The earth moved for Avalon residents on Monday morning when a minor quake was felt in the enclave on Sydney's northern beaches.

With a magnitude of 3.2, the earthquake was barely strong enough to disturb the froth on a soy chai latte but this did not stop locals from contacting Geoscience Australia to report feeling movement.

Geoscience Australia recorded that the earthquake struck just off the coast at 10.39am and could be felt across a 28 kilometre radius.

Geoscience Australia duty seismologist Andrea Thom said those who felt the quake noted a "rolling sensation and small vibrations". 

She said small earthquakes were regular occurrences in Sydney and its surrounds with about 82 recorded in a 200-square-kilometre area of the city since 2010.

"Earthquakes are not particularly unusual for the area but they are often not very strong so people do not feel them," she said. 

The seismological activity was short-lived, lasting barely a few seconds.

A number of Avalon residents contacted by Fairfax Media said they did not feel a thing.

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre released a statement saying the quake did not pose a tsunami threat to the Australian mainland.