Shane McMahon's Ass
11-10-2009, 09:24 PM
SOY coffee drinkers are steaming after being shunned by Sydney cafes with no-soy policies.
Customers who prefer the alternative to dairy for its taste or for health reasons are being told by zealous baristas to get their caffeine fix elsewhere.
Reasons for refusing to sell soy-milk coffees vary.
Some cafes say heating soy milk in addition to full-cream and skim milk is too much trouble.
Others, such as those in Leichhardt's Italian cafe precinct, decline on the grounds of tradition.
In northern Sydney, no-soy establishments include Awaba Cafe at Balmoral and Wharfy's at Mosman.
At Awaba The Sunday Telegraph witnessed staff telling customers it was a "pain in the a***" to heat soy milk, with a waiter saying the cafe didn't need soy drinkers' business.
Management chose not to comment.
Mosman 26-year-old Camilla Morgan, who ordered soy milk at Awaba, was told it was unavailable, but that a nearby cafe served it.
"I think it's ignorant and seems like an uninformed business decision considering the public's increased concerns about health and that a lot of people have dairy intolerances," Ms Morgan said.
Angela Tsolakides, a passionate coffee drinker, was also refused soy.
"I was very disappointed to see that the waiter simply said they didn't want soy milk in the shop," the Putney 25-year-old said.
Wharfy's at Mosman Wharf, which the Los Angeles Times claimed in 2005 served the "best breakfast in the world", does not serve soy, but owner Daragh Costrave said patrons could bring their own.
He said the cafe had offered soy, but found supplies were wasted because too few ordered it.
He added that his wife, a nurse, believed soy milk was not a good health option because of estrogen and sugar levels.
Barista Guy Stagnitta at Leichhardt's Bar Italia said the cafe chose not to serve soy for traditional reasons and patrons who asked for it were politely referred elsewhere.
"The problem is when they are lactose-intolerant," he said.
"But we just tell them nicely to go to the next cafe and they're normally good about it.''
Renee Beglin, barista at popular Balmoral haunt Bathers' Pavilion, said turning away soy drinkers was like not serving vegetarian meals.
"It's silly not to serve soy," she said. "Customers are savvy, especially in Sydney. They know what they want and are entitled to get it."
The director of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's allergy unit, Rob Loblay, said lactose intolerance was becoming more prevalent.
He estimated up to 10 per cent of Australians suffered "unpleasant" symptoms from dairy products.
Customers who prefer the alternative to dairy for its taste or for health reasons are being told by zealous baristas to get their caffeine fix elsewhere.
Reasons for refusing to sell soy-milk coffees vary.
Some cafes say heating soy milk in addition to full-cream and skim milk is too much trouble.
Others, such as those in Leichhardt's Italian cafe precinct, decline on the grounds of tradition.
In northern Sydney, no-soy establishments include Awaba Cafe at Balmoral and Wharfy's at Mosman.
At Awaba The Sunday Telegraph witnessed staff telling customers it was a "pain in the a***" to heat soy milk, with a waiter saying the cafe didn't need soy drinkers' business.
Management chose not to comment.
Mosman 26-year-old Camilla Morgan, who ordered soy milk at Awaba, was told it was unavailable, but that a nearby cafe served it.
"I think it's ignorant and seems like an uninformed business decision considering the public's increased concerns about health and that a lot of people have dairy intolerances," Ms Morgan said.
Angela Tsolakides, a passionate coffee drinker, was also refused soy.
"I was very disappointed to see that the waiter simply said they didn't want soy milk in the shop," the Putney 25-year-old said.
Wharfy's at Mosman Wharf, which the Los Angeles Times claimed in 2005 served the "best breakfast in the world", does not serve soy, but owner Daragh Costrave said patrons could bring their own.
He said the cafe had offered soy, but found supplies were wasted because too few ordered it.
He added that his wife, a nurse, believed soy milk was not a good health option because of estrogen and sugar levels.
Barista Guy Stagnitta at Leichhardt's Bar Italia said the cafe chose not to serve soy for traditional reasons and patrons who asked for it were politely referred elsewhere.
"The problem is when they are lactose-intolerant," he said.
"But we just tell them nicely to go to the next cafe and they're normally good about it.''
Renee Beglin, barista at popular Balmoral haunt Bathers' Pavilion, said turning away soy drinkers was like not serving vegetarian meals.
"It's silly not to serve soy," she said. "Customers are savvy, especially in Sydney. They know what they want and are entitled to get it."
The director of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's allergy unit, Rob Loblay, said lactose intolerance was becoming more prevalent.
He estimated up to 10 per cent of Australians suffered "unpleasant" symptoms from dairy products.