Perhaps it began with the coffee wars: the controversy forged entirely through disparaging comments about choices of hot drinks by politicians. An earlier example of the genre came from Jeremy Corbyn’s 2016 challenger for the Labour leadership:

Receiving his “frothy coffee” in Pontypridd’s Prince’s cafe, Owen Smith stopped mid-sentence to express some amusement. “I tell you it is the first time I have ever been given little biscuits and a posh cup in here,” Smith said, looking up at the owner David Gamberini, as his order was placed on the table. “Seriously, I would have a mug normally,” the MP added, examining the refreshments in front of him.

Smith, the journalist and reader were to surmise, was an ordinary man of the people. As such, the idea that he might be a cappuccino drinker, and worse, that the cappuccino might be served in a cup with a caramelized biscuit resting daintily on the saucer, could not be countenanced. It was anathema to his electoral strategy.