Your coffee order says a lot about you, or at least everyone thinks it does. This One Gotta Go card puts four go-to orders on the counter: black coffee, an iced latte, a caramel macchiato and a matcha latte.
You keep three and give up one for good. Think about your morning routine, your afternoon pick-me-up and the drink you only order on a treat day, then cut one and see what your friends make of your choice.
Black Coffee vs Iced Latte vs Caramel Macchiato vs Matcha Latte
A. Black Coffee
Black coffee is simple, strong and cheap, and fans say it is the only way to taste the beans. For everyone else, it is bitter and plain. If you never drink it without milk and sugar, black coffee is the obvious cut for you.
Keep it if: You want a strong cup with nothing added, and you think good coffee should not need help.
B. Iced Latte
The iced latte is smooth, cold and easy to drink any time of year. It is also mostly milk, and at a cafe it costs more than a plain coffee. If you are not a fan of milky drinks or cold coffee in winter, it is a reasonable cut.
Keep it if: You order iced coffee even in January and love that creamy, easy sip on the way to work.
C. Caramel Macchiato
The caramel macchiato is sweet, layered and topped with a caramel drizzle. That sweetness is the case against it, since it can feel more like dessert than coffee. If you like to taste the coffee, this is the one you could probably skip.
Keep it if: You like your coffee sweet, you love that caramel drizzle, and it feels like a treat every time.
D. Matcha Latte
The matcha latte is made with powdered green tea, not coffee, which makes it the odd one out. Some people love its earthy flavor and calmer energy, and others think it tastes like grass. If you came for coffee, matcha is an easy pick to cut.
Keep it if: You prefer a gentler kind of energy and love the bright green color and earthy, creamy taste.
Our take
We would cut the caramel macchiato. It is delicious, but it is the order on this card most likely to feel like dessert, and the others each serve a clear purpose: black coffee for strength, the iced latte for easy sipping and matcha for something different. The most fun debate usually lands on matcha, since its fans love it and its critics cannot see the appeal. A fun twist is to guess everyone's order before they say it.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Does your coffee order say something about your personality?
- Is matcha a coffee replacement or a completely different drink?
- Hot or iced: which way do you drink coffee in winter?
- What is the most you would pay for one coffee drink?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Coffee Orders: quick answers
What is the difference between a latte and a macchiato?
A latte is espresso mixed with lots of steamed milk and a thin layer of foam. A traditional macchiato is espresso with just a small spot of foam. The caramel macchiato sold at many cafes is different: steamed milk with vanilla, espresso poured on top and a caramel drizzle.
Does matcha have caffeine?
Yes. Matcha is made from ground green tea leaves, so it contains caffeine, usually less than a similar sized coffee. Many people describe its energy as smoother. The exact amount depends on how much matcha powder is used in the drink. Many people drink it in the afternoon for that reason.
