The Basics Of Ordering Espresso Drinks For Beginners

As recently as a decade ago, the only people who patronized espresso bars were those who knew what they wanted. Serious coffee towns like Seattle, Portland and New York City pioneered the concept of gourmet coffee. In other cities they served a smaller ‘niche’ population who understood the differences between a quality drink and a “cup of Joe” from the local 7-11.

Today, espresso bars are everywhere. Any decent sized community has a good number of espresso bars, and bookstores like Barnes and Noble have further expanded their reach. This is good for people who like quality coffee, but does present another problem. Sometimes at establishments outside of traditional ‘espresso country’ you’ll run into customers who simply don’t know what they want, or even understand the concept of the espresso bar.

For the benefit of espresso newcomers here are some tips that will help you get what you want, as well as helping the staff at your local espresso bar keep things moving along at an orderly pace.

–Know what you want. Much like a bar that serves cocktails, there are a number of standard drinks that are universal. And in the same way that most people have a few drinks that are their favorites, you should have your own “regular” espresso drinks. Maybe you’ll have a hot latte or cappuccino in the winter, and an iced latte in the summer. Also, make sure to know what size you want–most espresso bars have different names for small, medium and large. If you want a specific kind of mild or other personal touches, make sure you specify it when you order. Your barista may ask, but they shouldn’t be expected to.

–Dont take your kids to an espresso bar. This is not only for the benefit of those of us who dont want to listen to your screaming spawn, but for the benefit of kids themselves. Kids dont want to drink coffee. Take them to Baskin-Robins or somewhere theyll actually enjoy. If you must take them, the same rules apply”they should know what they want or you should know what they want. A lot of espresso establishments serve soft drinks, and if they dont most can whip up an Italian soda. In any case, dont expect the barista to provide a list of kid-friendly drinks. Thats not their job, and youre holding up the line. Also, keep in mind that many people come to espresso bars to work, read, engage in conversation, or just enjoy a few minutes of downtime. Nothing spoils this faster than crying babies, obnoxious brats running all over the place, or ill-mannered pre-teens giggling and cutting up. Make sure your kids behave themselves”its a good opportunity to teach them the basic concept of how to behave in establishments and situations that require some semblance of deportment. Unfortunately, far too many parents think the whole world is one big half-price pizza night at Chuck E. Cheese and that there are no guidelines for the behavior of their children. Dont be one of these poor excuses for parental role models, and try to teach your kids how to behave in the world from an early age. Everyone will be better off for it.

–Tip, tip, tip. Generous tipping is a good rule in general. It’s good karma, and helps make your life easier and more pleasant. The local espresso bar is no exception. . Not only is tipping the decent thing to do, but it is an investment”particularly in any place that youll be patronizing regularly. A dollar tip for the counter help will ensure that your order is prepared quickly, accurately and courteously. Do this enough and youll start to get preferential treatment. If you go to a place on a daily basis, or even several times a week, its a good idea to throw in a big tip every now and then. Give them $10 at Christmas, for example. It will pay dividends throughout the year, and youll quickly become a preferred customer.

–If you want your drink made a certain way, explain it while you order. This implies you know what youre doing and should not be confused with stammering around about espresso basics. The good news is that most of the big chains like Starbucks and Barnes and Noble train their help to make a decently consistent drink. Theyre taught to follow a procedure, however, and if you want your drink done a certain way that isnt standard operating practice youll need to explain what you want. Don’t assume that just because your local coffee shop makes a drink a certain way that every other espresso bar in the world will do the same. If you’re in doubt, ask.

–And one final tip: the word is ES-PRESS-O and NOT EX-PRESS-O. Theres no X in the word. Nothing will tip you off as a coffee novice faster than this fundamental mistake.