How to Order Iced Coffee

Choosing an Iced Coffee

Read the coffee menu. The restaurant or cafe should have a menu either printed out or written up on a board. This will let you know which coffee drinks are available to you. The coffee menu is sometimes separate from the regular drinks menu, so ask an employee if you can’t find it. If the menu does not have iced coffee, you can still order a regular coffee and get a cup of ice. However, iced coffee is usually made with double-strength coffee to make up for being watered down with ice, so drinking it this way will make it less strong.

Choose regular iced coffee if you like the taste of coffee. You can always add milk and sweetener, but it will still have more of a coffee taste than an espresso drink made with milk. If you enjoy the flavor of coffee, a regular iced coffee will be a good choice. Decaf coffee is also available in most places that serve regular coffee.

Try cold brew if you want a smoother, less acidic coffee. Cold brew is made by extracting coffee from beans for a long stretch of time at room temperature. It is less acidic and can have a smoother, less intense taste than regular brewed coffee over ice. Cold brew is typically found in specialty cafes that have a wide variety of coffee drinks. A simple diner or a restaurant that doesn’t specialize in coffee may not offer this option.

Choose an iced mocha if you want an extra sweet drink. If you want a creamy, sweet coffee, you may want to order an iced mocha, which will contain espresso, cold milk, and syrup. A typical mocha contains chocolate syrup, but caramel or other flavors may also be available. If you are on a diet or trying to limit your calorie intake, this might not be an ideal option. Some mochas can be very high in fat.

Go for an iced latte or cappuccino if you want a lot of milk in your coffee. While you can add milk or cream to your iced coffee after ordering, an iced latte is a better choice if you want your drink to be mostly milk. A latte is typically made with 2 ounces (57 g) of espresso and enough milk to fill the rest of the cup, and a cappuccino is ⅓ espresso, ⅓ milk, and ⅓ foam. Keep in mind that an iced latte or cappuccino will not have steamed milk like a regular latte, since steaming the milk heats it up. Your barista may add milk foam, but the foam will be hot and may make your drink less cold.

Get an extra shot if you want more caffeine. If the coffee establishment you’re ordering from offers espresso drinks, they can add a shot of espresso to your coffee for an extra charge. This can be a good choice if you want some extra caffeine in your drink, and doesn’t change the taste much since it is a small amount.

Placing Your Order

Choose a drink before you approach the barista. You should figure out what you want to order, as well as what size and whether you want it to-go, before it’s your turn to order. This will save time and be a courtesy to the barista as well as anyone in line behind you. When it’s your turn to order, avoid talking on the phone or texting, even if you only need to say a few words to the barista to order.

Tell the barista what type of coffee you want. Be specific about whether you want an iced coffee, cold brew, iced latte, or a different kind of iced drink. If there are different types of iced coffee available, specify which one you want.

Let the barista know which size you’d like. Most coffee establishments have small, medium and large options. Typically a small will be 12 ounces (340 g), a medium will be 16 ounces (450 g), and a large will be 20 ounces (570 g). Starbucks drinks come in Tall, Grande and Venti instead of small, medium and large.

Specify whether you want any extras that don’t come with the drink. If you want an extra shot of espresso or an extra pump of syrup, let your barista know. If you want your drink to be made differently -- for instance, with half the syrup or with soy milk instead of regular, you should also tell them this.

Tell your barista if you want your drink to-go. Some places make all their coffee drinks in to go cups, but you should still specify if you want it to go just in case. That way you will avoid having to wait and inconveniencing your barista if they make your drink in a glass.

Make sure your order is correct once you receive it. Check your drink once you get it and make sure it’s what you ordered. If it isn’t, politely let your barista know and they should fix it for you or make a new one.

Adding Milk and Sweeteners

Add milk to your iced coffee if you want a creamier taste. Milk can make coffee taste less strong and acidic, and is also a great source of calcium and vitamin D. Most cafes and restaurants have milk available at a self-serve station, but you may have to ask your barista to add it for you.

Give black coffee a richer flavor with cream or half-and-half. Most cafes and restaurants offer some kind of cream as well as milk, which has a higher fat content and will give your coffee a richer, creamier flavor. Because of this, you can add less of it than you would milk.

Ask for soy or almond milk if you are vegan or lactose intolerant. Many coffee establishments have milk alternatives available, although they may be kept out of sight and only available upon request. If you don’t see any with the milk and cream, ask the barista if they have any on hand. Some places charge more for milk alternatives, so keep in mind you may have to pay a little extra.

Add sugar to sweeten black coffee. You may have a choice of white or brown sugar or even honey. Add a little bit and taste your coffee to see if it’s sweet enough before adding more.

Use artificial sweetener if you are diabetic or want to cut back on sugar. Most places offer artificial sweeteners like Splenda or Sweet ‘n’ Low along with regular sugar. If you want sweeter coffee but want to limit your sugar intake, use these sweeteners instead of sugar.

Add cinnamon, cocoa, or nutmeg for extra flavor. Many cafes that serve espresso drinks will have spice shakers available next to the cream and sugar. Shake a little on top of your drink according to your own taste. Be careful when combining flavors, however -- you may find that you like the taste of cinnamon, but not on your raspberry mocha!