Starbucks Lingo

Sitting in a newly opened Starbucks near my home today my wife gave me a little booklet that Starbucks provides its patrons — “Make It Your Drink” – a guide to Starbucks Beverages. Some like Starbucks, some don’t, for anyone heading into one it can often be a fast paced environment that often times forces one to make snap decisions on their coffee order.

We believe that anything coffee related should be savored, so with that in mind I present to you the contents of “Make It Your Drink,” may your eyes be opened to some of the more esoteric lingo of Starbucks…

Americano:
A coffee made with two shots of espresso and hot water.

Breve:
A latte made with half-and-half (heart attack city, but Yum!)

Cappuccino:
A drink made with espresso and equal parts steamed milk and thick foam. It has a stronger espresso flavor than a latte.

Chai:
A coffee alternative (Gasp!), premium Tazo black tea mixed with exotic spices, steamed milk and honey.

Con Panna:
Italian for “with whipped cream”

Creme:
At Starbucks, it refers to a coffee-free beverage, such as Vanilla Bean Frappuccino blended cream.

Demitasse:
French for “half cup” – it’s the little cup used to serve espresso.

Doppio:
Italian for “double,” but used only when referring to a two-shot espresso (One orders a doppio espresso con panna, but a double latte.)

Double:
Two shots of espresso in a drink.

Dry:
More foam, less milk.

Espresso:
Coffee’s purest, sweetest, most intense form.

For-Here Cup:
A cermic cup for enjoying your drink in the store.

Grande:
Starbucks second-largest beverage size, 16 fl oz.

Half-Caf:
One shot of regular and one shot of decaf.

Latte:
A drink made with espresso and steamed milk, with a thin layer of foam on the top.

Light:
Less of something in a drink, such as “light syrup” or “light whip”

Macchiato:
Italian for “marked” or “stained.” For example, the Starbucks Carmel Macchiato.

Misto:
Italian for “mixed.” A combination of drip coffee and steamed milk.

Mocha:
A drink made with espresso, chocolate and steamed milk.

Personal Cup:
A reusable cup you bring to the store.

Quad:
Four shots of espresso in a drink.

Ristretto:
A short pull of espresso, capturing only the sweetest part.

Shaken:
Icea tea or coffee mixed with ice in a shaker for a bright refreshing flavor.

Short:
Starbucks smallest beverage size, 8 fl oz.

Single:
One shot of espresso in a drink.

Skinny:
Made with nonfat milk.

Solo:
One shot of espresso by itself (old school!).

Tall:
Starbucks regular beverage size, 12 fl oz.

To-Go Cup:
The white paper cup used for coffee to go. This is the default cup that is used for an order unless you specify otherwise.

Triple:
Three shots of espresso in a drink.

Unleaded:
Decaffeinated.

Valencia:
An orange syrup.

Venti:
Starbucks largest beverage size – 20 fl oz. for hot drinks, 24 fl oz. for cold.

Wet:
More milk, less foam.

Whip:
Short for whipped cream.

With Legs:
To go.

With Room:
Space to add milk in a drink, usually an americano or brewed coffee.