Famous Death Row Last Meals
Debunking Beer Can Chicken: A Waste Of Good Beer, And Dangerous
Getty Images
Find out how we differ from our friends Down Under after the jump. For starters, espresso is everywhere on the island continent, and drip coffee is practically unheard of. Folks from Perth to Brisbane wake up with a punch-packing shot in the morning, rather than guzzling gallons of what they consider our somewhat watery filter brews -- though they do also enjoy a "long black" (what we call Americanos stateside -- espresso diluted with hot water).
Unlike the common American menus with their seemingly endless lists of concoctions, sizes and add-ons, coffee Down Under tends to be a bit more straightforward and standardized. Of course, like most other regional culinary traditions, folks will always gently argue about what "true" Australian-style drinks are -- not unlike North Carolinians arguing with Texans about what makes the best barbecue. But for the most part, the region's coffee scene is dominated by a few basic recipes.
For example, most Aussies will tell you that a latte arrives in a glass, not a ceramic mug, and are normally around eight ounces total volume. The local favorite "flat white," on the other hand, is almost always served in a ceramic mug, has a very thin layer of foam (if any at all) and is smaller, commonly five or six ounces, but no more. (Just need a quick jolt? That'd be a "short black," a.k.a. straight, unadulterated espresso.)
So beware of ordering a 20-ounce version of anything when you're visiting your friends in Sydney -- unless you want to be pegged as a tourist.
Have you ever had coffee in Australia or New Zealand? How did it compare to the American-style stuff? Let us know in the comments.
Amy Adams' Bikini Body Isn't What You'd Expect ...
St. Louis Sports Bar Gives Man Receipt Criticizing His Child
'Sopranos' Star Dies At 51
'Undercover Boss': Top 4 Moments From Season 4 [VIDEO]
Las Vegas Court Officials Accused Of Covering Up Sex Assault [VIDEO]
What's Behind This Door Is Terrifying
Xbox One-80: Microsoft reverses Xbox One DRM features
Groomers Lose Dog, Claim Not Responsible
Men's Wearhouse Abruptly Fires Its Founder, Spokesman
Male Judge Sets Dress Code For Female Lawyers And Sparks Uproar
James Gandolfini: Friends, Family Mourn Acting 'Genius'
'Today' About To Undergo Another Overhaul
'Lone Ranger' Star Johnny Depp Opens Up About Split From Vanessa Paradis
The Story Behind Shapewear: From Girdles to Spanx
The Boob Bandages Are Off!
'Grease' Cast: Where Are They Now?
PHOTOS: Beautifully Abandoned America
WATCH: Porn Star Says My Dad's Angry I Ruined Porn For Him
Paula Deen Allegedly Makes Racist Comments
Khloe's Workout Photos Are Pretty Alarming
Michael Hastings Dead At 33
Kate Middleton's Birthing Plan: Read All The Details!
Helen Lost 82 Pounds: 'Helping Others Is What Life Is All About'
From Child Hero To Murder Suspect
WHOOPS: NSA Director Has Embarrassing Hot Mic Moment
One Of FBI's Most Wanted Nabbed In Mexico
PHOTOS: Michelle Obama's Ireland Trip Wardrobe Is Making Us Jealous
LOOK: Teen Was 'Shamed' By TSA Officer For This Outfit
5 Ways To Get A Flat Stomach -- While Standing Up
Dolce And Gabbana Found GUILTY Of Tax Evasion
7 Beautiful Actresses Who Were Told They Weren't Pretty Enough
Inside Kim Kardashian's Pregnancy Nightmare
4-21-2010 @11:40AM gobo said... I was really surprised by the coffee culture of New Zealand when I visited. As you say, it's nearly impossible to get a cup of American-style drip coffee; even ordinary Kiwis use a countertop espresso machine or a stovetop "moka" pot for a flat white or long black. I was also surprised by what a difference it made to add the espresso shots to hot water for a 'long black' rather than the other way around for an Americano.
Reply
4-21-2010 @11:42AM Jennifer said... This is incredibly timely...I am off to Tasmania in June. Now I will blend in with the locals!
Reply
4-21-2010 @12:59PM doodoolemonque said... The likelihood of an outsider blending in with locals in Tasmania is highly unlikely. You'll figure out what I mean when you get there. Tasmania and its residents are different from any place and its residents, on earth.
Reply
4-21-2010 @1:09PM Leslie said... Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but we Americans like our coffee, but more so our caffeine. Doesn't drip coffee have more caffeine than espresso? Besides, some of us like the ritual of slowly sipping a cup of black coffee, rather than gulping down a shot of espresso. :)
Reply
4-21-2010 @3:02PM gobo said... I saw very few Kiwis drinking straight espresso ("short black") when I was there last year. Most drank it as a "tall black" (a modified Americano) or a "flat white" (basically a no-foam latte). Flat whites are catching on and are apparently the new hip coffee drink in London.
4-21-2010 @6:26PM Alex said... Just becouse its a shot doesnt mean you have to shoot it. Espresso should be sipped slowly over about 5 or so sips. Just like a good spirit.
4-21-2010 @2:22PM doodoolemonque said... By volume, no. Espresso has more caffeine, but there are so many different variables. If you make drip coffee with a can of Yuban, well, most canned coffees are made from rubustas, which have twice as much caffeine as most specialty coffees (arabicas) purchased at specialty coffee stores. They also have a lot more acid, so if acid from coffee bothers your stomach, switch to a good Indonesian and chances are your problem will lessen or disappear. I have recommended this many times with great success.
The problem with determining exactly which has more caffeine, "a cup of espresso" or a "cup of drip," well what's a cup to you? A standard 6 oz "cup" of coffee? an 8 oz "cup" of coffee, or a 10-16 oz mug? Also, there are different methods of making a 'drip." Do you use paper filters or gold coated ones? Do you use a flat bottom filter or a cone shaped one. How hot is the water that you use to brew your drip? These and other factors all make a difference. And then, we can talk about french presses.....
Reply
4-21-2010 @6:32PM Kris said... I'm an American who's been living in Sydney for nine years. I'm surprised you didn't mention cappuccinos. I don't drink them, but they are HUGELY popular. As is a "mocha."
Me, I'll take a large long black with a splash of cold milk, ta... :)
Reply
4-21-2010 @8:52PM Greg said... I disagree with this article. Flat whites in Australia are considered passé now and something primarily for the tourists.
Reply
4-22-2010 @1:37AM Simon said... Not passe (and definitely not for toursists). Rather a flat white is just your 'standard' coffee
4-22-2010 @7:48AM gobo said... What's the hip (or standard) coffee for locals to drink then?
4-21-2010 @11:53PM B. Radowski said... @ Greg: consider me and a large proportion of the residents of my Australian city (i.e. Perth) tourists, then! It's true, I suppose, that flat whites are somewhat passé, but plenty of Perth people drink them nonetheless, if what I see & hear in the cafes and coffee shops I go to is proof of anything.
Reply
4-22-2010 @5:55AM Matt said... Keep in mind, you're talking about Perth. We in Perth know that we're about 10 years behind the culture of Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
4-22-2010 @7:25PM Madeleine said... I live in Melbourne and coffee is a culture here, it's an art form (and food aswell). Many people dedicate there life to it, really. Melbourne is fulled to the brim with cool cafes serving amazing coffee. You cannot order a venti (with the exception of starbucks, but we're talking Australia) there isnt any frappe's with whipped cream or caramel swirled on top. There is just fantastic coffee, not dirty dish water in a take away cup..Clover coffee is pretty popular, as is espresso, long blacks, lattes and caps (I dont really hear many people order flat whites to be honest). Australians do coffee well
Reply
4-22-2010 @9:20PM Dylan said... Yes, Starbucks... They nearly went totally broke here because they just didn't fill a market niche. Gloria Jeans already had most of it filled. And their coffee is TERRIBLE. So everyone who was after great coffee went to independants, and everyone who wanted chain coffee went to GJ's, and Starbucks closed almost all of their stores because they were going bankrupt.
Is it common in America for cafes to be outlets for their own bean roasting? One of the best places in Brisbane for coffee, Merlo (http://www.merlo.com.au), has a range of great cafes making and selling their product, and they're not the only one (Brisbane also has Di Bella and Grinders, to name a couple)
4-23-2010 @8:22AM gobo said... Clover coffee is catching on here in the States. The Starbucks down the street has a machine, and it's very popular. And they'll make me a long black if I ask.
4-23-2010 @11:34AM doodoolemonque said... Yes, Dylan, shops with in-store roasters have been very popular in the states for several decades, longer in some areas. In the 90's, I owned three such shops in the San Francisco bay area. That was the era of greatest growth in that area of the business, though San Francisco and some other cities had them for many years prior to that. The biggest problem with this, is finding someone who understands both food and the science of food. Anyone can fire up a roaster and make beans brown, but it takes someone with a really good touch to roast a bean properly without drying them out or underroasting. My experience as a Chef really helped me understand the subtle food qualities of the coffee bean, while my love of science helped me understand the process itself.
5-07-2010 @11:09AM Lewyintheuk said... NZers have been fanatical about espresso based drinks since the early 90s. Not long after the first Starbucks opened in Wellington a barista at a cafe I was working in kicked a woman out of the place because she asked for a caramel latte - it was a bit of an overreaction! And as a bit of a correction a flat white isn't a no foam latte, in NZ it's generally a double shot espresso with a lesser amount of milk poured from near the bottom of the milk jug where the foam bubbles are smallest, making the drink much stronger and velvety. Lovely!
Reply