Goodbye (riddance) to your local Starbucks?
Aug 31, 2008 | 10:53 pm
#46
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
In terms of not finding a decent coffee, I was rather tired upon reaching Australia at 7am. I had flown all night and was enjoying my first class pod so much that I didn't bothering sleeping. The people I was visiting took me all around Sydney. By took me, I mean we walked so I'd stay awake. We did find rather good pies (the pie or poie culture is Aussie is much better than that in NA BTW), but we didn't happen by any coffee places except for the Starbucks near where I was staying. We did find pubs, parks, places for lunch, etc, but nowhere that would serve espesso.
The next day we took the bus tour. It was essentially the same route as we had walked. Still no real luck. I then went on to Cairns, Airlie, Newcastle and a few stops in between. I ended up getting coffee at Mackers because that's where espresso was served. The other coffee I was offered was instant. Please note, I didn't stay with the same people the entire time, I don't sit in one location and I'm not exactly shy. There was not the abundance of coffee shops that there are where I live in the shiny US of A.
"Also I'm not a coffee drinker myself but I always thought a long black was an Americano. So perhaps you couldn't get an Americano because in Oz they are called long blacks."
Yes, that's it. I went to a place and saw an espresso machine, but they told me they couldn't make Americano.
I couldn't find much espresso period. The fact that almost everyone would drink instant made it pretty clear that this wasn't the same as the US.
The next day we took the bus tour. It was essentially the same route as we had walked. Still no real luck. I then went on to Cairns, Airlie, Newcastle and a few stops in between. I ended up getting coffee at Mackers because that's where espresso was served. The other coffee I was offered was instant. Please note, I didn't stay with the same people the entire time, I don't sit in one location and I'm not exactly shy. There was not the abundance of coffee shops that there are where I live in the shiny US of A.
"Also I'm not a coffee drinker myself but I always thought a long black was an Americano. So perhaps you couldn't get an Americano because in Oz they are called long blacks."
Yes, that's it. I went to a place and saw an espresso machine, but they told me they couldn't make Americano.
I couldn't find much espresso period. The fact that almost everyone would drink instant made it pretty clear that this wasn't the same as the US.I now see what my error now, and that was to take even a single one of such posts seriously...
I'd invite my fellow FTers from faraway lands to discern fact from ficton, and invite you to read the below features which more accurately (to say the least) describe coffee culture in Australia than the elaborate fantasies so enthusiastically spun above:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/...326139253.html
http://travelaustralia.ninemsn.com.a...aspx?id=372624
edited to add: And FWIW I'm sure bensyd, BiziBB and others will agree that it is almost unheard of for a Victorian to be prepared to not only see eye to eye with, but to stand up and defend the New South Welsh... that in itself ought to speak volumes. Time to buy Tattslotto, y'all.
Last edited by Keith009; Aug 31, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Aug 31, 2008 | 11:10 pm
#47
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I am happy to read of everyone's recollection of their experiences here, so long as we debate the argument rather than attack the person.
In my experience, only SBs will use the USA names (eg Americano) in Australia.
If someone wants a real espresso coffee, they will be able to follow their nose for that distinctive aroma (or ask in any shopfront, 'where can I find a good coffee') and find someone with beans and an espresso machine. From there it isn't hard to ask for an espresso coffee in a tall cup.
(PS. thegeneral, although Melbourne is a great place to visit, on Easter Sunday we did have trouble finding a coffee after coming out of a service! That said, I had some great coffees on other days. None of them instant. US FTers would benefit knowing there is not a 'drip/percolator' culture for coffee in Oz since the 1970s. It's espresso and work and home for the coffee lovers and instant for those who couldn't be bothered to use and clean a coffee machine. Plus the tea addicts.
However, any place with people, especially office workers, will have a coffee shop or ten nearby with baristas churning out coffees all day (capital cities, not necessarily regional towns). Other cafe style franchises have gone out of business where I work, but the indy shops just get stronger and stronger, with seemingly little drop in biz from their core clientele, which is office workers, not tourists.)
In my experience, only SBs will use the USA names (eg Americano) in Australia.
If someone wants a real espresso coffee, they will be able to follow their nose for that distinctive aroma (or ask in any shopfront, 'where can I find a good coffee') and find someone with beans and an espresso machine. From there it isn't hard to ask for an espresso coffee in a tall cup.
(PS. thegeneral, although Melbourne is a great place to visit, on Easter Sunday we did have trouble finding a coffee after coming out of a service! That said, I had some great coffees on other days. None of them instant. US FTers would benefit knowing there is not a 'drip/percolator' culture for coffee in Oz since the 1970s. It's espresso and work and home for the coffee lovers and instant for those who couldn't be bothered to use and clean a coffee machine. Plus the tea addicts.
However, any place with people, especially office workers, will have a coffee shop or ten nearby with baristas churning out coffees all day (capital cities, not necessarily regional towns). Other cafe style franchises have gone out of business where I work, but the indy shops just get stronger and stronger, with seemingly little drop in biz from their core clientele, which is office workers, not tourists.)
Aug 31, 2008 | 11:23 pm
#48
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
That said the place I usually go to around the corner from my apartment was closed - they use Grinders beans and make lattes just the way I like 'em, with v cool art on the foam (little things please little minds ). I ended up taking a tram all the way to the city (i live near St Kilda junction) and ended up at Federal Coffee Palace at the GPO with mates. I am tempted to get my own espresso machine but fear developing a full blown addiction.Next time you come back, for a place in the city, do check out Pushka - it's abit hard to find but once you do it's awesome. It's on Pesgrave Pl, which is off Howey Pl, which is in turn off Lt Collins St between Swanston and Elizabeth. Was the venue for our recent AFF Gathering mid arvo coffee:
http://s20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...spresso%20Bar/
OTOH Jaspers' on the Collingwood part of Brunswick St, as i recommended in the other thread, is only a short tram ride away from the city. Lots of excellent coffee places all the way down Brunswick St of course but that happens to be my favourite as they have lots of beans you can choose from and the people are v friendly and knowledgeable. ^
PS - can't vouch for both places as to whether they operate over Easter...
*warms up gorgeously over a nice, hot soy latte as I type*
Last edited by Keith009; Aug 31, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Aug 31, 2008 | 11:28 pm
#49
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 13,143
I'm not really a SB person even though they exist in each place I live in. So closure or not it doesn't really affect me much. 
Aug 31, 2008 | 11:35 pm
#50
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Okay, I am just going to make one (maybe two ) shot on my espresso once I type this.
Unfortunately I am using imported
beans from the supermarket . Forgive me!
Since my local Starbucks closed (near to home) I have kept an eye on its storefront. Wouldn't you think management would have ensured the SB signs were removed to reduce the post-closure embarrassment?
They have made no attempts to save face whatsoever.
Meanwhile, their locally-owned clone, the just-as-awful Gloria Jeans, takes their Westfield chain-store clientele.
(I once visited this local SBs at Westfield and ended up going somewhere else as it seemed all too much trouble for a simple Long Black. Don't even start on their deal with the devil for PAYG wireless internet
). Time to tamp some grindz!
) shot on my espresso once I type this.Unfortunately I am using imported
beans from the supermarket . Forgive me! Since my local Starbucks closed (near to home) I have kept an eye on its storefront. Wouldn't you think management would have ensured the SB signs were removed to reduce the post-closure embarrassment?
They have made no attempts to save face whatsoever.
Meanwhile, their locally-owned clone, the just-as-awful Gloria Jeans, takes their Westfield chain-store clientele.
(I once visited this local SBs at Westfield and ended up going somewhere else as it seemed all too much trouble for a simple Long Black. Don't even start on their deal with the devil for PAYG wireless internet
). Time to tamp some grindz!
Aug 31, 2008 | 11:46 pm
#51
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I'd guess WLG would be NZ's best coffee destination and is a tempting destinations for Sydney and Melbourne people looking for a quality coffee fix.
(Any SBs there? )*Just doing that espresso shot now...will make it an
americano so that we are nice and clear on the exact result*
Aug 31, 2008 | 11:50 pm
#52
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
I must say that I was a semi regular patron when I worked 90 minutes out of the city in the idyllic suburb of Narre Warren North (ie Woop Woop); the office was based in Endeavour Hills Shopping Centre where I alternated between GJ's, the v average but adequate Muffin Break, and some sausage place which serves up some mediocre Lavazza muck. I avoided the Maccas on principle. Compared to the other 2 GJ's actually tasted remotely palatable. But have since found out where their proceeds go to so tend to avoid them if only on moral grounds... (won't elaborate for fear of sparking yet another needless and prolonged debate). At least I worked in NW Nth part time, and still had the ability to drink good coffee when I wasn't working, but my poor colleague, fellow inner city latte sipping belt transplant, wasn't as fortunate. Should've seen his reaction when I brought him a cuppa from Lygon St the one day he had to pick me up for work - if you'd wanted to see a grown man fall to his knees and almost weep for the love of good coffee, it was a sight to behold!
edited to add - admittedly we never ventured out of the shopping centre except when campaigning, so we might have missed some good coffee shops out there. That said, no offence intended to anyone who happens to hail from NWN or other outer suburbs...
But have since found out where their proceeds go to so tend to avoid them if only on moral grounds... (won't elaborate for fear of sparking yet another needless and prolonged debate). At least I worked in NW Nth part time, and still had the ability to drink good coffee when I wasn't working, but my poor colleague, fellow inner city latte sipping belt transplant, wasn't as fortunate. Should've seen his reaction when I brought him a cuppa from Lygon St the one day he had to pick me up for work - if you'd wanted to see a grown man fall to his knees and almost weep for the love of good coffee, it was a sight to behold!edited to add - admittedly we never ventured out of the shopping centre except when campaigning, so we might have missed some good coffee shops out there. That said, no offence intended to anyone who happens to hail from NWN or other outer suburbs...
Last edited by Keith009; Sep 1, 2008 at 12:00 am
Aug 31, 2008 | 11:52 pm
#53
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
Did SBs over-expand into Auckland as they did in Sydney? I'd have guessed at their having a few in the city plus AKL, if nowhere else.
I'd guess WLG would be NZ's best coffee destination and is a tempting destinations for Sydney and Melbourne people looking for a quality coffee fix. (Any SBs there? )
*Just doing that espresso shot now...will make it an
americano so that we are nice and clear on the exact result*
I'd guess WLG would be NZ's best coffee destination and is a tempting destinations for Sydney and Melbourne people looking for a quality coffee fix.
(Any SBs there? )*Just doing that espresso shot now...will make it an
americano so that we are nice and clear on the exact result*
Sep 1, 2008 | 12:00 am
#54
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They have them in Wellington but just like Auckland, they are not dominant.
Sep 1, 2008 | 12:05 am
#55
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SYD
Posts: 3,045
Anyway I'm monitoring their progress in Austria. V interesting situation there - where you have a rooted and established coffee culture with, by all accounts, very good coffee. Yet the typical coffee houses tend to be in v elaborate, high brow settings. Starbuck's marketing premise which is heavily targetted at youths in Austria is basically to provide an alternative, cooler and funkier ambience to the traditional coffee houses. Seems to be working well according to a mate based in Vienna.
Sep 1, 2008 | 12:09 am
#56
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Yes, Mercy Ministries was sponsored by such a chain (relax, not SBs) and those were horrible stories of exorcisms and the taking/signing over of welfare and carer benefits, a few months back. That mention brings it all back.
Thanks!
(One coffee there was enough, I never went back. So the stories didn't lose them my business.)
Message to anyone who missed out on great, independently-run coffee from busy Sydney and Melbourne cafes - you don't know what you've missed.
Thanks!
(One coffee there was enough, I never went back. So the stories didn't lose them my business.
)Message to anyone who missed out on great, independently-run coffee from busy Sydney and Melbourne cafes - you don't know what you've missed.
Sep 1, 2008 | 12:29 am
#58
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 13,143
You know what, whenever I crave for a warm cup of coffee at home, I don't think of Starbucks that much. In Toronto, I would always think of going to Tim Hortons instead and in HK, I would always think of going to Pacific Coffee instead. 
Sep 1, 2008 | 12:33 am
#59
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Don't forget Island in Tassie (it's mentioned in the latter linked story of yours, above).
Sunday's SMH travel section had a piece on Flat White in Berwick St, Soho, as a good example of how Aussie (& Kiwi) coffee culture is being exported to the UK. Along with Vegemite soldiers.
Sunday's SMH travel section had a piece on Flat White in Berwick St, Soho, as a good example of how Aussie (& Kiwi
) coffee culture is being exported to the UK. Along with Vegemite soldiers.
Sep 1, 2008 | 1:31 am
#60
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: AAdvantage EXP
Posts: 1,482
Some hilarious comments here. I actually disagree that asking someone where to get a coffee is a good idea in Sydney - you will get too many options. Within 50 m of my office we have 5 barista coffee shops that I can think of without really pushing myself - that excludes a starbucks which may or may not still be open.
With my US boss arriving today we did have a nervous moment working out what to ask for as he wanted an Americano - but we worked it out.
What I have found though is that the Aussies have instant coffee available in the office but a lot go and buy coffee from a barista rather than drink the instant.
In the UK my experience was that company's provided free coffee from vending machines - now that is awful.
With my US boss arriving today we did have a nervous moment working out what to ask for as he wanted an Americano - but we worked it out.
What I have found though is that the Aussies have instant coffee available in the office but a lot go and buy coffee from a barista rather than drink the instant.
In the UK my experience was that company's provided free coffee from vending machines - now that is awful.