Did the barista kill off the billy?

For much of Australia’s history, tea was more than a beverage; it was an everyday ritual.

From the billy boiling over an open fire to the teapot warming the kitchen table, earlier generations of Australians drank more tea per person than almost anywhere else in the world. In fact, before 1950, Australia ranked among the highest tea‑consuming nations per capita. 

Today, that picture has shifted. Australia is internationally known for its vibrant café culture, skilful baristas, and espresso‑based coffee. 

Historians and market analysts agree that tea consumption declined in the second half of the 20th century as lifestyles changed, cafés replaced kitchens as social hubs, and coffee became associated with modern urban life. 

Globally, tea remains the second most popular drink after water, but is the home of “billy tea” now a nation of coffee lovers? In many ways, yes – but that’s not the whole story. 

Despite coffee’s dominance, around half of Australian adults still drink tea at least weekly, and Australians aged 65 and over remain the most faithful tea drinkers of all. 

What has changed is how tea is consumed. The traditional pot or billy has largely been replaced by a tea bag. This 20th‑century innovation offered speed, consistency, and affordability, and quickly became the default choice in Australian households.  So much so, that it’s very hard to find loose-leaf tea in a supermarket these days, and once-familiar brands have all but disappeared.