STACK #191 Sep 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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W e don’t just like coffee in Australia, we love it, and for many of us, it’s a necessary part of our daily routine. Australian coffee is among the best in the world and it’s fons et origo is an interesting story in itself. The First Fleet brought coffee seeds and plants it had acquired in Rio de Janeiro on the voyage to Terra Australis, but these failed to grow. Expensive to both import and buy, up until the 1930s, when the very first espresso machines arrived, filtered coffee had been the popular choice. A post-war immigration boom from Italy and Greece brought the coffee skills, tools and culture to Australia in the late ‘40s and by the 1960s, the coffee lounges, shops and cafes were being adopted by a new generation of Australians. Gradual gentrification of the inner-city suburbs in the 1980s paved the way for the ubiquitous café culture we hold so dear today. AUSTRALIA'S COFFEE STORY

COFFEE JAMS

Blur, Coffee and TV (1999) Damon Albarn and co. have the right idea: “So give me coffee and TV, peacefully/ I’ve seen so much I’m going blind/ And I’m braindead, virtually.”

Kate Bush, Coffee Homeground (1978) There are no flies on Ms Bush (nor her aerial vocal stylings) – she’s onto your dastardly plan: “You won’t get me with your Belladonna in the coffee/ And you won’t get me with your arsenic in the pot of tea.”

1 Latte – One or two shots of espresso make up a third of the cup, while the other two thirds are filled with steamed milk, topped off with around a centimetre of velvety frothed milk. 2 Cappuccino – The larger cup of the cappuccino contains equal parts espresso and steamed and frothed milk. Every country has its own unique take on classic coffee creations, but do you know your way around Australia’s most popular coffee types?

Garbage, Cup of Coffee (2001) Creepy theramin wobbles and wails over this offering from Garbage, in which Shirley Manson laments: “You tell me you don’t love me/ Over a cup of coffee.

Spandau Ballet, Coffee Club (1982)

Spandau Ballet’s entry is a horn-punching, bass-slappin’, Latin-licked banger: “No coffee

club will have the rub/ When product is your answer/ Discuss the man, he’ll

3 Flat White – Traditionally created with a double shot of espresso, the flat white shares many similarities to the latte but is served in a smaller cup with less froth. 4 Espresso/Short Black – Simply a shot of espresso served in a demi-tasse cup. 5 Long Black – A shot of espresso topped up with hot water. Often served with the water in a separate jug. 6 Macchiato – Think latte but with more espresso and less milk. 7 Mocha – One part espresso and two parts milk with a dash of chocolate powder or syrup to finish it off.

break your plan/ It’s deep within the dancer!” Johnny Cash, Cup of Coffee (1966)

Opening with an impressive little yodel, Cup of Coffee sees Johnny refusing the hard stuff in favour of the bitter stuff: “I just dropped in to have a cup of coffee, friend/ Don’t you offer me none of that whiskey, don’t need no wine/ Gotta get the semi down the line.”

We spoke with barista Corinne Miller and asked her for five hot tips for the perfect cup of coffee.

Barista

Top Tips

through evenly and smoothly with an amazing colour and smell. You should extract 40-50ml of coffee for a double shot in 26-32 seconds. If the coffee runs too slow or too quick, the colour will be too dark or too pale, so the grind of the coffee will need to be adjusted. Every bag of coffee you buy will be different as each coffee roaster has their own grind. If you’re just starting out and not too sure

what coffee to buy, head down to your favourite café and buy a bag directly from them; they will be able to help you out with your grind settings. #3 Sexy Smooth Milk Creating the perfect spin to achieve smooth textured milk is absolutely essential. To achieve this, you need to bring the jug down to add air into the milk while keeping the milk

spinning like a whirlpool. The best temperature is 65 degrees; this will ensure the milk stays sweet and creamy. #4 Bin the Artistry Don’t get too fancy with the latte froth art – it doesn’t make your coffee taste any better. #5 Keep It Clean Make it a priority to always clean your machine. You can

have the best beans in the business, your coffee dialled in perfectly and beautifully textured milk, but a dirty machine can ruin it all.

#1 The Good Stuff Always use good quality coffee beans. Everyone’s taste is different: some people like bitter coffee, some like smooth coffee, so always read the notes to the coffee to cater to your liking. It’s often likened to wine tasting. #2 The Perfect Grind Make sure you have the right grind so that your coffee runs

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