Long Black, Flat White (updated)

In both New Zealand and Australia, the Pacific Rim coffee culture seems to have won out over traditional English tea-drinking. But they do it their own way:


A "short black" is an espresso, served with a pitcher of hot water to dilute it. A "long black" is a double espresso, also with hot water.

My favorite was the "flat white," which turned out to be espresso with some steamed milk in it, but not as much as a cappuccino or a latte would have. It turned out to be very similar to the French "cafe creme."

UPDATED TO ADD (3/10): I forgot to mention earlier that while every major city Down Under has plenty of cafes, it is almost impossible to get a cup of coffee after 4 p.m. in New Zealand, and difficult even in Melbourne and Sydney. I don't know whether this is because the Aussie and Kiwi culture frowns on caffeination after lunch, or whether it has more to do with the general lackadaisical attitude toward retail in these countries.