As a 'first post', just my 2 cents here, but an interesting observation at work (Melbourne CBD in this case) - the "instant-coffee dispensers" in all the break-areas are literally untouched on my floor (and I have no reason to believe it different on the other 34 floors), with staff bringing in their own coffee plungers - and on my floor, even personal espresso machines - to use in the break out area (deemed OH&S risk to have espresso machine at one's desk!).

Go into the lifts at break or at lunch, and watch every second person with a steaming latte cup from the local espresso bar.

Equally, watch all the local coffee outlets and espresso bars queued up with staff from the floor above, whom, it would seem, rather fork-out the cash for decent coffee, rather than utilise what workmates describe as 'free'-but-barely-palatable instant.

What does that say for our coffee culture?

(And I don't even drink hot coffee!)