What is an almond latte?

[ShadowTiger]

If you went for a takeaway coffee and asked for an almond latte, what would you expect to get? Assuming both options are available.

YABU: Dairy latte with almond syrup
YANBU: Almond milk latte

I asked for almond milk latte and (because of the screen and mask) the barista just heard almond latte. So she made a dairy latte with almond syrup. After one mouthful I realised it was dairy but it was already too late.

[araiwa]

If dairy was an issue to me I would be explicit in my order to avoid confusion

[Kingdombythesea]

Certainly I’d want an almond milk latte.
Why was it too late, because you’d had dairy/ sugar or because it was too late to order another?

[SoupDragon]

To me, an "almond latte" is an ordinary latte with almond syrup and an "almond milk latte" is one made with almond milk.

[emilyjane29]

Almond milk latte

[takealettermsjones]

Before I read the post, I assumed it would be almond milk latte, but actually without the word 'milk' it's ambiguous. Maybe say "I'm vegan, can I have a dairy free almond milk latte" to really over-egg the point? (Sorry for dairy based slang, can't think of an alternative!)

[Queenoftheashes]

I’d take that to mean almond milk but I would always specify just in case.

[Scarlettpixie]

I always ask for a ‘latte made with oat milk’ and would do the same for almond/soya to try to avoid being misheard. It os usual to ask for a hazelnut latte/gingerbread latte or whatever and mean dairy with syrup so the same could be assumed with almond.

[ZenNudist]

I'd think almond milk but double check anyway. I always order decaff then check again before I take it and later get the shakes!

[sleepyhead]

I would assume an almond latte was one flavoured with almond.

An almond milk latte is unambigous, but if being misheard is a risk then I'd reword as dairy free with almond milk.

[YellowFish1647]

I wouldn’t know what it meant and I’d ask before I ordered, particularly if there was a reason that I couldn’t drink dairy.

[ShadowTiger]

Personally I would expect both “almond latte” and “almond milk latte” to be a latte made with almond milk. A latte with syrup would be “latte with almond syrup”. Just wondering if I’m in the wrong here, because I thought “almond milk latte” was fairly clear.

[SoftSheen]

A 'caramel latte' is a coffee made with cows' milk and caramel syrup, so I would assume that an 'almond latte' would be a coffee made with cows' milk and almond syrup.

I think you should have specified 'a latte made with almond milk'.

[ThursdayLastWeek]

I would assume 'almond latte' would be a dairy latte with syrup.
But you did ask for an almond milk latte, mistakes are easy to make with masks on everyone.

I would hope that they replaced it for you without fuss.

[Zancah]

I don't know, I ordered a hazelnut latte the other day and got a dairy coffee with syrup.
I agree almond could be misconstrued and you should have made clear exactly what you wanted.

[ThursdayLastWeek]

Nah people don’t ask for a 'latte with hazelnut syrup', they say 'hazelnut latte'.

I think the barista just misheard you.

[SchrodingersImmigrant]

Almond latte is woth syrup. Almond MILK latte is with almond milk.

Caramel latte, gingerbreadlatte, hazelnut latte and so on are with syrup. So almond would have same logic

[ShadowTiger]

Why was it too late, because you’d had dairy/ sugar or because it was too late to order another?
I’d already swallowed it before I realised. The store insisted I asked for almond latte (I didn’t, I asked for almond milk latte). But either way I’d expect almond milk unless I specifically asked for syrup. They expected me to queue and pay again because they said it was my fault.

In a broader sense this made made me also wonder about hazelnut latte/hazelnut milk latte, coconut latte/coconut milk latte, etc. Dairy and nuts can kill people, surely it’s just a matter of time until this happens?

[LordEmsworth]

"Almond latte" is very clearly dairy with almond syrup. In the same way that a "gingerbread latte" is not made with milk from gingerbreads and a "caramel latte" is not made with milk from caramels.

"Almond milk latte" is very clearly made with almond milk; but as PP have said, if I were ordering that I'd be careful to be very specific as I can see the potential for mis-hearing it. That said - I'd have gone back & said, I asked for x and you've given me y, please re-make it...

[SoupDragon]

Personally I would expect both “almond latte” and “almond milk latte” to be a latte made with almond milk. A latte with syrup would be “latte with almond syrup”.

What would you expect from a gingerbread latte though? It's always just "flavour" latte for a drink with flavoured syrup.

You did specify an almond milk latter though which is clear enough (although apparently easy to mishear!)

[JillsFlapjacks]

As a pp said, a caramel or hazelnut latte is the usual dairy milk with syrup, so I don't think anyone is unreasonable to presume almond latte means the same.

[Neonprint]

I get bubble tea quite a lot and don't drink dairum I also don't like sweet coffee. So I'm quite alert to this. Because I get bubble tea a lot and is often flavoured with syrup I've realise almond tea or almond latte is with the syrup and you need to explicitly check its almond milk.

I would not expect them to be the same thing.

[NameChangedForThisFeb21]

I would have checked what you wanted.

But I think you do need to specify almond MILK latte because a cinnamon cappuccino, caramel latte, mint mocha etc all refer to the syrup and not the milk used. Almond latte could be easily misconstrued for a latte with almond syrup not milk.

If you have allergies or intolerances (as I do) or are passionately vegan then you need to be very clear about what you want. “Ie I’m lactose intolerant please can I have a latte made with almond milk” or “I’m vegan, can you make my latte with almond milk please” rather than just “almond latte please”.

[picklemewalnuts]

I agree op! It's worth making a big deal out of it, letter of complaint etc, because it's a health issue.

If my sons had dairy they'd have had days of diarrhoea. Another child and it could be more serious.

[maddening]

Latte made with almond milk instead of cows milk

[Kingdombythesea]

I think if the situation is so serious (dairy allergy or similar) that a mouthful is too much, then you really need to be v specific when ordering, and order a ‘latte made with almond milk’.