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Permalink Reply by Copper River Coffee and Tea on February 12, 2010 at 8:02am

Sounds like a watered down latte... Stay the course, the extra charge I would think would be reasonable considering the amount or creamer that you use. I don't really think there is a name for it either, as I'm sure that many people have their own unique way to modify their drink that would fall outside of standard categories. I have one lady that literally does about 1/5 sugar, 2/5 creamer in her drink. Yes, the remaining 2/5 is coffee.

Another lady once had a 16oz. decaf iced mocha made with half skim milk and half water.
Another lady gets about 15 equals in her 16oz. tea...
Another lady wanted about 30 packets of splenda in her custom made blended cold drink....

There is no name for such creations.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Rue on February 12, 2010 at 8:10am

What's the price relative to the price of your latte? I'm guessing that you should call it "The Loss Leader" and hope that they buy a scone while they are there. Forget the upcharge: given your coffee and equipment/labor cost is the same and that half and half is more expensive than milk, I'd have to ask why not charge _at least_ as much as a latte, if not more...

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Permalink Reply by Mike McGinness on February 12, 2010 at 8:20am

Don't know of a specific traditional American or European coffeehouse beverage that fits the bill. It's almost a Breve Au Lait but not quite since an au lait is roughly 50:50 double strength coffee and hot no foam milk. (which can be strong Americano instead of double strength brewed press pot or whatever) I might call out Americano Breve Au Lait half the au lait. Might make up a name for it based on the group of ladies themselves. Or have fun with it and call it something like Mad Cow Americano and put it on the menu. (picture a mad cow steaming out it's ears etc.) Clogged Artery Americano? Chubby Americano? Hot Silk Americano? Hot Lace Americano? Sexy Americano? Hot Sex Americano! (don't ask for a minds eye picture the last few:-)

Your upcharge is probably fine.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Rue on February 12, 2010 at 9:00am

Seriously, here's what I don't understand about coffee retail:
-The fixed coffee cost is the same as a latte
-The labor cost is the same as a latte
-Special off-the-menu orders disrupt the workflow
-The dairy cost is more than a latte

Given that the drink is more expensive to make, why mess around with nickel and dime upcharges: make it at least, if not more, expensive as the equivalent latte. If you brew an excellent espresso and the customer really values the drink, they will pay for it. If they are just trying to rip you off by getting a more expensive drink for less money, why give the till away?

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Permalink Reply by Sandy Hon on February 12, 2010 at 9:50am

we have a couple of folks who prefer to drink their coffee this way as well- they like the milk steamed for an americano because adding milk from a creamer pitcher cools down the beverage- and they like milk in their HOT coffee.

these are the same folks that have been weened from extra hot latte drinks-

steaming a little milk and charging for it sounds reasonable to me.

we prepare the milk as we would for an espresso macchiato (a small amount in a small pitcher) and charge a .30 up-charge for steaming- and if it's half and half or soy they want- we'll charge even more, like .60....

they're happy with a super hot drink
we're happy they are drinking espresso.

it can be a win-win or a big pain in the ass depending on how you look at it.

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