Australia's Magic Coffee is putting a spell on the Middle East

The rich and velvety blend, which was born in Melbourne, has since gone global after Marks & Spencer trademarked it

Magic Coffee is available at M&S Cafes in the UAE for Dh16. Photo: Marks & Spencer

Put that latte order on hold, coffee lover, for there’s a new brew in town. As of February, a coffee that goes by the name of Magic is available at Marks & Spencer Cafes across the Middle East.

While M&S might not be the most obvious port of call for a caffeine refuel — and it's by no means the only place that serves the brew — there’s plenty to suggest that Magic Coffee has what it takes to become this year’s trendiest cup of joe, with the British retailer describing it in their marketing spiel as “the hottest new style of coffee since the flat white”.

An Australian original

The Magic, as it’s known in Australia, originated in Melbourne, a city known for its artisan roasts, bespoke blends and tech-savvy coffee preparation. The Magic has a reputation for being an off-menu, underground option — a barista’s choice, if you will.

Now, it's expected to go international, from insider secret to well-known go-to, since M&S trademarked the drink and launched it in 330 cafes across the UK last month.

The arrival on Middle Eastern shores followed this week, with the brand giving away free samples in select cafes, although the previously lesser-known brew has also been available in select UAE cafes for some time.

Getting technical

Magic Coffee has more ristretto than espresso, rendering its taste smooth and less bitter. Photo: M&S

But what exactly makes Magic Coffee so special? A taste test proves that it’s all about hitting the sweet spot with a milk-to-coffee ratio that produces a drink with a distinct lack of bitterness and a smooth, well-rounded flavour.

While similar to the flat white, a cup of Magic is made with a double (1oz; 29ml) ristretto base rather than a double (2oz; 59ml) espresso one. It is finished with 5oz (147ml) of steamed milk (a flat white uses 6oz; 177ml).

For context, while the 6oz (177ml) cup size is the same as the Magic, the cortado is made with a double espresso topped with 4oz (118ml) steamed milk, while a latte tends to be composed of 10oz (295ml) milk and 2oz (59ml) espresso, served in a 12oz (354ml) cup.

Without getting too technical, it’s the ristretto that makes all the difference here. As the coffee nerds in class will know, a ristretto (“restricted” or smaller espresso shot) has the same amount of coffee as an espresso, but less water is used to brew it. Alongside, the extraction time (time taken for the water to pass through the coffee grounds into the cup) is shorter. The result is a sweeter, brighter yet more concentrated flavour than an espresso, with minimal bitterness at the end.

Taste test

After sampling the Magic, The National can report back that there’s no messing about with this coffee. Thanks to the shortness of the drink and the intensity of the double ristretto shot, the Magic delivers a bold, coffee-heavy flavour punch.

There’s also evidence of that much-talked-about ratio alchemy at work. While the coffee flavour is potent, it’s not at all dry or acidic-tasting, with the ristretto lending a rich note and the steamed milk a velvety sweetness. We can see why those coffee-loving Melbournites have been sagely sipping away on this one and largely keeping it to themselves.

Where to try it

Magic Coffee is available at M&S Cafes across the Middle East (with the exception of Saudi Arabia). In the UAE, it is also available at Costa Coffee, Common Grounds, The Sum of Us and Harvest & Co.