Waking up before the sun rises is the last thing a college student wants to do. Your mind moves slower at that time of the day, and anything seems like an insurmountable task, food, mouth, socks: which one comes first?
A sampling of coffee beans at Buchanan’s, just one of the many coffee shops located on the Hill near campus. (James Bradbury/CU Independent)
As you contemplate sleeping on the corner of 12thand Penn while walking to class, remember you’re in Boulder and there’s probably a coffee shop right around the corner. Arm yourself with coffee terms like this, and start raising eyebrows when you order your next cup of coffee.
Barista
The person cocktailing your coffee order, usually hip looking and more than willing to take your order.
Latte
Espresso with a creamy and moist steamed milk and you can add a flavor like vanilla if you’d like. If the barista really knows their stuff, you can find a heart or a leaf on the top of your drink.
Cappuccino
The same thing as a Latte, but with much more air added to the milk, making it thicker and bubblier. Cafés will sometimes serve them with cinnamon powder on top.
Americano
It’s what the Italian’s call us, but it’s what we call diluted espresso. An Americano is about 8 ounces of water per shot or espresso, but unfortunately ordering them won’t get you any closer to Venice.
Shot
Don’t confuse this with ordering a shot at the bar, it’s a shot of espresso. Espresso is measured by the shot and most drinks come with at least one, but order a double if you find the need for extra early morning kick.
Triple
Not an uncommon order, especially as finals draw near. Asking for a triple means you want three shots of espresso in your drink; just remember-that’s three shots of espresso in one sitting. Although, most “larges” contain four.
Sugar Free
This is an easy to way to alter a drink and take care of your figure at the same time. Next time you add a flavor to your latte, order it sugar free to cut out many of the calories that flavored syrups have.
Macchiato
Two shots of espresso, topped with steamed milk or whipped cream and served in a cute little coffee cup.
Caramel Macchiato
Possibly the most famous drink at Starbucks, and likey the most ordered drink at places that don’t actually serve them. They are a Starbucks creation consisting of espresso, steamed milk, vanilla syrup and caramel flavored sauce.
Fair Trade
Classic Boulder lingo. Ask if the coffee is fair trade to step up your ordering IQ and look like a humanitarian. It means the coffee growers are paid a minimum wage for their work.
Affogato
Don’t order this at 7 a.m., just don’t. It’s a dessert, consisting of vanilla ice cream served in a cup with a shot of espresso poured over it.
Shakerato
Shaken, not stirred. Espresso, sugar and ice shaken in a cocktail then poured in a martini glass. Bond would be proud.
Café Misto, sometimes called “Cafe Au Lait”
Fun to say, even better to drink. It’s simply one-half coffee and one-half steamed milk on top.
House coffee
This is the least pretentious drink on the menu. Whatever the shop is brewing that day, it’s usually the cheapest drink and is served the quickest.
Redeye
Not the 2 a.m. layover on your flight home, but this is the drink of choice when work needs to be done. It’s brewed coffee with a shot of espresso, and if you find yourself ordering these regularly it’s not a bad idea to try and get more sleep.
Café Mocha
No doubt Willy Wonka would drink these around his factory. It’s a grown up version of hot chocolate, mixing espresso with steamed milk and cocoa powder to create a chocolate wake up call.
Ristretto
This is when ordering espresso becomes serious. A ristretto shot is one that’s poured with a little less water creating a thicker/bolder flavor. Ristretto shots won’t do much more than alter the taste of your coffee, but maybe you think it’s time for a change.
Iced
Almost everything on a coffee menu can be put on the rocks, which is a perfect way to drink coffee on a warm day.
Leche
That’s just Spanish for milk, but keeping to the tradition of coffee ordering, milk too has been honored with confusing names.
1. “Breve.” Means the milk used is half-and-half. A breve cappuccino tastes sweater than normal, but remember that’s from the added sugar.
2. “Skinny,” keep a few calories out of the drink by ordering non-fat milk, otherwise known as skinny.
3. “Wet,” or “dry” which signifies what kind of steamed milk you want. To get a moister drink order your coffee wet, or get it dry for the opposite.
Decaf
When your daily caffeine dosage leads to your red-eye, downward spiral, there’s a last resort. Decaffeinated coffee has most of its caffeine removed, while maintaining it’s flavor. It’s the Coke Zero of coffee.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Chris Ayala at Christian.ayala@colorado.edu.
