Your morning coffee is getting harder to serve. Across the country, small businesses are doing it tough, and hospitality is feeling it most. With the ban on credit card surcharges now in place, many operators are paying more just to keep the doors open.

Research shows 12% of Aussie small businesses, including the local cafés that keep us caffeinated, closed their doors in the past 12 months, almost double the national average[1].

But there’s good news brewing. MILKLAB, the country’s #1 barista-preferred plant milk brand, is giving back to the baristas and owners who remember our names and our regular orders, every single day.

Through its Australia’s Greatest Tip initiative, MILKLAB is handing out a $10,000 tip every month. The first went to Cafe Briquettes in Kew, Melbourne and the latest recipient is Johnny and Jozo Cafe in Paddington, Sydney.

MILKLAB has spent 10 years working alongside the coffee community, developing its range hand in hand with baristas and coffee experts. Their feedback shapes the formulations, their cafés are the testing ground, and their seasonal menus drive the refinements.

“MILKLAB wouldn’t exist without baristas and café owners. They’re the reason our brand tastes and performs the way it does,” said Natalie Latimore, General Manager Marketing. 

“Right now, a lot of cafés are doing it tough, and we wanted to say thank you in a way that makes a real difference. The work of a barista or café owner is physically demanding and often underappreciated, and Australia’s Greatest Tip is our way of giving that role the recognition it deserves.”

How it works

Each month, MILKLAB sets a new content challenge on Instagram, inviting baristas and café teams to share short videos of the moments only they understand: the latte art, the workplace friendships, the customer orders they’ll never forget. One standout entry wins $10,000 (or $5,000 each for the café and barista, if the prize is shared).

Entering takes three steps. 

STEP 1: FILM IT: Create a video showcasing the month’s theme. The judges are looking for creativity, community fun, a great team vibe, and bonus points for putting in the extra effort to showcase everything Aussies love about MILKLAB.

STEP 2: POST IT: Share your video on Instagram or TikTok. Tag @milklabco and use #AustraliasGreatestTip to enter.

STEP 3: YOU’RE IN: From the submissions, MILKLAB will choose the most memorable and creative entry to take home $10,000 cash.

The initiative launches alongside two product upgrades. MILKLAB Lactose Free has been reformulated using ultrafiltration technology to deliver the same barista-grade texture and froth, and MILKLAB Soy has been refined for consistency across espresso-based drinks. Both are available at Woolworths nationwide, so Aussies can bring home the same milk baristas have been perfecting behind the counter.

To find out more, visit www.milklab.com.au/australias-greatest-tip.