Australia’s coffee culture is the envy of the world – as are our famously liveable wages for hospitality staff. But just because our café workers are taking home more per hour than their American counterparts, does that mean you don’t need to tip your barista?

Most Australians settling a restaurant bill wouldn’t think twice about throwing down an extra $20 note or more for the floor and kitchen staff, especially for a spectacular meal or extra-special service – nor would you hesitate to toss out a “keep the change” after a small purchase like a coffee or a muffin. Dropping your change into a dish on the counter was not only easy but saved you from dealing with all those increasingly useless little coins.

But the slow death of cash and shift to “smart” digital payment methods is also complicating the question of whether to tip.

“I think when [the price of a coffee] used to be like, not a round number, and people paid cash, they’d just leave the extra 10 cents or 20 cents,” says Dan Yee, founder of Surry Hills coffee bar and roastery Artificer. “You know, it was out of convenience, rather than sometimes just being generous.”

John Scalzo, Venue Manager for Melbourne coffee icon St Ali, says that while tourists were generally more likely than locals to tip, tipping is overall in decline. “The main contributor is the reduction of cash in circulation,” Scalzo explains. “Customers in the past even if they paid on card would often leave a tip in cash.”

If you’ve felt increasing worry that you should be tipping your barista, digital payments might be a factor. When the staff member working the till spins that little touchscreen so you have to confirm that no, you will not be adding a tip to the amount you’re already paying for your beautifully made oat flat white, it can be borderline embarrassing for everyone involved.

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But it’s worth remembering a few things if it bugs you: some of those food and beverage payment systems don’t give the admin an option to not show that step, especially if they’re built in the US where tipping is both a normal and necessary part of paying. At some venues, staff are told explicitly to hit the No Tip button before turning the screen to the customer, and some might be told to give the customer the option every time – you don’t know what the rules are at any given place.

And while our hospo staff are indeed well paid, that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t appreciate a few extra bucks. Yee says his staff roster is more casualised than it used to be, as many workers try to balance their bill-paying jobs in cafes and bars with the side hustles they picked up during COVID-era furloughs. There’s also a cost of living crisis on, if you hadn’t heard, and even semi-consistent tips can really make a difference for workers on hospo award wages.

“Most staff welcome tips, however many are reluctant to ask if the customer would like to leave a tip on their card as it is not a massive part of Australian culture,” Scalzo says.

But also, a lot of cafes may be struggling to afford to roster on enough people as both rents and supplies increase in price – so if your local’s staff seem more stressed than they used to be, it’s probably not just that they’ve overdone the cold brew. Tipping, even just every now and then, can also be a way to show both material and moral support for the workers who keep us caffeinated and breakfasted, especially as many businesses (and humans) are still affected by the lingering uncertainties and effects of the pandemic.

Ultimately, Yee says, when someone goes to the trouble of chucking a few dollars onto their bill (or the counter), it’s really the thought that counts. “The gesture is appreciated and nice,” says Yee, “and it’s not so much about the money.”

“Customers should definitely tip if they are happy with the service,” Scalzo advises. “Unlike the US where tipping is expected as it contributes to the staffs’ income due to very low minimum wages, tipping in Australia shows a sign of gratitude to the venue and the wait staff that they have created a great service and they have left as a happy customer.”

The short answer? Nobody’s expecting you to tip your barista, so you won’t be judged for hitting that “No Tip” button. But if you ever want to show some appreciation for the people saving you from a sad cup of instant, it’s likely to be more than welcome.

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