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How to Order Coffee in Australian: A Quick Guide for the North American Traveler in Australia & New Zealand
Traveling to Australia or New Zealand?
If you thought Starbucks was a confusing place in which to order coffee, you’ve neve tried in Australia (or New Zealand as this vocabulary applies there too). They don’t seem to call it the way we call it in the US or Canada, and it took me a few days--and a few misordered products--to work it all out. Of course, once you learn the lingo, it actually makes quite a bit of sense, mate.
- Short Black: This is a single shot of espresso.
- Long Black: Espresso with water (1/3 espresso 2/3 water). If you want a close approximation of a regular cup ‘o joe, order a long black. It’s equivalent to a Cafe Americano ordered in your local coffeehouse.
Simple, yeah? Well, I hope you didn’t want milk with that. That’s where the confusion starts.
- Flat White: This is a popular drink in Australia and New Zealand. As far as I know, it’s not served anywhere else in the world. A flat white is an espresso with steamed milk (about 1/3 espresso, 2/3 milk). The closest approximation in America would be a no foam latte.
So, what if you want a regular cup o’ joe with milk?
- You order a Long Black with Milk on the Side. This gives you cold milk to add to your long black.
Thankfully a latte is a latte and a cappaccino is a cappaccino.