How to Order Coffee Like You Know What You Are Doing

Know your size in ounces, not small-medium-large. Know your milk. Know whether you want espresso-based or brewed coffee. Those three things cover 90% of any coffee order at any shop in the world.

78.8% of coffee shops are independent. Each has its own menu vocabulary.

Of the 462,531 active coffee shops in Pulled Coffee's database, 364,333 are independent cafes. That is 78.8%. They do not all use the same naming conventions. What one shop calls a "Gibraltar" another calls a "cortado." Learning drink names helps more than memorizing any chain's menu.

In New York or Los Angeles, the same four or five drinks appear on nearly every specialty menu, just sometimes with different names.

"364,333 independent coffee shops. None of them are obligated to use Starbucks vocabulary. Learn the drinks, not the chain's menu."

The four questions that cover every coffee order

Espresso or brewed? Espresso drinks include lattes, cappuccinos, and cortados. Brewed includes drip, pour overs, and French press.

Size? A 6 oz drink is small and concentrated. A 12 oz is a normal American latte. Specialty shops often max out at 12 or 16 oz.

Milk? Whole milk froths best. Oat milk is the best non-dairy option for most espresso drinks. Read more on oat milk vs almond milk in coffee.

Hot or iced? Most espresso drinks come iced without any changes other than temperature.

What to say when you do not know what you want

Tell the barista what you usually drink and ask what they recommend. "I like lattes but want something stronger" gets you a flat white or cortado at any good shop. At Sightglass Coffee or Heart Coffee Roasters, the baristas genuinely want to help.

Read the full breakdown in every coffee drink explained.

Related: Every coffee drink explained, Best espresso drinks ranked, Best drinks for beginners.