Is latte supposed to be bitter, and how should a first order go?
A latte is not meant to be bitter. It is roughly two-thirds steamed milk and one-third espresso, and the heated milk releases a natural sweetness that softens the coffee, giving a mellow, milky cup. Anyone who cannot accept the bitterness of black coffee can start here. An Americano, by contrast, is espresso with water and stays bitter and bold.
For a stronger coffee taste in milk, a flat white uses ristretto, which is more concentrated than the espresso in a latte. The menu also divides into caffeinated picks such as Americano, latte, flat white, caramel macchiato and vanilla sweet cream cold brew, and non-coffee options such as black tea latte, matcha latte, shaken fruit tea and Frappuccino.
Walking into Starbucks for the first time, it's only natural to feel a bit overwhelmed by the dense menu. Actually, drinking coffee is supposed to be a relaxed, everyday affair—no need to get too nervous, just pick according to your own taste preferences. This article divides Starbucks' popular drinks into two main categories: caffeinated and non-caffeinated, introducing one by one the flavor characteristics of the coffee series—Americano, Latte, Flat White, Caramel Macchiato, Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew—as well as pairing ideas for the non-coffee series—Black Tea Latte, Matcha Latte, Iced Shaken Fruit Tea, Frappuccino. Whether you want to wake up and refresh, control calories, or prefer milky or fruity flavors, you can find the cup that suits you in this list and easily avoid ordering pitfalls.
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These days, drinking coffee has long been integrated into daily life. When walking into Starbucks to order, there's no need to be nervous at all—just choose according to your personal preferences~ Let's follow the editor below to see how to order at Starbucks for the first time without stepping on any landmines!
- Coffee Series -
"Americano"
If you can't make up your mind, ordering an Americano black coffee is definitely the safe choice—zero calories, zero fat! A cup in the morning can quickly wake you up and sweep away drowsiness, and caffeine also has a certain de-bloating effect~ The price is affordable, especially suitable for friends who want to drink coffee but also care about calorie intake.
"Latte"
If you can't accept the bitterness of black coffee, a latte is a great alternative! It consists of two-thirds milk and one-third espresso. After heating, the milk releases a natural sweetness and fully blends with the coffee. It tastes mellow yet not bitter, with a very prominent milky aroma that is hard to resist!
"Flat White"
If you want a stronger coffee flavor in your milk coffee, you can try a Flat White. It looks about the same size as a latte, but the ristretto espresso used to make a Flat White is more concentrated than the regular espresso used in a latte, so the taste is heavier.
"Caramel Macchiato"
Caramel Macchiato is a sweeter type of coffee, and for people who worry that coffee is too bitter or who don't really accept coffee, this one is worth trying. After the sweet, rich caramel sauce combines with the coffee, it not only adds sweetness but also allows the coffee's own unique aroma to come through more fully.
"Vanilla Sweet Cream Cold Brew"
This is a cold brew coffee with a small amount of cream added! Unlike methods that extract with hot water, cold brew uses cold water for a long, low-temperature steep, so the components in coffee that bring bitterness are greatly reduced! The drink is layered from top to bottom and looks quite beautiful! The slightly sweet light cream blends with the mellow cold brew coffee, and one sip immediately perks you up!
- Non-Coffee Series -
"Black Tea Latte / Matcha Latte"
These two contain absolutely no caffeine—no coffee, no coffee! Perhaps because Latte in Italian originally means milk~ They are both made with tea powder. Black tea powder or matcha powder is mixed with milk and blended by steaming or shaking, essentially a cup of milk with tea flavor.
"Iced Shaken Berry Hibiscus Tea / Peach Oolong Tea"
Made by blending concentrated fruit juice with tea bases of different flavors. Berry Hibiscus uses hibiscus tea with mixed berry juice added, with a sweet-and-sour, rich taste. Peach Oolong uses oolong tea as the base, paired with peach juice and peach pieces, making it especially refreshing to drink!
"Matcha Frappuccino / Vanilla Sweet Cream Frappuccino / Mango Passion Fruit Tea Frappuccino"
These all belong to the blended ice drink category~ and are also the best-selling series among Starbucks cold drinks!! When you really can't make up your mind, choosing Matcha Frappuccino is the right call! yyds~!
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
