How to Order Coffee in Australia

Sometimes when traveling you don’t think about little differences like how you might order coffee. Especially in a country where they speak your same language (or a language you might be familiar with). Coming from the United States and traveling to Australia I didn’t think about what it would be like to order coffee, I figured it’d be the same. Not quite.

When we first arrived and were just trying to order “coffee”, the server would typically look a little confused and follow up with what kind? Just black? Something of that nature. We quickly realized something wasn’t right, and ultimately we had no idea what we wanted to order. Now they do have classics like lattes and cappuccinos, but even still, there is method to the order.

I should also mention that coffee culture in Australia is pretty serious. Not serious in the hard or strict kind of way, but it seems everyone drinks coffee and the orders and style are exact. Plus, it goes perfectly with the (outstanding) “brekkie” culture. Brekkie is basically brunch everyday, minus the mimosa pitchers. Think amazing, creative breakfast plates, any day of the week, served from 7am-2/3pm daily. Trust me, its incredible. So in order to start every day of your Australian adventure with a beautiful meal, you’re going to need to know how to order the coffee you want. So let’s start here:

How to Order

It might not sound too crazy but if you want to order coffee efficiently in the middle of a busy cafe in Australia, you will want to do it right 😉 Start by letting them know if it is for here or to takeaway, then size (just small or large), then style. It took me a couple days before I even learned there were sizes! Don’t be afraid to ask for customizations either, its quite common. If you would like a special milk (they have soy and almond everywhere), throw that in your order. For instance a small almond cappuccino will get you a small cap with almond milk. If you’d like skim milk order it “skinny”. Some of this might not feel too different, but trust me, its specific down under. Read on.

Long Black

There is no drip coffee in Australia, so if you are looking for a traditional cup of joe, the long black will (likely) be your go-to. This is similar to an Americano but a little stronger in flavor and aroma. It is made by pouring espresso or ristretto over hot water. It can be ordered with a side of milk which can be hot or cold (yes, you have to order it hot or cold). So the order would be a (large or small) long black with a side of cold milk, if that’s your thing. In my opinion, this is the closest order to a regular coffee with milk.

You can also use the term Short Black for a single shot of espresso.

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Flat White

Now this has recently been all the rave in the US but having started in the Australia/ New Zealand part of the world (it’s my understanding theres a bit of a debate over where it originated exactly), it’s quite the common order over here. Its pretty simple really, a shot of espresso topped with hot milk and a teeny layer of microfoam. By comparison, this has much less milk than a latte.

Short or Long Macchiato

Typically speaking, a macchiato is known to be a single shot of expresso with a dash of foam. In Australia, as we’ve seen before, this can come short or long. Short means exactly what I described above. Long will usually get you a double shot with a dash of foam. However, I hear some baristas might whip it up with the addition of a splash of hot water. (They will likely clarify this with you.)

Cappuccino

I know we all recognize this guy. He’s an all time fave and guess what? He’s even better down under. In the traditional fashion, a cappuccino is a single shot of espresso with milk and thick layer of foam. This one can be ordered large or small in Oz and the best part? It is dusted with cocoa powder, which adds a (not-so-surprising) perfect touch. This is my go to down here, specifically with almond milk. (YUM)

Ristretto

For all the coffee connoisseurs out there, you might be familiar with this one. I was not. This one is not complicated in the way it is served but in the way it is made. A typical shot of espresso is stopped 30 seconds into its pull. A ristretto is stopped 15 seconds in. This leads to a smoother taste as well as lower caffeine content. It will be less acidic in flavor and is typically served as a double.

Latte

Don’t fret! Australia has lattes! They are the same as you likely know them, a shot of espresso with steamed milk and a small dollop of foam served in a glass. And fear not, they also do iced lattes 😉.

Piccolo

A little sister to the latte is the Piccolo or Piccolo latte. Traditionally, this is a single ristretto topped with warm milk and served in an extra small glass. It’s a tiny guy thats grown in popularity here in Australia over the past 10 years. A great option if you want something quick, I think I would down this in one sip!

Magic

Alright this one is a little bonus that I have ONLY read about so far. BUT if you are starting out in Melbourne, this option is on the table. I have not seen it anywhere yet, but apparently you can find it in Sydney too. This is steamed milk poured over a double ristretto served in a 6 oz cup. (I’m tellin’ you, they are all about specifics down here!)

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Important note about Iced Coffee!

If you want to order an iced coffee in Australia, you likely want to order an iced latte or an iced long black. These will get you what you are looking for. Iced Coffee as an order on its own can often include ice cream. Yep thats right, two huge scoops of ice cream in the middle of your coffee, no warning.

Now I know some of you are thinking, that sounds AMAZING. And it is, if that’s your thing. But if you are like me and your walking around on a hot day in Cairns and really need a pick-me-up, innocently ordering the iced coffee off the sign, you could be SUPER disappointed. When my huge cup came out with two big ol dollops of dessert in it, I could only think- something horribly wrong has happened here. But no, this is the traditional iced coffee, big plastic dome top and all (you know the ones). So there is my warning to you, an iced latte is always a safe and delicious bet.

So there it is, how to order coffee in Australia. Now go and enjoy your amazing coffee! And let me know what you think! Leave a note in the comments or hit me up via email. I always love to hear from you 🙂

If you’d like to visit any of the places pictured above, they are Folk Byron Bay, Treehouse on Belongil Byron Bay, and Jungle & co. in Noosa. I cannot recommend them enough!

Also if you would like to learn more about Australian food, coffee and wine, I have the perfect tour for you here.

xx,

Hannah

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