Canada
Canada has a diverse coffee culture, with options ranging from simple brewed coffee to elaborate specialty drinks. Tim Hortons is a prominent part of Canadian coffee culture, but there are also many other cafes, including Starbucks and independent coffee shops, offering a wide array of choices.
Here's a breakdown of different ways to order coffee in Canada and what's typically in them:
Basic Brewed Coffee
This is the simplest form of coffee, made by brewing ground coffee beans with hot water. You can customize it with:
Size: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large (sizes vary by establishment).
Blend:
Original Blend: Often the most popular choice.
Dark Roast: For a stronger, more robust flavour.
Decaf: Coffee with most of its caffeine removed.
Additions:
Milk/Cream: Specify the amount (e.g., "1 milk," "2 cream").
Sugar/Sweetener: Specify the amount (e.g., "1 sugar," "2 sugars").
"Regular" (Tim Hortons specific): This refers to 1 cream and 1 sugar.
"Double Double" (Tim Hortons specific): This is a very popular order for 2 cream and 2 sugars.
"Triple Triple" (Tim Hortons specific): 3 cream and 3 sugars.
Black: No milk or sugar.
Espresso-Based Drinks
These drinks start with a shot (or multiple shots) of espresso, which is concentrated coffee made by forcing hot water under pressure through finely ground coffee.
Espresso: A single shot (approx. 30ml/1oz) or a double shot (Doppio - approx. 60ml/2oz) of concentrated coffee.
Americano: Espresso diluted with hot water. Can be ordered iced.
Latte: Espresso with a larger proportion of steamed milk and a thin layer of foamed milk on top. Often milkier than a cappuccino. Can be flavored with syrups (vanilla, caramel, mocha, hazelnut, etc.) and served iced.
Cappuccino: Espresso with equal parts steamed milk and foamed milk. Often has a thicker foam than a latte. Can be ordered "dry" (more foam, less milk) or "wet" (less foam, more milk).
Macchiato: Espresso with a very small amount of foamed milk on top (Espresso Macchiato). There's also a Latte Macchiato, which is layered milk with espresso poured into it, typically with foam on top. Can be ordered iced.
Mocha: A latte with chocolate syrup or powder, topped with whipped cream (often optional) and sometimes chocolate sprinkles. Can be ordered iced.
Flat White: Espresso with steamed milk, but with very little or no foam, resulting in a "flatter" surface and a velvety texture.
Cortado: Espresso with an equal amount of steamed milk.
Cold Coffee Drinks
Beyond iced versions of hot drinks, there are specific cold coffee beverages popular in Canada:
Iced Coffee: Brewed coffee served over ice. Can be customized with milk/cream and sugar.
Iced Capp (Tim Hortons specific): A blended frozen coffee drink, very popular in Canada. It's a sweet, creamy, coffee-flavoured slushie. Varieties include Original, Mocha, Caramel, and sometimes seasonal flavors.
Cold Brew: Coffee steeped in cold water for an extended period, resulting in a smoother, less acidic concentrate. Served over ice, often with milk or cream.
Frappuccino (Starbucks specific): A blended ice coffee drink, often with syrups, whipped cream, and various toppings. Many flavors are available (Caramel, Mocha, Coffee, Lavender Creme, etc.).
Specialty and Flavored Coffees
Many cafes offer unique or seasonal coffee beverages with various flavorings and toppings:
French Vanilla: A coffee with a distinct vanilla flavor, often available as a pre-mixed powder or syrup added to brewed coffee.
Lattes with Flavours: Beyond basic vanilla, caramel, and mocha, you might find seasonal flavors like Pumpkin Spice, Peppermint Mocha, or other unique combinations.
Coffee Mocha (Tim Hortons specific): A coffee with chocolate.
Chai Latte: While technically a tea, it's a popular warm beverage made with black tea, spices (like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger), milk, and sweetener. Often available in a "dirty" version with a shot of espresso added.
Matcha Latte: Green tea powder mixed with steamed milk. Can be served hot or iced.
Tips for Ordering in Canada:
Tim Hortons: This chain is ubiquitous and has its own distinct ordering lingo ("Double Double," "Regular," "Iced Capp").
Smaller Cafes/Specialty Coffee Shops: These places often focus on the quality of their beans and brewing methods. Don't hesitate to ask about their house blends or seasonal offerings. Baristas are usually happy to explain the menu.
Milk Alternatives: Most coffee shops offer non-dairy milk options like soy milk, almond milk, and oat milk.
Syrups and Customizations: You can usually specify the number of syrup pumps or other customizations you desire.
*The content in this document was generated using artificial intelligence, drawing from various online sources, and subsequently refined for accuracy and conciseness in 2025. Users are advised to consult multiple sources to corroborate information and should not rely solely on this document for comprehensive research.