Celebrate World Milk Day with a brew

75 per cent of Australian adults drinking coffee daily (Unsplash).

Dairy Australia is urging residents, including those in Sunbury and Macedon Ranges, to drink their coffee with cows milk this World Milk Day.

The global initiative on June 1, began in 2001 to recognise the importance of milk for good health, and the dairy sectors contribution to jobs, communities, and the economy.

With 75 per cent of Australian adults drinking coffee daily, Dairy Australia said it is the perfect opportunity to reap the rewards of milk.

Melbourne coffee academy director and barista Charles Skadiang, said cow’s milk is the perfect partner to accompany any brew.

“Dairy milk pairs perfectly with all types of coffee blends, allowing the inherent characteristic of the beans to shine through while complementing the natural flavour of the coffee,” Mr Skadiang said.

“Mastering the art of steaming dairy milk [is]… not just one of the hardest skills to learn but fundamental in becoming a barista in Australia, as it’s such a huge part of our coffee culture.

“I’ve worked with a wide variety of milk over the years, but always find myself going back to dairy milk for its simplicity.

“It only contains one ingredient but steams well, has a natural sweetness and pairs perfectly with coffee.”

Dairy Australia said 97 per cent of Australian adults are not aware of how much dairy they should be consuming daily, putting long-term bone health at risk.

Cow’s milk provides more than 10 essential nutrients for strong bones and muscles, healthy blood, nervous and immune systems, eyesight, nerve function, healthy skin, energy levels and growth and repair in all parts of the body.

Senior Nutrition Scientist Dr Rivkeh Haryono said World Milk Day is a reminder of the convenient ways Australians can add or increase consumption of dairy to meet their daily needs for good health.

“For so many, a cup of coffee is the first thing we consume each day and tend to reach for throughout the day too,” Dr Haryono said.

“Taking our coffees with cows’ milk is an easy way to make sure we’re increasing our daily serves of dairy, and help to reduce risk of diseases like osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease.”