We Oxfordians have enjoyed a daily cup to galvanise us into action every morning since the opening of Europe’s first coffee house on the corner of Queen’s Lane in 1654...or was it just across The High (at the now Grand Café) in circa 1650, according to Samuel Pepys’ diaries?

It seems there has been a dispute rolling for centuries and the black stuff is still dividing us – especially in the city of dreaming spires.

We may be known as a nation of tea drinkers (and I still love my PG Tips), but look along any high street and the likes of (dare I mutter their names) Starbucks, Costa and Caffè Nero prevail between the mobile phone and discount stores.

However, Oxford is now (thankfully) well and truly riding the crest of the third wave of caffeine culture.

With stripped wooden floors, exposed brickwork, blackboard menus and pendant lights, coffee shops are now cool the way teashops were quaint.

And, caffeine addicts staunchly support their favourite haunts such as Quarter Horse, Zappi’s and (new kid on the block) Joseph Perks & Co, who played host to the first of these rather unusual events.

Witney-based roastery Ue decided to settle this long-standing rivalry once and for all by running Oxford’s inaugural Barista Slam.

One thing at least we can all agree on is that the standard of the coffee we now enjoy has definitely improved – certainly since those obsessives from Down Under shared their infectious enthusiasm with provenance and blend with us Limeys.

Talented baristas have elevated coffee from a mere commodity to an artisanal foodstuff and some art on a drink can engage and delight customers – a sure sign that the whole process has been performed with precision and pride.

With a £500 cash prize, dozens of the UK’s finest gathered for a straight knockout style competition – winner taking all.

With prized milk jugs swinging from their retro denim belt loops the competitors clamoured at the highly polished machines to get some final practice before getting all frothy and creating some impressive designs in their perfectly smooth and glossy Cravendale.

Would a roll of the dice determine a simple heart, a testing rosetta or (the piece de resistance)or perhaps a landing phoenix?

With just five minutes to complete two examples to present to the judging panel – which included three-time UK latte art champ Dhan Tamang – the pressure was on.

St Clement’s was buzzing and it looked like our OX4 boys would extract the out-of-towners from the competition with a bitter taste in their mouth.

Sadly, it seems the Tom Cruise of caffeine is actually a girl who lives in Surrey.

Fancy having a go behind the espresso machine yourself? Coffee roasters to the Queen, Ue, offer a personal one-on-one lesson with their lead barista – going over all the main components of grind adjustment, espresso making, milk texturing and latte art. Visit uecoffeeroasters.com