Melbourne takes pride in having the best coffee in the world. However, some of the tens of thousands of fans at this year’s Australian Open had difficulties getting a hot brew at the tournament.
Over the years, the organizers have made significant efforts to enhance the refreshments options during the event, and a variety of establishments at the Melbourne Park precinct now offer everything from gourmet meals to cocktails.
However, fans are lining up for the city’s favourite beverage at the 15 coffee shops that Tennis Australia claims are scattered throughout the 40-hectare (99-acre) property.
Katherine Wright, a spectator who has been coming to the tournament for five years now, said as she lined up for coffee: “We need more coffee places open… We are big coffee drinkers, especially Melburnians.”
Another Melburnian named Liz shared that she stood in line for half an hour for just a cup of coffee when rain halted the play for six hours on the outer courts. The spectator said: “This is a well-established global event… You actually need to be providing better service to the consumer.”
Malgorzata Halaba, a fan from Poland attending her second Australian Open this year, stressed she couldn’t do without coffee. She said: “It seems it took me a day and a half, and several kilometres of walking around the grounds, to find coffee… And jet-lagged as I am, coffee is a lifesaver.”
Source: CNA