Dispatches from the sunburned wastelands

Bad news for ex-Canadians (and wannabe Canadians): a cup of coffee seems non-existent here in Canberra...Everybody drinks fancy, expensive espresso-based beverages, called "flat-white's". It's a bit like a cuppuchino, but they pour the milk and the espresso in the same cup, and then blend it together with the steam nozzle. It's all fine and good for an occasional treat, but asking for a normal cup of filter coffee elicit shrugs and puzzled stares. "What's that, mate?", they ask, before offering you another flat white, for $3.50. Where's a Second Cup when you need it...
So, today I went off to one of the local fancy, architecturally designed malls to go and look for a drip-coffee percolator, and - Aargh! - I couldn't find any! It's just upscale espresso and cuppuchino machines everywhere - even at the K-Mart (yes, they've got a K-mart here). Will have to wait for my coffee plunger to arrive from Canada (maybe I should import some coffee beans too...). There's plenty of tea in the supermarkets, but only a small (and expensive) selection of coffees. Instant coffee, anyone?

Posted by HannesB at 5:26 PM Comments