The first time I tried to order a "coffee" in Sydney, the barista looked confused. I tried to describe what is known here as American coffee - something even Starbucks doesn't serve and which all Aussies and migrants (especially Europeans) deride. I still keep a couple of bags of Dunkin Donuts coffee in my office for when I get nostalgic or when I can't be bothered to go downstairs for the closest approximate: a "long black." Nowhere else in the world have I heard this expression used to describe an Americano. You could probably get sued for using it in the US; my Italian roommate and I must be acclimating because we've stopped giggling when we hear it and its cousins: "short black" (espresso) and "flat white" (cafe au lait).
"skinny flat white" still makes me laugh though. can it get more underwhelming than that?
ReplyDeleteThis blog is amazing.
ReplyDeleterebe: i agree. it can't get any more underwhelming :)
ReplyDeletestrangeguy: thanks! you should start one on oklahomaisms.