Hollywood star, wrestling legend, and…flat white critic? John Cena takes on Aussie cafés

Wrestling champion turned Hollywood star John Cena is known for his larger-than-life persona in the ring and on screen.

Yet his latest performance proved equally impressive—this time with a coffee cup in hand.

Melbourne, Australia, was about to receive a very public lesson in coffee culture from an unexpected expert.

During a viral interview, the 48-year-old revealed himself as a serious coffee connoisseur with a deep appreciation for Australian coffee culture.

His verdict was clear: Melbourne's coffee scene was unmatched.

Presented with an American-style flat white, he immediately diagnosed its flaws with the precision of a seasoned barista.

'I can tell because it's too big and there's too much milk, and the milk's not steamed,' he explained, noting that a proper flat white should highlight the coffee rather than hide it behind excess milk.

He advised that a genuine flat white should be served in a smaller cup—'six ounces or less'—with a double shot of espresso and perfectly steamed milk.

The cup he examined? Eight ounces with a single shot—disappointing by his standards.

Cena’s praise tapped into a rich history that Australians remember firsthand.

Melbourne’s coffee revolution began after World War II when Italian and Greek immigrants settled in inner-city suburbs such as Carlton, Brunswick, Collingwood, Richmond, and Fitzroy, bringing espresso culture with them.

The first espresso machines arrived in Australia in 1952, and iconic cafés like Pellegrini's Espresso Bar opened in 1954, followed by Legend Café in 1956.

These establishments became community hubs where European traditions merged with Australian culture.

Australians had once been the world's largest tea consumers per capita, drinking 6.61 pounds annually per person in the early 1880s.

The shift from tea rooms to espresso bars marked a cultural evolution many seniors witnessed firsthand.

Cena’s remark about Melbourne being 'coffee-first' rather than 'food-first with coffee as an accoutrement' explained why the city resisted international coffee chains.

In 2008, Starbucks closed 70 per cent of its Australian stores, including the controversial Lygon Street Carlton location—right in the heart of Melbourne's coffee society.

Australians had already prioritised specialty coffee culture, focusing on fresh beans, proper roasting, and expert brewing.

This was not mere coffee snobbery—it reflected generations of cultural appreciation for quality and craftsmanship.

While filming Ricky Stanicky with Zac Efron in Melbourne during 2023, Cena became a regular at Degraves Espresso in the CBD, one of the city’s iconic laneway cafés.

These cafés offered more than caffeine—they provided connection, conversation, and comfort.

His daily routine, as he shared with TheProject, was simple: 'get coffee, go to the museums and then go to a bar.'

He particularly loved the European vibe of Melbourne’s laneways, a legacy of post-war immigrant communities.

Coffee lovers and proud Australians rallied online around Cena’s assessment.

'Wow, how pretentious. I agree with everything he said,' joked one viewer, capturing the sentiment of those who understood good coffee.

Others suggested an entire series of 'John Cena going around trying different coffee shops,' while many chimed in: 'Australia has the best coffee hands down!' and 'He is 100 per cent correct with Melbourne being the best place. Their coffee scene is top notch best!'/p]

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 gained international acclaim.

Melbourne’s status as a coffee destination has been shaped by the dedication and skill of its baristas, whose craft has enhanced the city’s reputation for unforgettable coffee experiences.

What is your favourite Melbourne coffee memory, and have you noticed how the city’s coffee culture has evolved over the years?