Proper cup of Drip Coffee Overseas
Jul 25, 2011 | 7:06 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 13
Possibly but Zaraffa's is chain coffee so it wouldn't be that surprising. If you're in Brisbane try going to a proper cafe like Brothers or Campos
It's more likely where you're getting your coffee as chain stores are generally more expensive than independent stores, $2.50 - $3.00 is pretty much the standard throughout the country. That said, Queensland is kinda, well, behind the rest of Aus when it comes to things like this so it is a lot more difficult to get decent coffee (or food) for decent money there than in the rest of the country.
Whatever the prices though, coffee would have to be notably cheaper.
Jul 25, 2011 | 8:18 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
Posts: 15,913
I think we'll just have to agree to disagree on this. I do think people would buy a morning coffee at the cafe, and don't perceive the Australian market to be so much different from Canada or even the U.S. in this case. Sure, there might be some initial reluctance, but I think it would stick over time.
Originally Posted by IMOA
It's more likely where you're getting your coffee as chain stores are generally more expensive than independent stores, $2.50 - $3.00 is pretty much the standard throughout the country. That said, Queensland is kinda, well, behind the rest of Aus when it comes to things like this so it is a lot more difficult to get decent coffee (or food) for decent money there than in the rest of the country.
Jul 26, 2011 | 3:03 am
#18
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,593
Coffee drinking in Australia is very different from US/Canada, maybe because it used to be a tea drinking country (maybe 10% coffee) and converted to coffee under the influence of espresso-drinking cultures (mediterranean immigrants). Now it is more like 90% coffee in restaurants, with tea mostly drunk at home. So where US/Canada perks cheap and cheerful coffee at home and work, Aussies might brew tea; saving the restaurant coffee drinking for espresso machines. Rather amazing how tastes change in a generation or 2. One consequence is that the worst cup of coffee in Australia is about equal to the best in the US (obviously an exaggeration, but you get the idea). Even the milk tastes better.
Jul 26, 2011 | 3:32 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Flying Blue, easyJet Plus (!)
Posts: 1,762
Coffee drinking in Australia is very different from US/Canada, maybe because it used to be a tea drinking country (maybe 10% coffee) and converted to coffee under the influence of espresso-drinking cultures (mediterranean immigrants). Now it is more like 90% coffee in restaurants, with tea mostly drunk at home. So where US/Canada perks cheap and cheerful coffee at home and work, Aussies might brew tea; saving the restaurant coffee drinking for espresso machines. Rather amazing how tastes change in a generation or 2.
And that was only about 15 years ago if that.
Neil
Jul 26, 2011 | 3:39 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 13
Coffee drinking in Australia is very different from US/Canada, maybe because it used to be a tea drinking country (maybe 10% coffee) and converted to coffee under the influence of espresso-drinking cultures (mediterranean immigrants). Now it is more like 90% coffee in restaurants, with tea mostly drunk at home. So where US/Canada perks cheap and cheerful coffee at home and work, Aussies might brew tea; saving the restaurant coffee drinking for espresso machines. Rather amazing how tastes change in a generation or 2. One consequence is that the worst cup of coffee in Australia is about equal to the best in the US (obviously an exaggeration, but you get the idea). Even the milk tastes better.
As for the worst cup of coffee beating the best in US, perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, but you're absolutely right. There really is no comparison. The truth is, I've just been purchasing Merlo Coffee since I've arrived, and making it at home, and they have some phenomenal coffee. I guess from my Canadian perspective, it's just mind-boggling that people wouldn't pay for that, but I completely understand the tea thing. It truly does clear it up for me... a bit
Jul 26, 2011 | 3:41 am
#21
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 13
True of the UK as well, where most of the time the choice was "tea" or "coffee", and the latter would be some sort of instant. The coming of Starbucks and Costa changed this - their coming into the UK market was an odd case of them entering a market that wasn't really there before to any great extent, which might be why they aren't really resented in the UK as they are in some European countries that had a cafe culture before.
And that was only about 15 years ago if that.
Neil
And that was only about 15 years ago if that.
Neil
Jul 26, 2011 | 4:21 am
#24
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Ag, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt
Posts: 4,721
Jul 26, 2011 | 5:11 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Flying Blue, easyJet Plus (!)
Posts: 1,762
At least, unlike the Dutch, we wouldn't stoop as low as serving it with UHT milk. Urgh.
Neil
Jul 26, 2011 | 8:08 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
Posts: 15,913
Coincidentally there are a couple of Australian owned cafes in London that do a pretty decent coffee. Lantana and Kaffeine were the two that I used to go to if I was in the area.
Jul 26, 2011 | 8:53 am
#27
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,512
Jul 27, 2011 | 7:37 pm
#28
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 13
Jul 27, 2011 | 7:41 pm
#29
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Queensland, Australia
Posts: 13
And very true - but the Dutch can also have their coffee with hash brownies, so I suspect that allows them to be far less picky.
Last edited by .josh.; Jul 29, 2011 at 3:46 pm
