My coffee order wasn’t weird?

[MeetyouatMidnight]

Went to a local volunteer run cafe and a woman at the till was training someone.

I asked for a black americano with a shot of vanilla.

She looked at me like I was crazy and said “you mean a white americano”. I explained I definitely did not.

(I don’t have dairy and don’t really like any sort of milk in coffee anyway, but I like something to sweeten it. I prefer it to a sweetener.)

she said SO loudly “I’ve never seen that before! A latte or something yes, but really!”

and then the girl started to make it but was getting confused so the woman kept very loudly, in a quiet cafe, banging on about how she would be confused because it was a strange order but the customer is always right…

Am I a freak and I never realised!?!?

Make coffee add syrup, what is there to get confused about?

Are you sure they aren't just weird because you asked for a drink that doesn't contain coffee to not contain coffee? It's my go to hot drink, and I've never received one that contains coffee.

I feel this needs a t shirt. 'An Americano is a black coffee'. I used to get so pissed off that the white coffee brigade had ruined a simple one word order. I've resigned myself to it being a losing/lost battle now

This is the conversation 85% of the time
"Chai latte, please"
"Do you want it with a shot of espresso?"
"No thank you"
"Here is your chai latte WITHOUT coffee"
(Twice I've still received it with coffee)

The touble is that most places don't serve "just" a white coffee. I don't want a flat white. I want a coffee with a dash of milk. The only way to get that is to ask for an americano with milk.

Me in MacDs: "Flat white with extra shot please"
Server: "What do you mean"?
Me: "Flat white with extra shot to make it stronger"
A flat white arrived with a little pot of Espresso.
Duh!

I think it was the shot of vanilla that was the problem for her.
If it was run by volunteers, it was probably an unusual request.

It comes out a machine, I'm a set measured amount , they probably can't do an extra shot even if they wanted.

McDonald’s flat whites are strong and already contain a double shot of espresso.

Well, they can because they sell espresso shots. All they need to do is press the espresso button after the flat white has finished pouring.

The woman was weird OP.

I get sick of having to say ‘black’ americano as well. And also having to explain that I don’t want it in a bucket of water so please don’t fill the cup to the top. Americanos are too weak from most places. Too watered down.

You'd think so.

Almost every time I order an Americano I'm asked if I want milk. I've even specified black and had it come with a little jug of milk.

The original definition seems to be lost now.

I quite often have an Americano with a shot of syrup.

Technically an "americano" doesn't contain milk, no. But then again, neither does filter coffee unless you add it, and it's quite normal to specify whether you want that black or white.

My usual order is an americano, and I take it black. I used to just ask for "an americano" and would invariably be asked whether I wanted milk in it. I now always ask for "a black americano", but still more often than not get asked whether I want milk (sometimes immediately followed by the staff member saying something like "of course you don't, you asked for it black, didn't you!").

Given that this happens so much, I think it's safe to say that many people who buy americano coffee do want it with milk.

She’s the weirdo! I always order the same as you - although sometimes a different flavour syrup.

Perfectly normal order!
I work in a cafe and we have a lady in every day who orders a 'black Americano with milk' 🤨

Americano is espresso with hot water. So shouldn't have milk in. Whenever I'm asked if I want milk with mine I look at them like they're wierd

Your order doesn’t sound that strange, but even if it was it’s up to you how you have your coffee and that woman sounds very rude. Who on earth speaks to customers like that, especially while training somebody?

Did she think that milk was vanilla flavour? Like a McDonald’s white milkshake is vanilla flavour…

Not at all. Worked in coffee shops for 16 years, its not a common order but neither is it unheard of..Do a few a day. That barista is weird.

I was, up until recently, a barista. When people ask for an Americano, you ask if that's black or white, if white you ask hot or cold milk. Often people would ask for black with a jug of hot water. Black Americano with a shot of vanilla is not in the slightest bit weird! A wet latte with oat milk and 3 pumps pumpkin spice syrup - that is weird!
ETA - also Peppermint Tea with milk is weird 😖

I have a skinny double machiatto with a gingerbread shot (a proper one is very strong with only milk foam). I've never had anyone comment other than pointing out that it isn't Starbucks (who add enough milk for it to be a latte) just to check I actually know what I'm ordering. My husband is too embarrassed to order it for me though 😂

It's not weird, but even if it were she'd be rude to bang on about it. I think I'd be tempted next time she's serving to ask for something REALLY weird. Cucumber cappuccino with tree bark syrup and elephant milk, it's the latest thing dontcha know?

Huh 🤔 I don’t know why the staff serving would question your order ?
An Americano is a black coffee or to be precise it’s espresso topped with hot water .
A long black is when they put the espresso on top of hot water so as not to disturb the crema
if you’d wanted a long white coffee you’d have asked for a latte

It has never occurred to me to add a shot of syrup to my black coffee and I will be trying this immediately.

Totally normal.
DH always has a black Americano and nearly always gets asked does he want milk. He hates milk.