A Cup of Flat White, Please Melbourne

I realised that I had recently immersed myself in Melbourne coffee culture when I ordered two cups of flat white. One strong, one weak, and a piccolo at Suzie Q, Sydney, without blinking an eye.

Not only did I not need to think about what coffee I wanted that day, but I was also well-versed in others’ preferences. It made me pause. When did I become this person who didn’t need time to think about what coffee I wanted for the day (I go through my tea choices carefully every night), who “needs” coffee before they can function in the morning (do I need tea before I can relax at the end of the day too?), who has a favourite coffee joint?

And apparently, it has been my choice. Well, at least it means I get to tick off two of my geeky Melbourne goals; to find my coffee and coffee shop. But retrospectively, flat white and I shared an old love affair.

I found out about the existence of flat white when I first visited Australia in winter, almost three years ago. That was because the small coffee shop in Kings Cross didn’t have a hot latte. The owner suggested flat white instead. “It’s almost the same”, he said. I said okay, paid with coins, and sipped my first flat white.

I liked the taste, but it was nothing special then because, to be honest, I was more into cheap booze (2 bottles of wine for $10 was unheard of where I came from). Also, we were on holiday! But even then, I ordered a flat white here and there, usually during the mornings, to lessen the hangover effect.

The revelation of my liking it more than other coffee came during the last days of our trip, at 1400m above sea level. While wearing rented clothing from head to toe, I queued for a flat white in the snow. If it is not love, I don’t know what is!

I am not reaching my 10,000th flat white anytime soon. If anything, I am just about to cross the 100th cup. And I don’t know whether I want to cross the 10,000th.

Even thinking about it makes me feel jittery.

Time to brew some tea.

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