Coffee Odyssey

Well latte lovers, I am back on the caffeine airwaves having just returned from a few months abroad in the caffe latte wasteland of the Greek Isles. I have done my fair share of latte tastings whilst spending a month on the gorgeous Greek Isle of Ithaca. Believe me, I understand the lure of this picturesque place which led Homer on his epic sojourn, but if it's a decent latte you're after you'd better jump ship and cross the Adriatic to Italia and the home of Lavazza. My Greek Island coffee experiences largely involved bitter espresso topped with long-life milk. Some cafes did make an effort to whip up a decent latte with smoothly creamed milk but the flavour was always hot bitter espresso with that long-life after taste. The latte pictured here was served in a large cup. Don't be fooled by its smooth appearance. This latte was 90 % long-life milk and 10% bitter espresso.

If it's a good coffee you're after while visiting Greece, you will need to head back to Athens to the Cafe Zonars just off Syntagma Square in upmarket Kolanaki...More on this experience in a future blog.

marshmallows and macchiatos in Mainz

I saw the culprit at breakfast this morning at my hotel in Mainz - the long life milk carton sitting next to the instant coffee jar. This would explain the strange taste of the lattes I have endured. I have arrived in Mainz after a most enjoyable boat cruise along the Rhine River from Koblenz. After my bad coffee experience at breakfast I was well and truly ready for a shot of espresso so I hit the pavements. I wandered down to the picturesque old town of Mainz and came upon it - a Lavazza coffee sign over a small espresso bar. In I went and perched up on a stool and perused the coffee selections. There it was again. It was either a small macchiato or yes, a macchiato latte. Ha! I wasn't going to be fooled this time.
I ordered the small variety and thought well at least I will get a shot of Lavazza espresso. The macchiato came in a cute Lavazza glass and was just what I needed, if a little bitter. Dogs are everywhere in Germany and here was no exception. There were two giant Golden Retrievers spread out and snoozing taking up much of the floor space!
Being in no hurry I did some further surveillance and noted that the latte glasses on top of the coffee machine were not as huge as those I'd encountered so yes dear reader, I was drawn again to try the macchiato latte!
The picture says it all. This was another example of the Marshmallow Latte. I note the coffee is always poured from a metal jug and added to the milk and the result...A mountainous eruption of foaming milk over the top of the glass that clings to the nose and upper lip and a small layer of bitter espresso beneath. Well I am beaten. The macchiato latte had seduced me yet again and I was the one who came off second best. Never Again!
I fly back to Australia tomorrow. Needless to say, a decent caffe latte will be high on my list of priorities!