Small Oat Flat White Please

“Small oat flat white please.”

My most used phrase. And with good reason.

I've always loved coffee. I've always had a top of the range coffee machine at home and I even had my favourite spots back in York.

I'd heard about Australian coffee, and more specifically, the coffee in Perth, and I'll be honest, I thought it was a bit overhyped. I was wrong.

My relationship with coffee since moving here is unhealthy.

My favourite thing to do on the way to work? Grab a coffee.

10am? Better go grab another.

Saturday morning?

“Shall we grab a coffee?”

Which usually turns into a walk by the beach or a stroll around the lake.

The coffee culture here is real, and I love nothing more than walking down a random street in a random suburb and discovering a coffee shop absolutely thriving.

They're not just places to grab a coffee. They're social hubs. People are sitting around chatting, catching up, working, reading, meeting friends. There's something about it that I really love.

And one thing I've definitely learnt is that a good coffee can't be rushed.

We don't have quite the same model as the UK, where you can pop into Costa, grab a coffee and be on your way in two minutes.

Here, waiting for your coffee is normal.

You chat to people while you wait.

You watch what's going on around you.

Then you hear your name called.

You pick up your coffee.

And those next few moments are bliss.

Maybe it's the coffee.Maybe it's the fact that you're not rushing.Maybe it's both.

Either way, I'm now fully part of the problem and I'll happily drive across Perth for a good small oat flat white.

Sar x

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Where i'm grabbing coffee...

Herdsman, Churchlands

One of my locals and somewhere I keep coming back to. It's also a beautiful food store, so it's very easy to convince myself that popping in for a coffee has turned into a completely reasonable shopping trip.

OBI, Subiaco

I used to work in Subiaco and this was my daily stop. When somewhere becomes part of your everyday routine like that, you know it's a good one.

Driphouse, CBD & other locations

Currently enjoying this one in the CBD. It's become one of my go-tos before work.

Little Donkey Corner, Tuart Hill

I think this might have been my first proper coffee in Perth. Which probably makes it slightly responsible for the coffee obsession that followed.

Bennies, Mettams Beach

11/10. The coffee is great, but the açai deserves a special mention because it is very good. Add in being near the beach and you've got a pretty strong combination.