Ordering coffee at a busy counter is one of those small situations where knowing the vocabulary makes everything faster. Here is the practical version.
The cup sizes
Hot drinks are normally offered in four sizes — small, medium, large and extra-large. The names are plain English rather than invented words, which removes most of the confusion you get at some other chains.
Two things worth knowing:
- The step up in price between sizes is usually smaller than the step up in volume. Moving from small to medium typically costs a modest amount for a meaningful increase in drink. If you want more coffee, sizing up is generally better value than buying two smalls.
- Espresso-based drinks do not always offer every size. A cappuccino in the largest cup is a lot of milk, and some locations do not sell it.
The counter shorthand
Regulars order by the number of creams and sugars. The shorthand names a drink by how many of each go in:
- Double-double — two creams, two sugars.
- Triple-triple — three of each.
- Regular — in this context, one cream and one sugar, not "plain".
That last one trips people up. If you want black coffee with nothing in it, say black. Asking for a "regular coffee" and expecting nothing added is the single most common ordering mistake.
You can also just say the numbers plainly: "large coffee, one cream, no sugar" is perfectly normal and removes all ambiguity.
What the standard hot drinks actually are
Brewed coffee is drip coffee, made in volume and held. It is the fastest thing on the menu and the cheapest. Usually available as an original-style blend and a darker roast.
Dark roast is the same brewing method with a deeper, more bitter roast profile. Worth trying if you find the standard blend too mild.
Decaf is brewed decaffeinated coffee. At quieter times it may need to be brewed fresh, so expect a short wait.
Americano is espresso topped with hot water. It is stronger and more concentrated in flavour than drip coffee, and costs more.
Latte is espresso with a lot of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. The mildest of the espresso drinks.
Cappuccino is espresso with less milk and much more foam than a latte. Lighter in the cup, stronger in taste.
Mocha is a latte with chocolate added. Sweet, and closer to a dessert than a coffee.
French vanilla is a sweet speciality drink made from a prepared mix rather than brewed like coffee. It is much sweeter than a latte and is not an espresso drink.
If you want the cheapest caffeine: brewed coffee, largest size. If you want the strongest flavour for the money: Americano. If you want something sweet: the speciality drinks, not a latte.
Small things that speed up the queue
- Say the size first. "Large dark roast, double-double" is the order staff are listening for.
- Ask for it black if you want it black. Say it explicitly.
- Specify the milk. If you want a non-dairy option, say so with the size — it changes how the drink is made, not just what goes in at the end.
- Temperature requests are fine. "Extra hot" and "not too hot" are both normal asks.
Iced and frozen are a separate group
Cold drinks are not simply the hot menu over ice. Iced coffee, cold brew and the frozen coffee drinks are made differently and priced differently — generally above the equivalent hot drink. If you are ordering cold, look at that part of the board rather than assuming it mirrors the hot list.