Hi! or Hey!
Can I get a drip coffee?
(straightforward)
Standard brewed/filter coffee
A pour-over, please
(straightforward)
Hand-poured single-cup filter coffee
Oat milk latte
(straightforward)
Very common specialty order
For here / to go
(straightforward)
Dine in or take away
Batch-brewed filter coffee. The American default — served in large quantities, often with free refills at diners.
Single-cup hand-brewed filter coffee. The specialty cafe standard, showcasing single-origin beans.
Coffee steeped in cold water for 12-24 hours. Smooth, low-acid, and enormously popular. The US essentially invented this trend.
Increasingly popular at specialty cafes, brought by Australian expats.
Equal parts espresso and steamed milk. A specialty favorite.
Espresso, milk, and ice. Arguably America's most popular coffee order after drip.
America invented 'to-go' coffee culture. Paper cups and drive-throughs are standard — but the specialty scene favours 'for here' ceramic.
Tipping is essential in the US — 15-20% at sit-down cafes, $1-2 at the counter. Not tipping is very frowned upon.
The US has three distinct coffee cultures: diner (cheap, bottomless drip), chain (Starbucks), and specialty (third-wave). They coexist everywhere.
Cold brew is an American innovation that has spread worldwide. It's available at nearly every cafe year-round.
Sizes are much larger than in Europe. A 'small' in the US is often 12oz (350ml) — medium by European standards.
Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Brooklyn, and Chicago are the main specialty coffee hubs.
Essential: $1-2 per drink at the counter, 15-20% for table service. Many cafes have digital tip prompts at 18/20/25%.
$3.50-5.50 for drip/pour-over, $5.50-7.50 for espresso drinks at specialty cafes
Did you know? The Boston Tea Party of 1773 made coffee the patriotic drink of America. After dumping tea in the harbour, Americans switched to coffee en masse — a preference that has endured for 250 years.