Hey, how's it going?
Can I get a flat white?
standard NZ English
The default New Zealand coffee order
Long black, please
standard
Double espresso over hot water — the NZ Americano
Short black
standard
Single or double espresso
Trim flat white
standard
Flat white with trim (skimmed) milk
New Zealand's most famous coffee export — espresso with velvety steamed milk and thin microfoam; smaller and stronger than a latte
Hot water with a double espresso poured over — the NZ version of Americano, with crema preserved
Straight espresso — what Australians and New Zealanders call a basic shot
A ristretto in a small glass with steamed milk — Wellington's speciality bars do exceptional versions
Growing in Wellington's specialty scene — light-roast single-origins brewed by V60 or Chemex
New Zealand coffee culture is casual and warm — baristas chat, no rush
Wellington has more cafes per capita than New York — standards are uniformly very high
Takeaway cups are common but sitting in is encouraged in most cafes
Soy, oat, and almond milk are standard options everywhere
Brunch culture is big — Saturday cafe queues in Wellington can be long
Most cafes open early (6:30–7am) and close by 4pm
Not expected but appreciated. New Zealand has minimum wage laws that mean service workers are fairly paid — rounding up or leaving a few coins is a kind gesture.
NZ$5.50–NZ$7 for espresso drinks; filter pour-overs NZ$6–NZ$8
Did you know? Wellington is one of two cities (with Sydney) credited with inventing the flat white — the drink that went on to be added to Starbucks menus worldwide and reshape global coffee culture.