Hey! or G'day!
Can I get a flat white?
(straightforward!)
Australia's signature coffee order
Long black, please
(straightforward)
Hot water with espresso on top (not an Americano)
A large latte on oat
(straightforward)
Latte with oat milk — very common
Takeaway, thanks
(straightforward)
To go
Australia's gift to the world. Espresso with silky, micro-foamed milk — less foam than a cappuccino, stronger milk-to-coffee ratio than a latte. The barista's canvas.
NOT an Americano. Hot water first, then a double espresso poured over the top to preserve the crema. Stronger and more aromatic.
A double espresso. Simple.
Espresso with steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. Served in a glass, not a cup.
Espresso with steamed milk and thick foam, usually dusted with chocolate powder. More chocolate on top than the Italian version.
A Melbourne specialty: a double ristretto in a 3/4 size cup topped with steamed milk. Stronger than a flat white.
Australians take coffee more seriously than almost anyone on earth. Bad coffee is a personal insult.
Starbucks failed spectacularly in Australia — the cafe culture is so strong that chains can't compete.
A 'flat white' is the default order. If you don't know what to get, get a flat white.
Alternative milks are standard, not a special request. Most cafes have oat, soy, and almond.
The long black is NOT an Americano — the espresso goes on top of the water, not the other way around. This preserves the crema.
Melbourne and Sydney have a genuine rivalry over who has better coffee. Melbourne usually wins on volume; Sydney on individual cafes.
Not expected or traditional. Some cafes have a tip jar but there's zero social pressure.
A$4.50-6.00 for any standard coffee. Specialty single-origin may be A$6.00-7.50.
Did you know? Melbourne's coffee obsession is so extreme that the city has an annual 'International Coffee Expo' and a 'Melbourne Coffee Tour' bus. Starbucks closed 61 of its 84 Australian stores in 2008.