Tiny airport sign sparks heated coffee feud between Australia and New Zealand
The offending sign pokes at our national pride in the form of a good flat white, and where exactly it originates from.
It reads: 'Home is where the flat white was really invented' and, unsurprisingly, it didn't go unnoticed by Sydney comedian Tom Cashman, who posted a now-viral video calling out the claim as 'disinformation'.
'I'm from Sydney,' Tom said in the clip, which has now amassed over 850,000 views.
'If you know anything about flat whites, you'll know they were invented in Sydney. So I thought the sign was just a joke for our plane. But then I realised, it's permanent. They actually believe it!'
For those unaware, the flat white is a beloved espresso-based drink that features silky steamed milk and a shot (or two) of strong coffee - a staple on Aussie café menus from Melbourne to Byron Bay and beyond.
And while the trans-Tasman battle over who invented pavlova and Crowded House is nothing new, this latest dispute has reignited tensions like never before.
According to Tom (and a quick dive into Wikipedia), Australia's claim goes back to 1983, when a Sydney café named Miller Treat first referenced a 'flat white' in a review.
The drink gained popularity across Sydney's buzzing coffee scene, and by 1985, it was a menu staple at Moors Espresso Bar.
Even Parliament House in Canberra reportedly had a sign reading 'flat white only' during a milk froth shortage that same year.
One version involves an Auckland café whose owners admit they heard the term from a friend who worked in Sydney.
Another blames a botched cappuccino in Wellington in 1989, years after Sydney's documented origins.
A third story, from an Auckland barista-turned-author, says he was serving a flat white in the mid-80s using, ironically, an Australian recipe.
'What are we even talking about here?' Tom said.
While the Kiwis continue to push their claims, the paper trail overwhelmingly points back to Sydney as the birthplace of the beloved brew.
Tom doesn't hold back in his video, even joking that Wellington Airport is waging a 'disinformation campaign' with its flat white sign - and calling on the Australian Defence Force to 'invade Wellington and remove it with physical force'.
According to Tom (and a quick dive into Wikipedia), Australia's claim goes back to 1983, when a Sydney café first referenced a 'flat white' in a review, whereas new Zealand's was referenced as 1989
He also throws shade at Contact Energy, the New Zealand company behind the airport display, noting that its biggest shareholders are in fact, major US corporations. Meaning the 'Kiwi claim' might not be so local after all.
'This story really escalated,' wrote one fan on his video.
'You're single handedly keeping investigative journalism alive in Australia,' another joked.
'This is disinformation being spread by a foreign-owned company,' Tom added. 'Is it even legal to have this much disinformation at an airport?!'
While the debate over the flat white's true origin may never be fully settled, one thing is clear, this isn't just about coffee. It's about national identity, bragging rights, and the sacred ritual of a morning brew.
And for Australians, especially those from coffee-obsessed Melbourne and Sydney, the idea that the flat white didn't originate here is nothing short of sacrilege.
All that said, Tom did make one last comment and it was surprisingly in New Zealand's favour.
'I do like the fact that the flat whites in Wellington seem quite strong.'
One thing's for sure, the next time you order a flat white, be prepared to sip it with a side of controversy.
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