A Beginner's Introduction to Starbucks

Picked this up when I was surfing blogs.

I’m learning a new language. Starbucks.

I didn’t realize until listening to my visiting stepsister order a Starbucks this weekend that the menu was just a starting point for the fancier stuff. It’s like designer coffee, with
coded, tongue-twisting, French-Italian language. (I know. I know. Where have I been?!)

Although, clearly, you’ve got to know what you’re doing. Like my stepsister.

Starbucks girl: What’ll you have today?
Me: A tall Cafe Mocha, please. Thanks.
Starbucks girl: Sure. And you?
My stepsister: I’ll have a Quad Grande Breve Latte, please … one forty … extra, extra whip … upside down. **

I guess I must have been staring at her at that point. Because …

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continued here
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** For anyone lost like me, here’s the breakdown on my stepsister’s order:

Quad: Four shots of espresso instead of the two you normally get in a Grande-sized drink
One Forty: 140 degrees hot … or about 20 degrees less than a regular Starbucks drink. And, actually, you can order the exact hotness you want … 127, 163, 145, whatever.
Latte: Strong espresso coffee, typically with a topping of frothed steamed milk
Extra, Extra Whip: Double whip creme
Grande: Medium-sized cup
Breve: Half ‘n Half milk
Upside down: Putting the topping (in this case the whipped creme) on the bottom of the drink instead of on the top. Think pineapple upside-down cake. Sorta. Kinda. OK, kinda not.

I'm gonna try this soon. Do you think the baristas back home would really make your latte at the exact hotness you want? That would be so cool. And upside down sounds really nice as well, don't have to worry about stirring the whipped cream into the coffee anymore. They'll probably charge you an extra rm2 for double whip though.. but I gotta try it, gotta try it. =P