Coffee Shop tips
Teneko
Posts: 314 Member
Hey all,
The best coffee is surely the one you make at home, right? But what do you do when you're on the road or just want a quick something-something while you're out and about?
As a coffee (and tea) lover, I thought I'd share a few things I've learned.
IMPORTANT CONTEXTUAL INFO: I am currently in the US and living in Austin, TX. Currently doing keto diet and my daily max carbs are set to 15.
First tip is to be courteous and make your first trip to a new coffee shop when they are not busy, and you have time to walk inside. This will allow you to converse with the baristas / servers without them trying to rush you out or having angry people waiting behind you.
Second tip is to avoid all the fancy drinks on the menu. It doesn't matter how "skinny" they say they are or "sugar free", there are almost always more carbs / sugars hidden in the additives than the baristas realize. Had one convince me to have a "skinny mocha" using some sugar free mocha mix they had. Once they got the box down, I realized the carbs on the packet were still about half my daily allowance. I sucked it up and had my treat and just had 0 carbs the rest of the day, but I have to say it just tasted Meh and didn't really feel like an indulgent treat.
DRIP COFFEE is your friend. If they already have it pre-made, try to find how long it's been sitting. The fresher the better.
If they don't have a good drip coffee / pre-made coffee / "pour-over" available, then ask for an Americano.
Espresso shots are fine, too.
When it comes to adding your "milk", this is where it gets tricky...
#1 preferred drink is Heavy Whipping Cream. Pourable, delicious, no sugar added..."zero" carbs, and full of wonderful fats. Try asking a person at a coffee shop for a drink with heavy cream, though, and they will either fill your drink with half and half, or top it with sweetened whipped cream. On a tight carb budget like mine, that will never do.
To try to get them to understand, try asking them, "Do you have pourable unsweetened heavy cream?" Ask to see the container if possible. This has worked for me EVERY TIME. One coffee shop server rolled her eyes at me and said she knew was cream was, then showed me a container of half and half. I told her no thanks, took my coffee black, and never went back. So much for supporting a local business.
FOR MEASURING YOUR CREAM:
Most coffee shops do not have actual measuring spoons, but they do often have plastic spoons for oatmeal or other treats. A plastic spoon is typically 1 teaspoon. 3 teaspoons = 1 Tablespoon.
I usually have 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream in my coffee, so I ask them to measure out 6 of those plastic spoons. Sometimes they will hand me the cream container and the spoon. Use your best judgment if you want to ask them to let you do that or not.
FOR NUTRITIONAL INFO:
Starbucks uses Borden's brand heavy cream. Its nutritional info for 2 Tablespoons is:
90 Calories
10 g Fat
0 g Carbs
0 g Protein
For comparison, 2 Tablespoons of Borden's brand half and half is:
40 Calories
3.5 g Fat
1 g Carbs
1 g Protein
That extra carb is why I push for Heavy Cream instead of half and half!
If you want to try to push for a latte of some sort, you might check to see if they have UNSWEETENED almond or coconut milk. It's pretty rare for any coffee shop to have either one period, much less unsweetened, but it's worth a shot.
If you want to fancy up your coffee and cream a bit, most coffee shops carry the Torani or DaVinci syrups. They also make them sugar free, and many will have at least sugar free vanilla. These might be an option for you, too, as they are sweetened with Splenda IIRC.
For those in Austin, you are LUCKY!
There are 2 places in Austin that I know of that serve bulletproof-style "Butter Coffee":
Cuppa Austin
Whole Foods
Many Starbucks (both chain and "serving sbux coffee") as well as Whole Foods with "Allegro coffee" counters inside have heavy cream available.
Many small businesses do not.
Anyways, I know this is a really long post! I hope folks find it useful.
-T.
The best coffee is surely the one you make at home, right? But what do you do when you're on the road or just want a quick something-something while you're out and about?
As a coffee (and tea) lover, I thought I'd share a few things I've learned.
IMPORTANT CONTEXTUAL INFO: I am currently in the US and living in Austin, TX. Currently doing keto diet and my daily max carbs are set to 15.
First tip is to be courteous and make your first trip to a new coffee shop when they are not busy, and you have time to walk inside. This will allow you to converse with the baristas / servers without them trying to rush you out or having angry people waiting behind you.
Second tip is to avoid all the fancy drinks on the menu. It doesn't matter how "skinny" they say they are or "sugar free", there are almost always more carbs / sugars hidden in the additives than the baristas realize. Had one convince me to have a "skinny mocha" using some sugar free mocha mix they had. Once they got the box down, I realized the carbs on the packet were still about half my daily allowance. I sucked it up and had my treat and just had 0 carbs the rest of the day, but I have to say it just tasted Meh and didn't really feel like an indulgent treat.
DRIP COFFEE is your friend. If they already have it pre-made, try to find how long it's been sitting. The fresher the better.
If they don't have a good drip coffee / pre-made coffee / "pour-over" available, then ask for an Americano.
Espresso shots are fine, too.
When it comes to adding your "milk", this is where it gets tricky...
#1 preferred drink is Heavy Whipping Cream. Pourable, delicious, no sugar added..."zero" carbs, and full of wonderful fats. Try asking a person at a coffee shop for a drink with heavy cream, though, and they will either fill your drink with half and half, or top it with sweetened whipped cream. On a tight carb budget like mine, that will never do.
To try to get them to understand, try asking them, "Do you have pourable unsweetened heavy cream?" Ask to see the container if possible. This has worked for me EVERY TIME. One coffee shop server rolled her eyes at me and said she knew was cream was, then showed me a container of half and half. I told her no thanks, took my coffee black, and never went back. So much for supporting a local business.
FOR MEASURING YOUR CREAM:
Most coffee shops do not have actual measuring spoons, but they do often have plastic spoons for oatmeal or other treats. A plastic spoon is typically 1 teaspoon. 3 teaspoons = 1 Tablespoon.
I usually have 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream in my coffee, so I ask them to measure out 6 of those plastic spoons. Sometimes they will hand me the cream container and the spoon. Use your best judgment if you want to ask them to let you do that or not.
FOR NUTRITIONAL INFO:
Starbucks uses Borden's brand heavy cream. Its nutritional info for 2 Tablespoons is:
90 Calories
10 g Fat
0 g Carbs
0 g Protein
For comparison, 2 Tablespoons of Borden's brand half and half is:
40 Calories
3.5 g Fat
1 g Carbs
1 g Protein
That extra carb is why I push for Heavy Cream instead of half and half!
If you want to try to push for a latte of some sort, you might check to see if they have UNSWEETENED almond or coconut milk. It's pretty rare for any coffee shop to have either one period, much less unsweetened, but it's worth a shot.
If you want to fancy up your coffee and cream a bit, most coffee shops carry the Torani or DaVinci syrups. They also make them sugar free, and many will have at least sugar free vanilla. These might be an option for you, too, as they are sweetened with Splenda IIRC.
For those in Austin, you are LUCKY!
There are 2 places in Austin that I know of that serve bulletproof-style "Butter Coffee":
Cuppa Austin
Whole Foods
Many Starbucks (both chain and "serving sbux coffee") as well as Whole Foods with "Allegro coffee" counters inside have heavy cream available.
Many small businesses do not.
Anyways, I know this is a really long post! I hope folks find it useful.
-T.
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Replies
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This is a great post - I wish id read this before my cappuccino of doom yesterday
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My beverage of choice, hot or iced, is an Americano made with heavy cream.0
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Just plain ol' coffee works great for me if there is no HWC. Nice post! 0
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this is great, the closest I have come is soy milk, but I am probably better off with regular milk. No one here has cream or half an half, its either milk, light milk, non-dairy creamer or soy milk
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If the coffee shop has no heavy cream, I'd honestly suggest just having it black. I personally love a good lighter roast coffee with nothing added. Starbucks tends to over-roast (burn) their beans. I was happy when they started doing the "blonde roast".
If your shops don't have your sweetener of choice, carry around a packet / bottle of your own. A dash of cinnamon or a splash of sugar-free vanilla syrup might help too.
But then...
Why are you paying so much for somebody else's bad coffee? >_>
-T.
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I'm extremely simple when it comes to coffee. Black, splenda, and half and half/whipping cream. 1 carb is nothing (to me), just be careful they don't add up. If I really wanted a cappuccino I guess I'd check the carb count before going or not bother.
Not a big fan of the fancier drinks as I'd rather eat my calories than drink them.0 -
I've also had cappuccinos made with HWC. Not as frothy, but quite possibly more delicious!0
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@Teneko, I'm an Austinite, too! Lived here since 1998. Well, this year we moved to Dripping Springs, but we're still right down the road. Yes, we are in coffee shop heaven.
I worked at Starbucks for a few years in the early-mid 2000s, and they have heavy whipping cream because they make their own whipped cream from it. I hope this hasn't changed.
I'm also a fan of straight up brewed coffee or Americano. I think an Americano is a little mellowed in flavor, better black.
Beware of coffee shops pitching "iced coffee" that is really way more than just coffee. Avoid the drive thru in an unfamiliar coffee shop if you can. Communication is much more prone to error in the drive thru.0 -
My drink of choice used to be sugar free caramel frappe, and I thought I was being good by using sugar free. Now iced coffee with hwc and sugar free white chocolate syrup. I've always had to drink my coffee cold since the hot gives me ulcers in my stomach.0
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I used your tip tonight at Starbucks and the first barista was confused but then asked the other who knew what I meant by unsweetened heavy cream.
So I ended up with an Americano with heavy cream and sugar free caramel syrup and it was every bit as good as the white chocolate mocha I used to get.
I still think my at home Gevalia French roast with heavy cream and the same syrup is equally good.
But at least I know what to order now when I do go to a coffee shop.0 -
Glad to hear it was helpful! Yes, definitely avoid the drive-thru, unless you have a "regular" that knows you and will always hook you up.
@mlinton_mesapark , I have heard that about the cream at Starbucks as well, so it's good to hear it confirmed. Since you're in ATX, I have to plug Cuppa Austin up in the NW (down Parmer on the way to Cedar Park) if you're ever in that area. They have several options for the butter coffee that are nice including vanilla extract and real Kerrygold butter. Mmm Mmm good!
-T.
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*takes notes*
I'll be staying at a hotel by Lakeline Mall towards the end of July for a few days. Real coffee could be useful!0 -
Just FYI, most heavy creams say they have zero carbs, especially in the US, because the US allows "rounding" and 25% margin of error on nutritional labeling. According to FatSecret.com:
Heavy Cream:
Nutrition summary:
Calories 51 Fat 5.51g Carbs 0.42g Protein 0.31g
There are 51 calories in 1 tablespoon of Heavy Cream.
Calorie breakdown: 95% fat, 3% carbs, 2% protein.
Half and Half:
Nutrition summary:
Calories 20 Fat 1.72g Carbs 0.64g Protein 0.44g
There are 20 calories in 1 tablespoon of Cream (Half & Half).
Calorie breakdown: 78% fat, 13% carbs, 9% protein.
Some brands will have MORE than this, but I've never heard of any brand having LESS than this. I have heard rumors of a sugar-free heavy cream, but it is very uncommon, and I haven't been able to verify this data...
I always count 1 TBSP of HWC as 1 gram of carms, and 1 oz as 2 carbs, etc. I actually hadn't realized that half and half was so much fewer calories and fat... I'll have to keep that in mind.0 -
Darn that rounding allowed!
My total allowed carbs are super low, too, but I still remain firmly in ketosis, in spite of my heavy heavy cream habit.
In fact...
Just had a delicious cup of home brewed French Press Ethiopian with 2 Tablespoons of heavy cream. And I'll probably have another couple tablespoons with my evening tea. A couple here, a couple there...still gotta be careful it doesn't add up.
@KnitOrMiss , that's exactly why I avoid half and half as an option. I have noticed that heavy cream brands vary greatly here in the US with regards to consistency and nutritional labeling. There's one local creamery that puts out a "heavy cream" that I swear is actually half and half. Or maybe whole milk. It's pretty thin, and I have to use double my usual cream amount to get the same amount of fats according to the label. But...at least it's Pure Cream with no added stuff.
So far, every Starbucks I've been to in Texas and in Missouri offer Borden's heavy cream as the plain cream option. Unfortunately, it does have additives. Can't win them all.
-T.
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This discussion has been closed.