Language of the Day: How Do You Take Your Coffee?
With all the choices and preferences available, some people know exactly how they like their coffee while others enjoy trying different varieties. And some people don’t drink coffee at all, but everyone can benefit from learning about common coffee lingo!
Going out for a coffee doesn’t mean just coffee. It’s more of a cultural concept that refers to grabbing a bite or a drink or meeting up for a short amount of time with someone, usually outside of the home. It is more casual and flexible than going out for dinner, but can also include getting a snack or meal in addition to a beverage.
Coffee shops and cafes offer a huge selection of hot and cold drinks, so there’s always something for everyone, even if you decide to just order bottled water.
Here are some useful words and phrases while ordering a cup of coffee, or another drink of your choice!
Some fast food chains like Tim Hortons and McDonald’s customize your drink for you, so you might say, “I’ll have a small coffee with some milk and one sugar” or “Could I please have a large double-double?” (*this is a common order that means two creams and two sugars)
At places like Starbucks, the customer can add their own cream and sugar, so you can say, “Can I get a grande medium roast coffee with room for cream, please?” (*this lets the barista know that they shouldn’t fill the cup to the top)
You can also ask what types of milk they have in terms of whole milk, 2% (two percent), and nonfat milk, in addition to vegan options like oat milk, soy milk, and almond milk.
For iced drinks, you can order it with “light ice” or “easy ice” meaning less ice than usual, or with extra ice. For example, “I’ll have a tall iced vanilla latte with easy ice.”
Drinks with flavoured syrups can also be adjusted based on sweetness levels. “May I have a half-sweet caramel macchiato?” or “I’ll have an extra sweet medium hot chocolate.”
There are also decaffeinated options like decaf coffee and herbal teas. To clarify, you could ask, “Does this tea contain caffeine?”