In sorting through the 980 (!) photos I took in Australia and New Zealand last month, I thought this particular image was worthy of posting here separately from all the others. The Kiwis I met at the conference in Sydney told me Wellington had some of the best coffee in the world. After noticing something in my last “flat white” at the Wellington Airport, I think I understand why that might be true…
Unfortunately, I had already taken several sips before I thought to pull out my camera and snap a photo. But you get the idea. If you’re curious about the blotchy patches toward the top-left, they’re from granules of sugar that didn’t get stirred down past the foam.
51 comments
Sembazuru 6 years ago
*looks closely*
*squints*
Oh, yeah…
Funny. I wonder what their tea is like.
Joseph Lindsay 6 years ago
Is that not normal? Don’t you have sugar overseas? Is our coffee that good?
Walker Hamilton 6 years ago
Hmm…..divining in the coffee foam.
Next thing I know, The girl at the local coffeehouse is going to be putting love notes in the foam instead of just spelling out “SIP” in chocolate. Oh god. I can only hope…
(yay apple)
Jack 6 years ago
Yet another reason to switch from tea to coffee. Take heed, you tea-drinkers, we’re coming to get you.
Joseph Lindsay 6 years ago
…oooohhh… d’oh…
I drink Coke, but would drink coffee if I could afford it.
Andrew 6 years ago
I’m with Joseph (comment #2) on this one. I don’t understand what the deal is. I’m in Australia, but our flat whites come like that too. I also had the same experience in Italy – the home of coffee.
I’m confused…
Peter Usewicz 6 years ago
Nah… I drink Powerade. The blue one. But coffe with cream is delicious aswell. Especiallu cappucino.
Phil Sherry 6 years ago
i heard that Microsoft coffee needs repouring every few sips, then turns blue when you leave the room.
Michele 6 years ago
Duh? What’s wrong with it?
I’m with Joseph and Andrew. Do you americans really think coffee is the poor imitation you get up there? :)
Joseph, are you serious? You can’t afford coffee?
teartear 6 years ago
If you squint a bit you’ll see the apple logo in the foam.
Rimantas 6 years ago
I guess all of my friends who tried it said “it is not a coffee” talking about American kind.
Vlad 6 years ago
OMG, that white blotchy patch looks just like a . . . Clound!
Matt Wilson 6 years ago
I guess us New Zealanders don’t know how spoilt we are. My friend the barista draws my initials into the coffee.
Benedict Eastaugh 6 years ago
“I guess us New Zealanders don‚Äôt know how spoilt we are. My friend the barista draws my initials into the coffee.”
Well, I’m convinced. When’s the next flight out?
Douglas Bowman 6 years ago
The Kiwis are very creative in how they serve coffee. The baristas there take a lot of pride in what they do, and it’s actually quite respectable and cool (they tell me) to work in a cafe as one. They must spend a considerable portion of their barista training learning the artistry of creating patterns in the foam as they mix the coffee and milk. Or perhaps they just take pride in refining their talent over time.
I remember getting coffee several times in New Zealand, and being quite impressed with the foam artistry each time. Here in the States, I’ve seen generic-looking hearts in the foam, but never to the detail of what I saw in NZ.
Regardless, this wasn’t what it looked like when the coffee was given to me. If I remember correctly, the foam originally had some type of vine pattern in it with five or six leaves stemming out each side from the center, of which only the top leaf is now visible. What’s in the photo above is an accident. It’s just the result of stirring in some sugar and taking a few sips.
beto 6 years ago
For being mine a coffee-producing country and myself a regular drinker (system breakdowns have forced me to cut down to a cup a day), it’s amazing how I haven’t noticed how interesting could coffee patterns be. I have read some people specialize on making predictions and life forecasts by “reading” such coffee stains.
And if that holds true for you Doug, I’d say you have quite an, um, fruitful future. :D
tirin 6 years ago
Tea, Oolong, hot….
monkeyinabox 6 years ago
I see ELVIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Damn
Jason K. 6 years ago
Wow. Apple’s reach of influence is incredible. It’s now conquered the great flat white.
Peter Asquith 6 years ago
Drink Different!
Dann Ryan 6 years ago
I stared at it for so long before I saw it… but atleast I saw it first before I scrolled down and made a clueless post :D
Jason G 6 years ago
But see, it’s really just “mood coffee”, in that you have MAC on the brain, so that’s what appeared in the foam. The same thing happened to me, except the “sad MAC” icon popped up when I looked. :(
Dan Jallits 6 years ago
Coffee hell!
Just as long as I get my shamrock etched into my Guiness I am a happy camper. Have you ever tried that!
P.S. Sitting in a mom and pop cafe taking careful notice of my coffee now.
John 6 years ago
Java and MAC’s – I know there is a connection there.
Rick Yribe 6 years ago
Your description of their coffee makes me want to fly right over there to get some for myself.
/me salivates
Rene Grassegger 6 years ago
Hi Doug, hi everyone,
in Austria they serve a big range of coffe, we have many variations how we drink and make our coffee. We have a long tradition of making the black gold and sitting arround in the coffeehouses.
You should visit vienna or salzburg to get a really good coffee. :-)
$0.02
Rene
Matthew 6 years ago
Thanks to Dan Ryan. Your post just saved me from making a stupid post, as your post indicated I should look at the pic again… Cheers :D
Steven Marshall 6 years ago
I thought it was a bird head, but I see the apple now you mention it.
Jan Brasna 6 years ago
Only 980 (!) shots? My average production is about 2k/week – in EU. In AU, it would dramatically increase…
Max 6 years ago
Here’s another photo of some clever coffee art.
Arthur 6 years ago
With a bit of imagination, you can also see the Firefox logo mirrored in the cup. The cup would be the globe.. oh well.. you probably get the idea: Tail to the left, head to the right.
Reminds me of Rorschach this. ;)
Rob Mientjes 6 years ago
Holy crap, a cock in your coffee!
Arthur, it’s more of a Thunderbird.
Mike 6 years ago
The best coffee is at CAFE GRECO in Rome, Italy.
Chris 6 years ago
Our local guy draws the Sydney Opera House on the latte.
The crema for the white sails, outlined in fine choc syrup, and dusts the bottom for the ocean.
A little time consuming tho. And it’s just the local Michel’s.
Mike 6 years ago
ok, Doug – it’s not a “vine pattern” that Emporio (which is where you got the coffee) make in the foam! It’s a silver fern, which is sort of like the national emblem of New Zealand.
You’re not allowed back in the country until you get this right :)
Andy Marr 6 years ago
Doug
I leave tomorrow for New Zealand, so I’m glad to have discovered your take on the Kiwi coffee culture and artistry. I will make sure and try a few iCoffees!!
Cheers
Bojhan 6 years ago
We all hope to see thea!
Dan 6 years ago
I’m a kiwi myself, now currently living in Amsterdam where “Coffe shop” takes on a whole other meaning, but I sure do miss a good old cup of, designer, NZ coffee.
Doug I don’t suppose you got your hands around a decent steak and cheese pie while you were over there did you?
Damn I miss those pies!!!
Paul 6 years ago
I never knew a cup of coffee could get so much attention.
Just shows that we are living in a coffee culture, even if sometimes your standard coffee is unbearable to drink!
Michael Tunnicliffe 6 years ago
I saw the Apple logo, then I looked a little further and saw a Firefox!
http://tunnicliphotos.com/tunnie/firefoxjava.jpg
bunker 6 years ago
Well comment 40 just proofed the theory that good things never come online. Now we allready have Mac and Firefox, I need to look more at my coffee-foam. Well like above said Drink different.
Lyndseythespaz 6 years ago
omg, it does look like the apple logo. *laughs*
james 6 years ago
You should have sold that one on ebay….
natalie Curtis 6 years ago
I am also a kiwi that loves her coffee, having been to many ‘coffee shops’ in Amsterdam. The coffee in the pic looks dam fine to me, and a lot creamer then the ‘coffee’ I got in Amsterdam.
Apple is very obvious once it is pointed out, would not have seen otherwise….
Kevin 6 years ago
Did you finish drinking it?
Andy Peatling 6 years ago
Impressive, what are the chances eh!
tongkis 6 years ago
Strange looking thing, I really should have one of those, during my stay back in NZ.Darn..!!! :)
Ian Lloyd 6 years ago
You know, Doug, there must be something about the coffee down in that southern hemisphere. I had a spooky message in my coffee in Sydney just before going up the AMP Tower
No photoshopping, I promise.
John A 6 years ago
Looks good enough to sell on ebay for thousands of dollars!
(if you dont know what I am talking about … google virgin mary grilled cheese)
Mathias Bynens 6 years ago
Yeah, coffee cups can be cool slash scary sometimes.
eDave 6 years ago
I’ve recently moved to London from Australia and I’ve had to stop drinking coffee it’s that bad.. Australians and Kiwi’s, enjoy your coffee!!!