italian coffee houses were emerging in Melbourne and Sydney.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_culture_in_Australia
Coffee culture in Australia—Wikipedia
Cited text: Pellegrini's Espresso Bar and Legend Café often lay claim to being Melbourne's first 'real' espresso bars, opening their doors in 1954 and 1956 respec...
Excerpt: Pellegrini's Espresso Bar and Legend Café often lay claim to being Melbourne's first 'real' espresso bars, opening their doors in 1954 and 1956 respectively.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_culture_in_Australia
Coffee Culture: Australia's Love Affair Explained | ShunCulture
Cited text: After World War II, Italian and Greek immigrants brought their stovetop espresso makers to the country, and in the 1950s, a network of Italian cafes a...
Excerpt: After World War II, Italian and Greek immigrants brought their stovetop espresso makers to the country, and in the 1950s, a network of Italian cafes and coffee shops began serving espresso across Australia.
https://shunculture.com/article/why-is-coffee-so-popular-in-australia
Coffee culture in Australia—Wikipedia
Cited text: The flat white, regarded as Australia's greatest culinary export, may trace its origins to Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s.
Excerpt: regarded as Australia's greatest culinary export, may trace its origins to Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_culture_in_Australia
Coffee Culture: Australia's Love Affair Explained | ShunCulture
Cited text: The flat white, regarded as Australia's greatest culinary export, may have originated in Australia in the 1980s.
Excerpt: regarded as Australia's greatest culinary export, may trace its origins to Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s.
https://shunculture.com/article/why-is-coffee-so-popular-in-australia
Who invented the flat white? Italian sugar farmers from regional Queensland likely played a big role / 2024 / Stories / Hippocampus / The University of Newcastle, Australia
Cited text: The exact phrase “flat white” appeared on the coffee menu in Preston’s cafe, Moors Espresso Bar, in 1985 in Sydney’s Chinatown area.
Excerpt: the exact phrase 'flat white' appeared on the coffee menu in Preston's cafe, Moors Espresso Bar, in 1985 in Sydney's Chinatown area.
https://www.newcastle.edu.au/hippocampus/story/2024/who-invented-the-flat-white
Origins of the flat white—Peter J Thomson
Cited text: My theory on the origins of the flat white is that it comes from the overlap between customers used to simple plunger coffee at home and the birth of ...
Excerpt: The flat white was born from the combination of Italian cafe culture and Antipodian casualness.
https://www.peterjthomson.com/coffee/flat-white-coffee-origins/
Coffee Culture: Australia's Love Affair Explained | ShunCulture
Cited text: Today, 95 per cent of the country's coffee shops are independently owned, serving espresso-based drinks with various milk options.
Excerpt: Today, 95 per cent of Australia's coffee shops are independently owned
https://shunculture.com/article/why-is-coffee-so-popular-in-australia
Coffee Culture: Australia's Love Affair Explained | ShunCulture
Cited text: Today, 95 per cent of the country's coffee shops are independently owned, and most serve espresso-based drinks.
Excerpt: Today, 95 per cent of Australia's coffee shops are independently owned
https://shunculture.com/article/why-is-coffee-so-popular-in-australia
Netflix star dumps on Aus city in scathing review
Cited text: Mind you an American telling us about coffee.” (Hunnam is definitely British—he was born in Newcastle.)
Excerpt: One Instagram user pointed out the irony: 'Mind you an American telling us about coffee.' (Hunnam is definitely British—he was born in Newcastle.)
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2025/10/06/charlie-hunnam-coffee-melbourne
The disputed history of the flat white, the coffee drink Starbucks just introduced in North America—The Washington Post
Cited text: CNN’s Andrew Demaria writes that critics of the city’s coffee harbor “jealousy because we Melburnians know we have the best coffee in the world, built...
Excerpt: Coffee devotees in Melbourne proclaim superiority, with CNN's Andrew Demaria writing that critics harbor 'jealousy because we Melburnians know we have the best coffee in the world, built upon a strong Greek and Italian migrant influence.'
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...k-starbucks-just-introduced-in-north-america/
Coffee Culture: Australia's Love Affair Explained | ShunCulture
Cited text: Australians tend to prefer coffee with very little sugar or flavouring added, and the focus is on the quality of the bean and the brewing process.
Excerpt: Australians tend to prefer coffee with very little sugar or flavouring added, and the focus is on the quality of the bean and the brewing process.
https://shunculture.com/article/why-is-coffee-so-popular-in-australia
What Makes Melbourne’s Coffee Culture A Rich Brew Of History & Passion
Cited text: By the 2000s, Melbourne had become Australia's third-wave coffee epicentre, emphasising bean origin, brewing methods, and barista craft. The city’s lo...
Excerpt: By the 2000s, Melbourne had become Australia's third-wave coffee epicentre, emphasising bean origin, brewing methods, and barista craft.
https://www.outlooktraveller.com/ex...where-to-get-best-coffee-culture-of-melbourne
Coffee culture in Australia—Wikipedia
Cited text: Melbourne is sometimes called the 'coffee capital of the world' with its plethora of cafés and roasteries.
Excerpt: Melbourne is sometimes called the 'coffee capital of the world'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee_culture_in_Australia
Who invented the flat white? Italian sugar farmers from regional Queensland likely played a big role / 2024 / Stories / Hippocampus / The University of Newcastle, Australia
Cited text: Australias coffee culture—a source of great national pride—is usually associated with the wave of Greek and Italian migrants who settled in Melbou...
Excerpt: Built on post-war Italian and Greek immigration
https://www.newcastle.edu.au/hippocampus/story/2024/who-invented-the-flat-white
Who invented the flat white? - Australian Geographic
Cited text: It also reminds us big trends can come from small towns, and that multicultural influence can be easily taken for granted in something as basic as you...
Excerpt: This reminds us big trends can come from small towns, and that multicultural influence can be easily taken for granted in something as basic as your daily cup of coffee.
https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/news/2024/04/who-invented-the-flat-white/
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