Coffee. The amortentia of college kids and bedraggled adults alike, this life-giving beverage restores caffeine and the ability to deal function at a mere $5 per cup, give or take. The wellspring of this elixir for most people is a coffee shop. The wizards that bring you your favorite white mocha frappe or chai tea latte, the baristas, are truly the unsung heroes of society. So, it would be in your best interest to appease these wizards, especially before they have had their own caffeine boost.
How, you ask? The easiest way to make sure that your drink remains exactly what you want and your coffee wizards remain happy is to know exactly what you're ordering and how to order it.
Most coffee shops offer the same basic types of drinks: drip coffee, frappes, lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos. While the line between many of these drinks can be blurred when orders get complicated, there are clear differences between each type of drink. Your barista, who has trained hard in the mystical arts of coffee-brewing, knows these differences. If you don't, this article should serve as a handy guide.
The first and easiest drink for your barista to make is drip coffee. This simple yet timeless classic is the hot or iced coffee you would make at home in your own coffee pot or Keurig. One of the best aspects of this drink is the versatility of it: like cream and sugar? Add and enjoy! Prefer your coffee black? No problem, just grab and go!
The second drink on the list is a mocha. This sweet and tasty drink is usually made as a hot chocolate and coffee blend, which makes it an ideal beginner drink for people transitioning into the life of a coffee addict. Mochas are usually served with a chocolate sauce and whipped topping. If you have a sweet tooth and do not love the taste of bitter coffee, this is the drink your barista would recommend.
The next drink, frappes, are a blended ice coffee drink. The amusing but disgusting way to distinguish frappes from other drinks is to think of them like coffee smoothies: cold, flavorful, and often served with whipped topping.
The rest of this list of drinks have one thing in common: they are based in espresso shots. The simplest of the espresso drinks is an Americano, which is just espresso shots and hot water. This drink is bitter but effective with a caffeine boost. While your barista may ask if you would like room for cream and sugar in your americano, take them up on this offer hesitantly. Americanos are an experienced coffee-drinker's beverage. If you value flavor over caffeine, one of the other drinks would probably be better for you.
If you want the kick of caffeine but without the burnt and bitter flavor of an Americano, your barista may recommend a latte. Lattes are essentially a shot of espresso, mix with some milk, and served with about a centimeter of foam. Lattes are a common coffee-house treat because of their flexibility. Need more caffeine? Add in another espresso shot. Lactose intolerant?
These drinks can be made with almond milk or soy milk! Add in a flavor shot (peppermint mocha if you're me), and you've got a well-balanced coffee with energy and flavor!
The line between types of coffee typically gets blurriest here: the difference between a latte and a cappuccino. Cappuccinos start, like lattes, with an espresso shot and a little milk. The main difference between these drinks is that a cappuccino is mostly foam. Because of this, lactose intolerant coffee drinkers should probably avoid this drink.
While dairy milk can foam up just fine for the drink, soy and coconut milk alternatives cannot. Almond milk can be tricky even for talented baristas. So, when your barista-wizard asks if you'd rather have a latte when you're ordering a dairy-free cappuccino, just accept their wisdom and say yes. Enjoy your latte.
Now you're in the loop of sacred coffee-making knowledge! Use your power wisely, order drinks that you know you will enjoy, and do not look down on barista-wizards in training who haven't quite perfected your cup of joe. And if, even after this article, you find yourself at a loss when you're up to order in your next coffeehouse adventure, just ask your barista what they would recommend.
You're not dumb for asking, and you've made everyone's lives a little easier. Now go enjoy your favorite coffee drink in peace, and be sure to thank the hardworking wizards who made it all possible.
