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.

Yes regardless, it’s appalling customer service. You’re not scamming them if you’ve visibly taken one sip and then rejected it - you’ve gained nothing so you’re clearly telling the truth.

I agree that quality of communication takes a nose dive when both parties are wearing masks and separated by a plastic screen (and a language barrier in most of my local coffee shops). I’m mildly hearing impaired and although I don’t lip read the additional muffling makes a crucial difference. Not saying it’s not worth it, it’s just a PITA.

[quote Beseigedbykillersquirrels]@TheSilence - I say 'al-mond' but I've heard many people say 'ar-mond' or even 'or-mond'[/quote]
Interesting! Yes I’m the same as you and say ‘al-mund’ but I only ever hear other people say ‘ah-Mund’! I think it’s definitely regional.

I'd consider changing to oat or soy next time so they don't get confused. I think it's a very serious problem not being more careful. My dd works as a barista part-time and says that she has to be super sure because there are people who order non-dairy milk and want whipped cream which isn't dairy free and she doesn't want a sick person on her conscience

A Dairly MILK Latte would be Almond milk latte

A Dairy Milk Latte would be a mocha wouldn't it?

I would expect a decent barista to confirm which it was since it isn't completely clear. Mind you, I would also be more specific too and, if it were an allergy issue, clarify before I drank it.

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,

Yeah that's wrong

Almond milk latte is the drink that you wanted and the correct name

Almond latte is a flavoured latte, in the vein of hazelnut or vanilla or pumpkin spice or whatever

I once went into a coffee shop that had ‘coconut latte’ written on the board, so I ordered one assuming dairy latte with coconut syrup. I was a bit bemused, but it was what I had ordered so I just went with it.

Some time later, in a different coffee shop, I did exactly the same when i read on the menu ‘almond latte’ and fancied trying one. I expected an almond flavoured latte, but got almond milk. Turns out I really like lattes with almond milk, so have ordered an ‘almond latte’ several times since from various different places and have never been given a dairy latte with almond syrup. I haven’t got any allergies or dietary requirements and like all coffees so wouldn’t care if I ended up with something different, but it hasn’t happened to me yet.

"I thought “almond milk latte” was fairly clear."

it is clear, but that's not what you asked for, you asked for an "almond latte"

I would assume almond milk, but I wouldn't expect everyone to, so would be more specific in my ordering to be safe. If I was dairy free, I would be sure to order an almond milk latte to avoid the risk of confusion.

it's an almond milk latte to me

I mean in the lyrics of Train's Drops of Jupiter - "the best soy latte you ever had" means a soya milk latte so almond latte I'd say is almond milk...

@incandescentglow

"I thought “almond milk latte” was fairly clear."

it is clear, but that's not what you asked for, you asked for an "almond latte"

Couldn't the barista have clarified with her? Like checked?

Also I don't think it's an allergy accident waiting to happen as if you're allergic to nuts you're not ordering an almond latte regardless

However they're dicks for not sorting you a free replacement imo

@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?

That was bad service, even if they thought you'd said something else. With masks on, people do mishear. A decent company would accept the error and give you another one.

Oh well, you won't be using that cafe again will you?

@incandescentglow

"I thought “almond milk latte” was fairly clear."

it is clear, but that's not what you asked for, you asked for an "almond latte"

It is what the Op asked for though.

Unfortunately it's not what the barista heard.

@Chanjer

Also I don't think it's an allergy accident waiting to happen as if you're allergic to nuts you're not ordering an almond latte regardless

People can have serious dairy allergies also

Almond latte is dairy latte with syrup to me.

I'm lactose intolerant. I ask for a latte made with 'xyz milk' to be absolutely clear because it can make me really poorly.

poppycat10

depends how much I like the cafe - I might return but they should have given her another latte. especially as the barista should've queried with OP if she didn't understand the order.

I was at a cafe recently (before they opened everything up again) and when I placed it on the side to open it up and add sugar to a cappucino the whole cardboard cup flew open with hardly a touch from me and over my coat etc - luckily it didn't seem overly hot, just warm but they were apologetic (wasn't my fault), gave me another drink etc.

Almond milk latte is a latte made with almond milk. An almond latte to me is a latte with almond syrup. Like a vanilla latte.

After many many issues I always say "a flat white with oat milk" and then confirm when it's served "oat milk right?" if they just say Flat White

Hmm, I think fair enough to think an almond latte was dairy milk with almond syrup BUT they were the ones who misheard you (especially when you were also asking about vegan cakes!) they should be thankful you weren’t seriously allergic and should have apologised and replaced straight away.

I'm a coffee purist and wasn't aware that almond syrup was a common thing to put in coffee so I would have assumed you meant almond milk latte. Given allergies I'd expect coffee shops to be really careful about this.

As an aside, one of the first times I wore a mask in public was to go for breast screening. Asking for the mammography department from behind a mask and a screen was "challenging". I almost resorted to doing a mime...

@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'.

Snap. Same reasons

I have to make very precise orders because of allergies. Add in masks and I’ve taken to either limiting myself to items that are extremely simple and happen to be safe, ie #4 or ordering with the app. Thankfully even the smallest businesses seem to be getting an online ordering method these days.