I remember that on my first day in Australia, I went out to register for Medicare and Centrelink. Then I decided to have a cup of coffee. I went to a café and I said to the barista : A coffee please! And she replied: What kind of coffee? “Hum..coffee, coffee” I replied. And she again said : I know, but what kind of coffee? I had a look at the menu which was actually a blackboard with the names of various kinds of coffee written on it, and said Cappuccino!  Honestly I just said Cappuccino because I did not understand what were the other ones!

 Looks so awkward, doesn’t it? It is awkward but it might happen to anyone who goes to a new country, especially on their very first day. Coffee menu might be very different in different countries. If you are from Western Europe or North America you might notice a slight difference but if you are from the Middle East, Asia,India or even south America, this will be an issue for you.

Knowing the names of different coffees (and even drinks) can be an issue because you might be in so many important situations that begin with having, and of course, ordering a cup of coffee. Imagine that you have been in Australia only for a week. Then a recruiter asks you to have an informal meeting in a café. You go there and when it comes to ordering your coffee, you cannot do it properly because you don’t know different types of coffees. This will convey a really negative message to the recruiter and you consequently will lose a job opportunity.

Well, here is the list of the most common types of coffee that you will see in Australia:

• Espresso: Espresso is a concentrated coffee. It is made by forcing small amount of hot water under pressure through finely grained coffee. Because of the pressurized way of making Espresso, the chemicals in it are so concentrated and in the result it tastes bitter.
• Short Black: In Australia it is also called “A shot of Espresso”. It is 30ml Espresso served in a small glass with a thick layer of foam on top. It tastes so bitter and other types of coffee are actually descendants of it.

• Long Black: A Long Black coffee is very common in Australia and New Zealand. It is made by pulling a double shot of Espresso over hot water. Like a Short Black it has a foam on top and is strongly flavored.
• Vienna Coffee: Is a Long Black with hot milk or cream on its top.
• Flat White: This coffee originates form Australia and is prepared by pouring steamed milk from the bottom of the pitcher over a single or double shot of Espresso.
• Latte: Latte is an Italian word and means milk. This type of coffee comes from Italian coffee beverage named Caffelatte which is made with Espresso and steamed milk.
• Chai Latte: Is made like Coffee Latte (or Latte) but coffee has been replaced by Chai (tea) and sever with various flavors such as cinnamon flavor.
• Mocha: Café Mocha of simply Mocha is made like a Latter (one third Espresso and two third Milk) with some cocoa powder or chocolate powder on top.
• Cappuccino: This is an Italian beverage. The bottom one-third of a cup is filled by Espresso, the second one third is filled with hot milk and the rest of the cup is filled by milk foam (micro foam).
• Iced Coffee: Is Espresso coffee mixed with cold milk. It has ice cream and chocolate powder on top of it.
• Flat White: As opposed to Latte (which is one third Espresso and two-third milk) it has two-third Espresso and one third milk.
• Tea: There are various types of tea. Predominantly English Breakfast and Twining's Earl Grey.