WHAT! NO STARBUCKS?!?

Big shock when we moved to Perth, NO STARBUCKS! Not only no SB, but no brewed coffee and all espresso drinks with different combinations and names.

I found a Starbucks on our recent trip to Bali!

It took us a few days (and a few misorders) to work it all out. Of course, once you learn the lingo, it actually makes quite a bit of sense. And the coffee is delicious!

Short Black:  single shot of espresso.

Long Black: Espresso with water (1/3 espresso 2/3 water). This is the closest thing to an American cup o Joe or Cafe Americano.

Long Black and Short Black

Flat White: This is a popular drink in Australia and New Zealand. As far as I've heard, 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 thing in America would be a no foam latte.

So, what if you want a regular cup of coffee with milk or cream?

You order a Long Black with Milk on the Side. This gives you cold milk to add to your long black.
Or I've had success ordering a Long Black with a dash of cold skim milk.

Good news Cappuccino and Latte lovers: you have nothing to worry about! It's the same here. And you can enjoy yours with decorative chocolate powder!

Latte Art

Side notes 

• If you want skim milk, make sure you indicate so or else you'll get whole milk or full fat cream.
• If you like sweetener as opposed to sugar, bring your own. Don't kid yourself, I carry Splenda tablets in my purse.
• If you order an iced coffee, it will have ice cream in it! 

I did a bit of research and apparently the east coast of Australia does have SB. And they have changed their menu for Aussie ordering. Take a look.

The coffee culture is much greater than in the U.S. Cafés are more prevalent than gas stations and everything revolves around getting coffee. In fact, at work Ricky and his collegues walk to a nearby coffee shop for half an hour every morning to enjoy a cap or cappuccino (aussies love to abbreviate...everything!). However, cafés are not a quick pit-stop for caffeine intake - Like American drive thrus!. Rather, Aussies prefer to sit back and spend hours drinking coffee in a cafés making it a place for leisure and business.

Ricky and I have altered our at-home coffee as well. We purchased a plunger or French press and an electric kettle to boil water. And what can I say... LOVE the coffee culture change and the buzzzzzz of espresso at home!

Ricky enjoying a JUMBO cap.

Good morning from down unda!