Coffee - navigating the differences

Different countries have different coffee cultures.  We have puzzled over what is here, finding it tasteless, weak and without aroma.  Anne gave us details of an Aussie company in London, but we have been up in Leicester.

It was an Italian coffeehouse owner in Leicester who explained it all  to us.  We asked him for a cappuccino European style.  The result was much better, but then he told us that in Italy, a cappuccino isn't considered a proper coffee!

But he said that in Italy, people drink espressos (for the caffeine) - a short black.  They drink at the bar, without sitting down.  The English see a cup of coffee as a time to socialise, so they want a bigger drink.  So they take a single shot and dilute it (with milk or water) to make it last longer. We asked if the beans were stale - no he said, they use first rate beans, but serve it differently.  

So we had breakfast there - but that was also European style - brioche!  So what are we to do - English breakfast comes with English coffee, European coffee comes with European breakfast!

Anyhow, today, back in London, we hit paydirt. 

We went into the coffee shop and I did my usual thing of asking to see the cup they used for cappuccino, ready to ask for less milk please.  But it was the smaller Aussie size!  Our coffee came - just like Australia!  The joy on KM's face!  I talked to the ladies there - the shop was owned by a man from Bangladesh, and they were trained specially on how to make coffee.

So there you go.  It is just opposite Aldgate station, so we may be able to go back.