This is the Magic ($5.50) from Bear Espresso Bar. A Magic is an espresso-based drink invented in Melbourne, prepared with a double ristretto shot topped with steamed milk and traditionally served in a 150 mL cup.

The beverage presented with a warm medium brown hue beneath a fine layer of glossy microfoam. Aroma opened with prominent notes of fruity dark chocolate, characteristic of the Flour Mill blend from Headlands Coffee.

Initial contact delivered immediate cocoa notes reminiscent of high-quality fruity dark chocolate, carried by the concentrated ristretto extraction. The steamed milk rounded the body without masking the coffee, producing a smooth, velvety mouthfeel that recalled dark chocolate melted into a rich hot chocolate-coffee hybrid.

Through the mid-palate, the milk integrated seamlessly with the espresso, softening the intensity while preserving the blend’s distinctive fruit character. As the cocoa notes gradually receded, subtle strawberry-like sweetness emerged, lending brightness without introducing noticeable acidity. The shortened ristretto extraction successfully avoided bitterness, allowing the sweeter, fruit-forward characteristics of the coffee to remain clearly defined despite the milk.

Towards the finish, the cocoa and strawberry notes lingered together in balanced proportion, resolving into a clean, smooth aftertaste free from bitterness or sourness. Sitting comfortably between the strength of a piccolo and the softness of a flat white, the Magic delivered an exceptionally well-balanced expression of the coffee’s flavour profile.

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Overall, a milk-based espresso beverage with a layered flavour trajectory and seamless textural integration, resulting in a remarkably balanced and expressive cup.

This Magic was purchased from Bear Espresso Bar in Sydney, Australia in June 2026.