How do you order a coffee?

[Greenandcabbagelooking]

I just went to a coffee shop with a friend. You order at the counter. I said “Hi, please may I have a latte. Thanks”.

She says that all that is a waste a of time, and that when the staff member asks what you want, it’s fine to just say “a latte”. It holds up the queue for other people, apparently. I think that’s really rude, and that all orders should include the words please and thank you.

Who is right?

It's the people ordering a large double-shot decaf latte with almond milk and hazelnut syrup, no sugar, please, who hold up the queue.

You are correct; she's beyond rude.
I think I say most often nowadays "I'd like a white Americano please" smile and say thank you.

Love it when one coffee shop asks my name to write on the cup. It gives me a thrill to say "Anna". My name is long and complicated although it astounds me how often they get Anna wrong.

You're in the right. Politeness costs nothing and I can guarantee the majority of staff will appreciate being treated like a person and not a coffee machine.

“Hi, could I have a X please?”
followed by
“Thanks very much”

it’s just how I was taught and, at 50, I’m not about to change now.

DH is worse ‘Hi, how you doing? Can I get X, X & X please?
followed by
“That’s great, looks delicious, cheers…thank you. Have a great day’ 😂

Crikey, it's a sad day when a few words of politeness are deemed inappropriate! I've always thought eye contact and a smile go a long, long way.

You're right and your friend is rude. Reminds me of this picture I saw on Facebook.

Your friend needs to learn some manners. I always speak to other people the way I would like to be spoken to myself.

I say 'hi I'll have a one shot latte please'. Or for variety ' hi I'll have a one shot latte thanks'. Might do a 'latte please' if feeling like throwing caution to the wind.
' Please may I have' is quite quaint but much nicer than just saying 'a latte' without at least a please or thank you.

I bet she gets sneeze-coffees.

Good manners is always appreciated. I had a friend once who I embarrassed to shop with as when the salesperson asked for the money she always begrudgingly put the cash into their hand and took the item and receipt without ever saying a thankyou. Rude.

Manners maketh man ( and woman) .

"hello, what can I get you?"
"Hi, I'll have an Americano with no milk thank you."
"No problem"

I smile and say, "Hi how are you today?" They say, "Great, what can I get you?" Takes hardly any time and my goodness the look of..relief? on the server's face when they see that I realise that I'm talking to a human is immense. They always smile back and everybody is happy.

I had an acquaintance who told me DS sounds like he's from an enid blyton book because he says please and thank you every time, and asks to leave the table. I just told her I didn't think manners were old fashioned (her kids are obnoxious)

Yanbu.

I used to work behind a bar and hated it when people barked their orders at me so now I try to be super polite when I ask for things. In a coffee shop I'd say, "Hi, can I please have a hot chocolate? Thank you!" and smile at them. They are people, after all.

"Good-morning-a-regular-latte-please."

And if it's one of the regulars something like "How are you?" or "It's quiet/busy today" or "It's a lovely/miserable day out."

If they ask “what can I get you” then the “please May I have” isn’t really required but I’d still say “a latte please”.

however if they just say “hi” then your “please May I have “ is totally appropriate.

At the very least she should say please.

You’re absolutely in the right.

“May I have?”/“Can I have?” - polite

“Can I get?”/“Gimme a…” - diabolical

Of course you say please and thank you.

I always forget to say something about my order that they have to ask about! Oops.

Well, if you were Spanish say, that what you’d do. Brits tend to be more indirect so using lots of ‘I would like’, ‘could I have…’ That’s the norm here so doing otherwise generally is perceived to be, experienced as, rude, peremptory.

“Can I get XX?.” should result in the customer being immediately escorted from the building and barred for life.

This very morn I uttered these words
’Hi, can I have two Latte’s please and two of your finest, biggest Cinnamon rolls’.

The chap serving chuckled.

Disclaimer: they were for me and DD, not just me.

Your mate is extremely rude.

"Could I get" my pet hate. NO! The barista will get it for you!"