Coffee Shop Drink Tips + Former Barista Q&A
Coffee House Drinks Dissected
Hello all, I thought it would be of value to provide you with a list of coffee shop beverages and their differences that I learned when I was a barista. If you have any questions, ask below.
Coffee based drinks
Coffee: Doesn't really need an explanation, but light roast coffee typically has more caffeine than dark roast coffee. Can be had iced.
Café au lait: Just coffee with steamed milk (usually whole milk unless specified). Flavors can be added, just beware of the increase in calories (usually nonfat milk used).
Red Eye: Coffee with espresso shots, good for late nights.
Espresso based drinks
Espresso: Espresso shots. Usually had in a single or a double shot, but more shots can be added. Very concentrated caffeine amounts. The shots tend to taste more and more sour after thirty seconds, so drink as soon as possible. Serving size is small.
Americano: Espresso equivalent of coffee. Americanos are just shots and hot water. They are also typically stronger than coffee. A small Americano usually has two shots; a medium usually has three shots, etc. Can be flavored and iced.
Macchiato: Not Starbuck's macchiato (which is actually a latte). Single or double shot of espresso (more can be specified) with a bit of foam and milk. Serving size is small.
Cappuccino: Usually had with one or two shots of espresso (more can be specified). A cappuccino typically comes with four to five ounces of milk and about 6 ounces of foam. Usually served in a small cup and can be flavored. Can be had iced, which is just an iced latte with steamed foam.
Latte: Shots with milk. If unflavored, whole milk is usually used. If the latte is flavored, usually nonfat milk is used. Usually has about half an inch of foam. Iced, flavored lattes usually have fewer calories due to less flavoring being used.
Flavored Iced Coffee: Usually made with espresso, flavor, and water over ice.
Iced Blended, Frappuccino, etc: Tastes like ice cream, but has a massive amount of calories. Even the no sugar added options still have more than four hundred calories for a small.
Tea based drinks
Black Tea: Has a decent amount of caffeine, let steep for about five minutes.
Green Tea: Has little caffeine, usually does not have room for milk and sugar. Let steep for three minutes
Herbal Tea: No caffeine. Usually does not have room for milk and sugar, Let steep for seven minutes.
Tea Latte: Caffeine levels depend on the tea. Hot tea lattes usually have milk, whereas iced tea lattes do not have milk. All versions of tea lattes are sweet and pack quite a few calories.
Matcha Latte: Matcha powder with milk. Rather sweet and has quite a few calories.
Tricks, Tips, and Miscellaneous
Save money (Only works in California): If the cashier asks you if your order is "for here or to go?," say that the drink is to go. That way the store won't charge you tax on your drink.
Clarity: Say the size of the drink before the drink and its details. That way the cashier will most likely mess up less.
Cubano shots: The sugar is mixed with the espresso grinds when pulled.
Save weight (and money): ** Avoid the overpriced pastries.
**Watch your drink be made (if possible): Some baristas cut corners, which can ruin the beverage. For example, some baristas use expired espresso shots (which taste sour) when finishing up drinks or they restream milk.
I think that pretty much covers it.
Dark roasted coffee is bitter to the taste. Columbia coffee is good enough for that caffeine high.
Colombia. And it's the arabica bean that is found in most 85% of the worlds coffee, also called "light roast".
One time on vacation in Costa Rica i purchased 25 lbs of coffee all different types and stuffed it in my carry on.
"Light roast" just means it wasn't roasted for as long. I roast coffee at home sometimes. Also, the lighter the roast, the more caffeine as the roasting process removes caffeine.
expresso
lol
How in God's name were you a barista and you call it "expresso"?
What's the other name? I know that Starbucks calls it something different. Where I used to work, it went by a single expresso, double expresso, etc.
Was it here?
...and I can't spell
...and in what fantasy-land do you live, where taxes are optional?
If you say for here, coffee shops are treated like restaurants, so there is a restaurant/sales tax. The lack of taxes if you say to go through me off too. By the way, this might vary state to state.
Same in the UK, many coffee shops or bakeries won't charge you tax if you order it to go
expresso? wow.
Since when do you not have to pay taxes??
"No sales tax is charged on hot beverages, hot bakery goods, and cold prepared foods if ordered "to go." It seems like this is only to case in California. I'll edit my post.
Read more at http://www.brandeating.com/2008/05/for-here-or-to-go-califorinias-sales…
Lol, it's *espresso not expresso. Funniest post on here in a while.
Haha. Thanks for the correction.
Coffee with coconut oil all day
Really? I can't imagine that tastes good..
just a tablespoon or so of coconut oil. I think it's really good
Value add. Thanks.
Any thoughts on tipping? If you're using a loyalty card (e.g. Starbucks gold card) it's always a bit awkward to pull out cash separately to tip. Then again, the repeat interactions probably make it worthwhile to do so on the reg...
There really is no need to tip if the order is short and simple. Cash is preferred because it typically doesn't get taxed, although it probably varies between states ans stores. Also, if the cashier makes your drink and sees that you put in a tip, they will tend to make your drink better. Loyalty card tips are more convenient, but the cashier typically won't know if you tipped them or not, so you drink wont get any special treatment. If you want special treatment just build a rapport with the baristas and cashiers. Again, tips aren't really necessary.
damn, all this time I've been writing out checks to tip
Kamchowder what's the most complicated order you remember taking?
ps i've been getting into mexican coffee, Chiapas, Oaxaca, good stuff
The coffee shop I used to work at was in a touristy part of town so tons of foreigners came in. Once there was a French couple who ordered in French, and, although, I cannot speak French, I successfully deciphered what drinks they want. After I completed their order by using their gift card on their app, the wife came up to me and angrily said in perfect English, "I told you so clearly that I wanted to pay in cash!" Me: "Ma'am, I don't speak french." Needless to say, she was livid.
The most complex drink I made was an ice blended drink with half mocha, half vanilla, caramel, cherries, espresso beans, cookie crumbles, extra ice, whipped cream on the top and bottom of the cup, and an affogato shot on top. Thankfully I made that drink correctly
Thoughts on the flat white?
It is a nice drink. It has about 1-2 inches of microfoam, with about two shots of espresso. Typically served in a small cup. Almost half cappuccino and half latte. More coffee flavored than a latte, less foam than a cappuccino. Also, fewer calories than a latte.
Gregorys puts nose nugs in their cold brew. I don't hate it
Same goes with Colombian coffee
Triple eSpresso. Anything else should come with a box of tampons.
Once saw a lady down 5 shots of espresso...
A strange anecdote is most Colombians drink their coffee instant steeped with warm milk.
I thought most Colombians "drank" nose-beers.
Once I stopped in a hipster coffee shop and asked for an espresso to-go. The barista suggested I drink it there because a paper to-go cup would alter the flavor and worsen the whole coffee experience. I googled it and found this
Something to consider as the trade-off for that to-go savings mentioned above.
That's interesting. Personally I have never tasted the difference, but it makes sense.
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