Is coffee mixed with a large amount of milk and sugar actually common in the USA?

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Cheap_Coffee@reddit

I don't post YT videos of me making coffee, so your data is skeweed.

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GreenBeanTM@reddit

Starbucks has been open in Norway since 2013 so I can guarantee you there are people in your country who drink coffee like the Americans in these videos.

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linds3ybinds3y@reddit

An Italian latte is typically about one third espresso and two thirds steamed milk.

Are you only ever watching videos of Americans making coffee? Because I have a feeling if you threw in videos of baristas from other countries, you would realize that milk-heavy drinks are extremely common globally. Not just in the US.

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haelvete@reddit (OP)

People in Norway sometimes put a dash of milk or a little sugar in coffee, too, but not a lot.

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Arleare13@reddit

I have never heard of people diluting coffee to such a degree or putting ice in coffee before Instagram showed it to me.

So you’ve never been to most of Europe? This is hardly an American phenomenon. Lattes originated in Italy. Various forms of iced coffee are popular all over the world.

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haelvete@reddit (OP)

It is at least not common in the Nordics, baltics or germany.

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ENovi@reddit

Probably once a week someone comes here and says “no one else on earth does this” when they mean “I’ve never personally seen anyone in my country with a smaller population than some American cities do this.” Like, you understand that isn’t “the world,” right?

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Kevincelt@reddit

Lattes and coffee drinks with a lot of milk are definitely very common in Germany. I see it all the time.

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possums101@reddit

Seems like this is more about your small world view than American habits which are hardly American.

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linds3ybinds3y@reddit

Bruh, I've been to Norway. You have lattes and sugary coffee drinks there too.

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haelvete@reddit (OP)

Sugar consumption isn't the same as how common it is to drink coffee with sugar.

Bruh, I've been to Norway. You have lattes and sugary coffee drinks there too.

Not in my experience, it is then quite uncommon, geared towards tourists, or something recent. I have never seen someone at work or in university with a "latte".

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witchy12@reddit

You're confusing espresso drinks with regular coffee.

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haelvete@reddit (OP)

Drip coffee and espresso are regular coffee, as there are no additives.

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MrLongWalk@reddit

You know who would disagree? Most of Europe

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MrLongWalk@reddit

You need to get out more, milk and sugar heavy coffees are extremely common in Europe

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_TheLoneRangers@reddit

People in Norway sometimes put a dash of milk or a little sugar in coffee, too

so you get the concept. this would be similar to any food or drink, people can enjoy them in different proportions without it being bizarre

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MsSamm@reddit

My mother used to drink iced coffee with milk

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Background_Humor5838@reddit

Right we didn't invent that. I know from experience that Mexicans and Guatemalans (in general) like their coffee very light and very sweet. Like more than my American palate could handle.

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PuppySnuggleTime@reddit

People with antisocial personality disorder or sociopathy are more likely to prefer bitter flavors.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26431683/#:\~:text=A%20study%20found%20that%20bitter%20taste%20preferences,for%20sweet%2C%20sour%2C%20and%20salty%20taste%20preferences.

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RavenclawGirl2005@reddit

Some people like it like that. Personally my coffee is just black coffee mixed with two teaspoons of sugar and that's it.

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Confetticandi@reddit

It’s really down to the individual. Black coffee is popular among men and older generations. Lattes are very popular among younger generations, especially women. Sweetness is to taste.

I find it very bizarre how the ones in the video mix enormous amounts of milk, sugar, and sometimes ice or syrup (?) with coffee. Often, there is more milk than actual coffee.

You Europeans really need to leave your continent more... You would have a fit in Asia or countries in Latin America.

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Popular-Local8354@reddit

Add “sweetening coffee” to the list of “things Europeans think are weird but it’s really their way that’s unusual and the rest of the world does it the way the US does”

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Jerentropic@reddit

I don't drink coffee every day, maybe every other or every third day; but when I do, it's 20 oz of of drip coffee, 4 oz heavy cream, a packet of Swiss Miss hot cocoa mix, and 2 teaspoons of sugar.

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SpiceEarl@reddit

I drink my coffee black, but don't post videos about it. Making a pot of drip coffee and pouring it into a cup would be kind of a boring video, don't you think? Now, multiple my experience by the millions of Americans who do the same and it becomes clear that the people you see in videos only represent some Americans.

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chaamdouthere@reddit

This is probably the answer.

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WafflePeak@reddit

Most people making daily coffee at home will drink black drip coffee and maybe add in some milk or cream. However when people go to coffee shops it’s pretty common to get something more sugary and “fun”. Most Americans would think a 80% milk cup of coffee is ridiculous and the sorts of videos you are talking about are engagement bate.

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TheOwlMarble@reddit

I drink my coffee black. My wife likes some coffee with her cream and sugar.

There's a range.

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Green_Evening@reddit

It's completely up to individual taste. Some people like it sweet, others like my grandmother, drank it black all her life.

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ClickClick_Boom@reddit

I only drink it black too, no (or very few) calories, the only drinks I'll waste calories on have alcohol in them.

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FreeKevinBrown@reddit

Literally my parents and grandparents. Straight motor oil.

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CalmRip@reddit

Personally I make cowboy pourover with 2 tablespoons of cream per 8 ounce mug.

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No-Fix-614@reddit

It’s common but not universal, black drip coffee is still huge, but places like Starbucks made sugary milk-heavy drinks mainstream, so you’re mostly seeing a loud subset, not how everyone drinks it.

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Certain-Monitor5304@reddit

At coffee chains it's an option. You can also order just black coffee.

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Background_Humor5838@reddit

A cappuccino doesn't have sugar. It's just espresso and steamed milk.

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Certain-Monitor5304@reddit

Have you ever had a cappuccino from a Shell gas station?

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Background_Humor5838@reddit

No but if it has sugar in it it's not a cappuccino they're just calling it that incorrectly

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Certain-Monitor5304@reddit

Gas station cappuccinos have been a part of American travel culture for many decades. They are very sweet.

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Background_Humor5838@reddit

Literally never heard of that lol. Almost everything that you ed typed has made me wonder if you are real.

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shelwood46@reddit

It may just be the Northeast (NJ/PA at least) but I never see powdered creamer at restaurants or even gas stations, some place have those little pre-packaged 1/2&1/2 (with sugar & fake sugar packets) things, but most gas stations/delis here have full 1/2 gallons of milk in various fats (whole, 2%, skim) and maybe some liquid creamers like French Vanilla or Irish Cream, and these days some non-dairy alternatives like oat milk. I can always tell how far west I've driven when they stop giving me real milk for my coffee. Personally, I do a splash of milk (whole or 2%), no sweetener.

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mrOwl_1312@reddit

US born Norwegian here. I enjoy tea typically, but will take my coffee black. My Spanish wife however likes her cream with a splash of coffee. I don’t judge her, but I do joke with her constantly about it.

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justdisa@reddit

Yeah, this post had me wondering if I drink black coffee because that's the way my whole Norwegian-American family does it.

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passisgullible@reddit

Yes. I don't, but many do.

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CarelessCreamPie@reddit

I don't know if I would say "many". I think it's far from the majority.

I'd say most people drink coffee black or with milk.

Those videos where the influences dump in a metric ton of flavoring are mostly just engagement bait.

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justdisa@reddit

I wouldn't hate this. It looks good, but it is definitely a dessert drink.

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spike31875@reddit

I don't watch videos like that on YouTube, TikTok or wherever. Yeah: I agree: this is just click bait.

I'm sure most of those off the wall videos of people making vile stuff or outrageously elaborate recipes are just attempts to generate income from clicks: I doubt most people in those videos actually do any of this stuff on a regular basis.

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Ducal_Spellmonger@reddit

A classic latte (with no sweetener or added flavor) is made with more milk than coffee.

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SoaokingGross@reddit

Sam here. I call it cake.

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justdisa@reddit

I drink black coffee. It is common in the US. So are frothy espresso drinks. Pretty much any way you can imagine coffee being served is common in the US.

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chaamdouthere@reddit

It is fairly common but everyone has their preference for how much milk or sugar that you put it. I prefer a splash of milk and no sugar but I would drink it black if the coffee is very good (like specialty coffee) or if milk is not available. If someone serves me coffee that is very bad, then I put sugar in it so I can choke it down politely.

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shelwood46@reddit

I started drinking my coffee black, as my mother did, then a college roommate gave me instant, which was foul, and I started adding milk. No sugar unless it's frozen (iced is just not on my radar).

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Otherwise-OhWell@reddit

If you have a problem with how I take my coffee, than we have problems.

Don't start nothing, won't be nothing.

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spike31875@reddit

It's not just a thing in the US: there's cafe con leche in Latin America, Lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites & other milk-based coffee drinks in coffee shops in Europe, the US and around the world. I went to the UK last year & drank flat whites whenever I could (although with oat milk not cow's milk).

Is it so rare for Norwegians to drink lattes, cappuccinos & similar coffee drinks?

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Crayshack@reddit

There's a certain subset of Americans who like their coffee this way. It's not necessarily the majority of Americans, but it's a group that I think is more likely to make social media posts about their coffee. The kind of people who are drinking a regular black coffee with maybe a dash of cream and sugar don't really make a big deal about it because it is so routine. There's just certain coffee shops that cater towards people who prefer coffee-flavored milk to coffee flavored by milk, and the people who like those shops make it a part of their whole identity.

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MsSamm@reddit

Standard morning coffee is strong, soy milk with a sweet & low and 2 aspertame. One 12+ pot of coffee lasts 2 days.

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crimson_leopard@reddit

Most people add milk and sugar. There's a lot of coffee drinks with milk added like a cappucino, flat white, or latte. Most of the time I drink it black but that's because I looked into beans and found a flavor that I like. A lot of people just want a hint of coffee and caffeine. I definitely enjoy a cappucino. I would drink it more often but it's extra calories.

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ITrCool@reddit

Not dominant, but likely 50/50 common. I know tons of people who prefer it black and super-strong. A work colleague who is former-Navy, drinks Navy-black coffee. My grandfather served in the Navy in Korea and drank Navy-black coffee to his last days. PHEW that stuff is strong!!

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Oomlotte99@reddit

Not really unique to the US at all.

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whyisthissticky@reddit

Yes, it’s common. Keep looking, you’ll be shocked at how coffee is served worldwide. Milk coffee isn’t even an american thing.

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Fuzzzer777@reddit

There is a bit trend right now with sugary coffee drinks, so yes. I see the drinks everywhere. There are still a lot of us who drink black coffee or just a touch of cream and sugar at home.

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lifeisfascinatingly_@reddit

I like my sugar with coffee and cream.

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jlabsher@reddit

About half the coffee drinkers do. I guess some folks find coffee too bitter.

Why is it a big deal? Have you ever heard of Vietnamese or sweet Turkish coffee, how about Thai tea or tea tarik?

While many people find overly sweet drinks nasty - many people (and cultures) do not.

While I don't like it and find fancy coffee a bit much I've also had very good rosewater coffee, cardamom coffee and Mexican mocha that I was first hesitant to try but enjoyed after taking a chance.

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riarws@reddit

There are a few regional specialties. In South Florida, Cuban-style coffee is popular. That is very sweet. Vietnamese-style coffee is also sweet, and is popular in places that have a big Vietnamese community.

My family and I like coffee with milk and no sugar, most of the time.

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wisemonkey101@reddit

I don’t know any one that does it.

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FreeKevinBrown@reddit

I do a triple shot of espresso with a cup of milk and 3 spoonfuls of sugar. Hate me if you want. Its spectacular.

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TheOnlyJimEver@reddit

Some Americans drink black coffee. Some drink coffee with milk (or powdered creamer) and sugar. Some use a lot. Some use a little. It's up to individual taste, but if you're talking about "large amounts," you're probably seeing a latte or a frappecino or one of those specialty things at Starbucks or Dunkin.

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legendary_mushroom@reddit

My coffee is pretty normal and goes like this: drip coffee in a 12 oz or so mug/paper cup. Add a small spoonful of sugar, and about a quarter inch of half-and-half or milk (whatever's available). Basically until the coffee turns the correct color (a specific shade of light brown). This also cools the coffee down to a drinkable temp. But it's like 5-10 % of the cup.

Lots of people use flavored "creamers" that you can buy in the store, kept near the milk; they range from vanilla, hazelnut, and chocolate to seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice or peppermint to....idk, french vanilla? I don't get them anymore, too much sugar and stabilizers.

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Fantastic-Bit7657@reddit

I drink an iced latte that is sweetened every day. So it’s a good amount of milk, some sweetener and a good amount of espresso that I brew at home. There was a time that I bought the craft drinks at Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts.

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IPreferDiamonds@reddit

I put cream and sugar in my coffee.

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Danny69Devito420@reddit

I worked in a coffee shop and yeah these people exist that drink it that way all the time, but they're definitely a small minority of Americans. And most social media videos are rage bait anyways lol so don't take it as fact as what a whole country does.

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Just-a-nerd2@reddit

Take a look through a starbucks menu sometime. It'll blow your drip coffee mind

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PM_ME_UR__SECRETS@reddit

Common, yes for sure. But so are a lot of other ways of drinking coffee. Its one of those things that is highly dependent on the individual.

I personally like mine with a small amount of cream and no sugar. But, occasionally I'll drink it black. Or, with a sweet flavored creamer.

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dontknowwhattomakeit@reddit

Yes, it's very common, at least where I work. Not everyone does it but it's certainly not rare. I once had a customer who asked for 10 creams and 10 sugars and extra flavoring. All of that was more than what could fit in the cup (and that was before adding the coffee), though that's not typical. But a lot of milk or cream and sugar is quite common.

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upnflames@reddit

I'd say no. There are lots of people in America who like coffee. Like, real coffee. There are also lots of people who like coffee flavored sugar drinks. Similar to how people like soda, or milk shakes. Those drinks you see online are closer to the latter then the former.

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