random observation: ain't no such thing as drip

The existence of drip coffee is not acknowledged in Sydney--although, I have seen some coffee makers. But, you can't order it at a restaurant or a cafe. Instead, everything is espresso. And if I thought Seattle was bad in terms of the various ways in which you can order espresso, I was wrong.

One thing to realize is that sometimes the menu is not very specific. It simply says "Coffee - $4." This means you can order whatever you like, and it will be $4. And "coffee" means an espresso drink.

The first time I ordered iced coffee--I was asked if it was okay if it cost $1 more. I couldn't understand the extra expense. But, I said "sure". It seemed crazy to me that they would charge an extra dollar for ice--until my iced coffee arrived. Iced coffee is a latte with ice cream.

I soon learned to order a "long black"--which is the closest thing to an Americano (espresso with hot water). A "latte" is the same here--although it is typically served in a glass. Then, there's something in between a "long black" and a "latte"--called a "flat white". That is a 2/3 espresso, 1/3 steamed milk.

Of course, they also have cappuccinos. And a regular espresso is a "short black." Okay, maybe it's not more complicated than in Seattle--it's just different terminology.