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10 Things the Barista isn't telling you.
1. You are the reason for the wait
Customers who chat on their phone right until they get to the tills and then take ages to decide what they want are the cause of coffee shop congestion. You can streamline your morning caffeine fix by knowing what you want before the barista asks you. Plus be ready to pay and you’ll make it out the café even quicker.
2. Bigger cup doesn’t mean more coffee
If you want a bigger caffeine fix, don’t just boost the size of your cup, you need to add an extra shot.
3. Burnt milk smells like almonds
A good barista will know exactly how hot to steam the milk for your coffee. If they overdo it, your cup will smell like almond. Unless you’ve ordered a coffee with almond syrup and you catch a whiff of marzipan, send your cup back because the milk is burnt.
4. Question the quality of your coffee
Ever taken a sip of a branded coffee in a café and been seriously disappointed with the taste? You’re not the first and won’t be the last. Independent coffee shops sometimes buy cheap coffee and pass it off as respectable brands. To be assured of the best quality, stick to a café with a good reputation with baristas who know their stuff.
5. Pulling an espresso is an art
The best espresso is pulled in between 18-22 seconds. The temperature must be just right and the grounds must be packed to a precise firmness so that the water filters through at exactly the right speed to absorb the right levels of flavour.
1. You are the reason for the wait

Customers who chat on their phone right until they get to the tills and then take ages to decide what they want are the cause of coffee shop congestion. You can streamline your morning caffeine fix by knowing what you want before the barista asks you. Plus be ready to pay and you’ll make it out the café even quicker.
2. Bigger cup doesn’t mean more coffee

If you want a bigger caffeine fix, don’t just boost the size of your cup, you need to add an extra shot.
3. Burnt milk smells like almonds

A good barista will know exactly how hot to steam the milk for your coffee. If they overdo it, your cup will smell like almond. Unless you’ve ordered a coffee with almond syrup and you catch a whiff of marzipan, send your cup back because the milk is burnt.
4. Question the quality of your coffee

Ever taken a sip of a branded coffee in a café and been seriously disappointed with the taste? You’re not the first and won’t be the last. Independent coffee shops sometimes buy cheap coffee and pass it off as respectable brands. To be assured of the best quality, stick to a café with a good reputation with baristas who know their stuff.
5. Pulling an espresso is an art

The best espresso is pulled in between 18-22 seconds. The temperature must be just right and the grounds must be packed to a precise firmness so that the water filters through at exactly the right speed to absorb the right levels of flavour.