I need a complicated-sounding coffee drink for a male character to order at a coffee place like Starbucks or some local coffee house. It could be some big, sugar-laden fancy drink, or just something involving extra shots of espresso. Basically, it can't be plain coffee, because he has to wait for the barista to put it together for him. I'm looking either for something manly-sounding or something really girly... Ideas?
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55,005 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 10 25
Well, he could go with a venti triple shot Americano (kinda manly). Or he could go with a tall sugar-free vanilla latte with soy milk and no foam. Would you like that hot or iced?
Although personally, I go for my own personalized drink which I call a Cafe Dharma which is technically a tall two-shot vanilla Americano with a splash of steamed milk and lots of powdered chocolate. A dollop of milk foam on top is an optional garnish.
Now what can I get started for you?
Peace out, namaste and write on!
Dharma Kelleher
www.dharmashanti.com
50,043 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 10 35
double americano with room, not for milk just so it's stronger.
0 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 10 37
Hmm.. actually I like the americano idea. It kind of goes with the theme I'm building. So that's what again - watered down espresso?
0 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 10 40
Do baristas have a uniform? Like, could a barista wear a short skirt and high heels if it were perhaps an independent cafe? I imagine she'd be crazy to walk around all day in heels, but nonetheless...
0 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 10 45
Sorry, one more question: When he orders, say, "Double americano", will the barista have any follow up questions? Like... "do you want cream" or "here or to go", that kind of thing?
18,008 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 11 24
The most culturally enhancing way to see this is to sit in a Starbucks for 20 minutes and peoplewatch. That's how I got my coffeehouse setting for my story (only it was a local coffee house, not a Starbucks). You'd be surprised at what some men will actually order.
I personally order a grande "Coffee" and they baristas look at me like I'm weird. Other times it's a Grande Mocha Frappucino with extra whipped cream and chocolate syrup.
Think of the size of the Starbucks. You might just have a cashier with a Sharpie writing on cups and they'll pass the buck to the barista/o behind the counter to make all the drinks. As far as a coffee, unless you're getting a scone or a biscotti with it, they probably won't ask if it's for here or to go. The food will either be wrapped, or placed on one of their plates, which is when they'll ask. There are some sit-down Starbucks that have porcelain espresso mugs to go along with the scone. Otherwise, coffee's coffee. It's in a cup. It'll always be to go.
The creameries and sugars are almost always on a separate stand away from the counter. About the only thing they'll ask is if you want "room for cream" so that they can shortchange you an ounce. ;-)
51,015 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 12 14
Granted, it's not a Starbucks, but my local Costas ask every time if you want it to drink in or take away, mainly because they can charge you more for eating in as you're also paying for the privilege to sit in a horribly uncomfortable chair for an hour or so - whilst you're there, you are quite possibly robbing them of other customers, which leaving wouldn't.
Also, you get a mug if you're drinking in, with or without food. You get polystyrene if you take out.
50,026 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 12 33
My local non-chain coffeeshop also does pretty much what Prof.Becket describes. They ask every time if it's for here or to go. If you stay, you get a porcelain mug. If it's to go, you get a polystyrene cup with a cardboard sleeve.
0 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 14 28
OK - I'll have to make sure it doesn't sound like a Starbucks then. The other chains here in Toronto do offer the option of stay/go as long as it's a full-service location. Thanks!
0 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 14 30
Is there a size for that? Like if you order a double americano, do you have to specify small/medium/large, or is that implied in the double part of it?
60,560 / 50,000
May 7, 2008 - 15 49
My roommate's boyfriend always get as a caramal vanilla latte everytime they (or we three) go for coffee. Of course, Iget teh same thing, so it isn't particularly manly, but he and I both like it.
4,468 / 50,000
May 8, 2008 - 09 14
I used to work at a Starbucks, and it always amused me to see big strong laborers come in and order a venti (large) white chocolate mocha with whipped cream. It's an extremely sweet, sugary drink. Making it requires the time it takes to squirt the syrup, pull the espresso shots, steam the milk (though a busy barista will have a pitcher full of hot milk and use it to make several drinks at a time), and top with whipped cream.
Another one that really made me smile was when they ordered Passion iced tea -- the "Passion" flavor was an herbal tea which was a lovely magenta color. Handing a pinkish-purple drink to a guy and watching him walk off slurping it was kind of funny. The iced teas had to be hand-shaken with ice, and , so that might work if the barista has to be busy for a minute.
The most "manly" drink I can think of, after plain black coffee, would be a double espresso. A very small cup of very, very strong high-quality coffee -- it's like fine brandy or scotch, bitter but classy.
51,052 / 50,000
May 8, 2008 - 09 17
Well at Starbucks there is no small/medium/large. It's tall/grande/venti. Even at most independent coffee shops I've been to, they will use tall or grande as size labels. I'm not sure what they call a large as I hardly ever get that size. Other places will just go by ounces. 12, 16 or 24.
Depending on the drink, a larger size will mean more shots of espresso. For example, a 12oz mocha might have one shot while a 24oz might have two or even three in a standard order (meaning you don't have to ask for more). If you want more than that, you will have to ask for it and pay extra.
0 / 50,000
May 9, 2008 - 09 58
Wow, those are huge drinks. I can't imagine ever wanting 24 ounces of coffee. Even if you're exhausted, the amount of sugar most people pour into a drink that big will cancel out the effects of the caffeine with an insulin crash in half an hour anyway.
I hate the size names Starbucks uses. I got a $25 gift card from work a year ago that I still have yet to use, because every time I walk into a store and read the names on the menu board I feel too lame to order anything, so I usually just walk out and down the street to a Second Cup (a Canadian chain that uses small/medium/large names for its better-tasting fancy drinks) or Tim Hortons (a Canadian chain that just offers good, fresh coffee for $1.40).
51,015 / 50,000
May 10, 2008 - 10 42
And don't even think about using the word 'small'; you'll get some smarmy server who says, in an affected posh accent, "Do you mean tall?"
0 / 50,000
May 11, 2008 - 06 44
Mr. Bucks, founder of starbucks comes from Vienna, my hometown. Here in Austria we have a very long coffee tradition and in Austrian/Viennese Cafes you can choose one of 100 different ways to drink your coffee.
One that needs a bit more time for the barista to be prepared is "Irish Coffee". Its a small cup of black hot coffee with fresh cream on top. Men like to drink it with whiskey.
Another "Macho" - Coffee is Turkish Coffee. This really needs about ten minutes to be prepared - try to google it.
In Spain people like to drink "cortados" - so maybe this would fit better for the USA.
Alirion war nicht alleine, dass sagte ihr ihr Verstand, auch wenn sie es nicht fühlen konnte.