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.

either way I’d expect almond milk unless I specifically asked for syrup

This could equally be applied the other way round though. You'd expect dairy unless you specifically asked for almond milk. (Which you did)

I normally have a hazelnut latte which is always dairy milk and hazelnut syrup, so I would ask for an almond milk latte if I didn’t want dairy.

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?

That's why customes must be specific. Staff aren't mind readers.

If you really said almond MILK latte, then you are in right to be pissed off and I would seriously complain in that situation. However, not in "almond latte" situation.

@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’.

Agreed. This way there can't be situation when someone misheards you like with the other

The issue around allergies is slightly different to the problem here though. If a person has an allergy I think the onus is on them to make the order completely clear and not open to mishearing or misinterpretation. "Non dairy latte made with almond milk" for example.

@SoupDragon

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

exactly that

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?

With a life threatening allergy you avoid anywhere that wouldn’t take careful steps to avoid cross contamination and you clearly inform whoever serves you that you have such an allergy and are clear in your instructions. If not, it’s not the store that’s at fault, it’s the customer.

I have such an allergy. You don’t take risks with lazy communication. Stores also usually put signage up which helps them avoid mitigation and clearly states if you have an allergy you must inform them. I’ve even been asked to sign disclaimers!

I don't think you'd ever use the word "syrup", so if you are ordering a specific "milk', I'd be very clear about it.

It's actually possible the staff siad you wanted almond milky latte. Lots of people order milky coffee or milky latte when they want a latte.

Unless an Almond Milk Latte is written on their menu you are better off ordering a latte made with almond milk. I don't know exactly how their till systems work but often they would put in the type of drink, type of milk and then size. There's less chance of an error if you say it in the order they would input into the till. At Starbucks I would never order a tall x, I order x, tall size because I know they input the info that way round.

Ok, so it sounds like it was fair for her to give me dairy plus syrup because she did think I said “almond latte”. But I still think that giving the same name to nut milks vs dairy with syrup is an accident waiting to happen. And “almond latte” vs “almond milk latte” is dangerously similar and easy to make a mistake.

• staff Thought you said

I have a kid with food allergies. Even if something is clearly labelled "xyz free, and xxx only", you STILL double-check when ordering.

You are only casual when it's preferences, not when it's genuine allergies or food intolerance.

It’s Moderna and AZ at Tunstall Stoke on Trent. I’m Moderna. I’m in the queue.

@Comefromaway

It’s Moderna and AZ at Tunstall Stoke on Trent. I’m Moderna. I’m in the queue.

Good luck🙈

This has happened to me before. I now order 'latte with almond milk' 🤷🏻‍♀️

@ShadowTiger

Ok, so it sounds like it was fair for her to give me dairy plus syrup because she did think I said “almond latte”. But I still think that giving the same name to nut milks vs dairy with syrup is an accident waiting to happen. And “almond latte” vs “almond milk latte” is dangerously similar and easy to make a mistake.

But if you have anything near a dangerous allergy you would make it very clear and not just place a casual, ambiguous order. I think it'd be quite unlikely for someone with a serious allergy to not stress this when ordering, and to just leave it to a stranger to get it and understand my requirements

@ShadowTiger

Ok, so it sounds like it was fair for her to give me dairy plus syrup because she did think I said “almond latte”. But I still think that giving the same name to nut milks vs dairy with syrup is an accident waiting to happen. And “almond latte” vs “almond milk latte” is dangerously similar and easy to make a mistake.

Well you can't really name it too differently since it's both almonds/hazelnuts/whatever. We could always tart calling nut milks a nut juice to make it clearer. Almond juice latte is going to be much more difficult to confuse with "almond milky latte" or almon latte

@SchrodingersImmigrant

It's actually possible the staff siad you wanted almond milky latte. Lots of people order milky coffee or milky latte when they want a latte.

Why would anyone ask for a “milky latte”? Latte means milky coffee. The latter I have heard people ask for and in return been asked “do you mean a latte?” but I’ve never heard anyone ask for a “milky latte” that’s quite odd.

The equivalent of “Please can I have a milky Milky Coffee?”

Almond latte = dairy latte with almond syrup, in the same vein as ‘caramel latte’, ‘vanilla latte’ etc.

Almond milk latte = latte with almond milk.

Crap mix up and it’s a shame the shop didn’t make you a new one as when getting my drinks wrong coffee shops have genuinely been very helpful. That being said the majority of my friends and I don’t consume dairy and I’ve never heard us order an ‘almond milk latte’ or an ‘oat milk latte’, we’d always say ‘latte with oat milk’. Maybe doing it that way emphasises it more that you want a milk substitute?

When I do it I say "a latte with almond milk"
An almond latte would be an almond flavoured latte.

See I would have said “hi can I have a latte with almond milk please”

Almond latte to me is with almond syrup

Btw...anyone notice how odd the word almond looks after seeing it typed so often?

Well you can't really name it too differently since it's both almonds/hazelnuts/whatever.
We could always tart calling nut milks a nut juice to make it clearer.
Almond juice latte is going to be much more difficult to confuse with "almond milky latte" or almon latte

a really good idea, but you will ruin the fashion for various "milk"

@Sandgrown1970 people genuinely did ask for it. I don't know why🤷🏻 it was a surprising number of people. I think some confused latte with capicinno and thought that by adding milky they will get more milk than cappuccino, so latte, which they didn't realise wasn't a cappuccino.

People ask about and order the weirdest things sometimes