[Caroline and Dave]

Can I get a normal,decent cup of coffee in NZ?

Not so long ago I was able to go into a cafe and ask for a coffee with milk and that is what I was given. In the UK now it is a nightmare ordering a coffee.
Two days ago I went into a cafe in London and all I wanted was a normal cup of white coffee. I was then given a list and asked to choose from it. This is the list.
Filter Coffee.
Cappuccino.
Espresso.
Flat White.
Latte.
Caffe Latte
Cafe au lait
Americano
Lungo
Mocha
Latte Macchiato
Frappe
Frappucino
Caffe Macchiato
Madras filter coffee.
Chinese Coffee

Aaaaaaaaargh.
All I want is a normal cup of white coffee. I explained this to the chap at the counter. No problem he said and he then came back with a very small cup of extremely strong coffee. But it was white.
Please don't tell me you have all this performance in NZ ( But you probably will)


Kindest regards

Dave and Caroline

[jubjub]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad new, but it is the same, but a flat white should see you OK!

[adamsat]

Yes you will :)

Interesting though that you were offered a flat white in London as I had never heard of that particular variety before we got to NZ.

[wiki]

Flat white is usually your safest! Our smallish Yorkshire market town is very excited at the moment because we've got our first fancy coffee shop. Luckily, it's not a big chain - and they do a wicked dark chocolate mocha.

[Nelsonian]

Yup - go for the flat white. Must say my experience of coffee in NZ has ben excellent - 4 months travelling early in 2006 and some of the most consistently good coffee I've ever had - easily available practically everywhere - the kiwis take their coffee seriously. Jane :)

[Ana&Steve]

I was confused at first by all the different NZ terms for coffee, and I never saw "automatic drip" coffee anywhere, but I saw coffeemakers for sale at The Warehouse.
I agree with all the flat white fans, that's what I ordered, and NZ coffee is very good. :)
Ana
/loves coffee

[willowshouse]

I disagree with the flat white crowd (sorry!) but what I really wanted was an ordinary not too strong instant type coffee with milk. My problem with a flat white is that it still has heated frothy milk in it - yuk! And it's usually too strong.

I order .. wait for it .. a half strength long black with cold milk!!! Never thought I'd get so poncy - but there you are :laugh (In some places it's a half strength americano with cold milk).

If there is any insight to ge gained from this message it is that with trial and error you will find a coffee you like! ;)

Dawn

[StevieD]

I take it there is a wide variety of coffee for home machines then? I really like the flavoured varieties, and had a taste of Starbucks' cinnamon coffee last week - it was very nice, if not a bit sickly sweet, but the syrup was on sale, and I reckon there will be a bottle coming down with us ;)

[thepiesleys]

Wake up.
Go to kitchen
put on kettle
put favoured instant coffe in mug
add desired requirements
pour boiling water in cup
coffe

who needs muffin break - although the raisin toast is good.

[jodieinchch]

I like the fact that the kiwi's care about their coffee and related services.

[katandbob]

I take it there is a wide variety of coffee for home machines then? I really like the flavoured varieties, and had a taste of Starbucks' cinnamon coffee last week - it was very nice, if not a bit sickly sweet, but the syrup was on sale, and I reckon there will be a bottle coming down with us ;)

you get the syrups here Steve, in fact the only place we found that had naff clix type coffee in a garage on our travels down to the south was in Timaru, YUK and the attendant was as friendly as a UK attendant too....it was the only one that we found.

I like the Flat white, but most Kiwis have normal coffee in their houses, but if you go to Burger King you get Normal coffee, but Mac'ds have flat white etc....wish it was the other way round as I prefer BK to Mac's

We have a cafe/resturant near work that do an ace coffee, and round the corner is a CHOCOLATE shop..... they sell all sorts of chocs/ choc drinks - you name it!! YUM....

cant wait to take rachel for one!!

[Rizak]

Starbucks is teh evil! However, that's just a personal opinion.

I have a question: what is a flat white?

[sizzlingbadger]

Flat white is coffee with milk.

[Trigirl]

like a latte but stronger

[Avalon]

See - the wonders on New Zealand coffee: 1 question - 2 different answers!:D

Of course my answer would be "Heaven in a cup!" so thats three!

[Avalon]

I found this on a site called
http://www.espressocoffeesnobs.com
:D

In making a flat-white you are essentially making a latte, but pouring less milk to start, and then placing less of the micro-foam milk on the top, hence the word "flat" in the name. Whereas a latte has about half to one inch of micro-foam on top depending on preference, a flat-white has only about 1/4 inch of micro-foam on top. As I said before, the milk to espresso ratio in New Zealand and Australia is much less than is typical of espresso-based drinks in the United States. Make sure you learn how to prepare the milk for your espresso-based drinks. When preparing your milk for a flat-white, blend or fold the micro-foam into the rest of the milk either with a spoon or by swirling the pitcher. The milk should be velvety and wet.

Flat-White lends itself well to making what is referred to as Latte Art. With a bit of practice you can make patterns such as leaves and hearts. But first of all just perfect making a great flat-white; it tastes as good however it looks when well made. Even without the pattern, the drink should look rich and inviting since the espresso, crema, and velvety milk all combine to make for a rich and inviting palate. It's a work of art to see, let alone drink!

[Avalon]

And this is what a Flat White should look like (courtesy of the Chocolate Fish Cafe!)


http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4264/aprilcoffeefernwu9.th.jpg (http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aprilcoffeefernwu9.jpg)

[Kim39]

As i am not really a lover of Coffee, can take it or leave it type, but i must say i can't get enough of the Flat Whites and the Latte (even to the point of buying a god damn coffee maker so i could make them- not very good though). Will take this any day over Nescafe and others.

Kim

[Diny]

On the last day of my parents holiday here with us last year (they'd been here for 9 weeks) they admitted that they couldn't wait to get back to the UK for a decent cup of coffee.

They just couldn't get their head around the fact that when you order a coffee you have to wait for ever for it to arrive.


I don't touch the stuff myself - or tea - so I can't comment which is good/not good.

Diny

[Sam B]

I am obsessed with coffee and it is absolutely fantastic in NZ - always arabica beans, never the more bitter robusta like in the UK, perfect frothy bit. Need a double shot in my cappucino as not quite strong enough for me usually, but it's GREAT!!!!

[vixxann]

And this is what a Flat White should look like (courtesy of the Chocolate Fish Cafe!)


http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4264/aprilcoffeefernwu9.th.jpg (http://img180.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aprilcoffeefernwu9.jpg)

Oh - I could just do with one of those right now ;)