NEW YORK — Do you make better coffee than the best drinks at Starbucks? According to a new survey, half of Americans feel they have what it takes to be a barista. This is good news given the well researched benefits of coffee.
The poll of 2,000 Americans looked at how people like to personalize their favorite beverages and found that 54 percent think they could make it as baristas by customizing drinks. Whether they’re good servers or not, most think they know what it takes to make a tasty drink. The poll finds people are more likely to experiment with their cold drinks as opposed to hot ones (71% vs. 62%), while others customize their smoothies (55%) and coffee (49%).
Thirty percent of respondents claim they’re loyal to their usual drink order, but 45 percent like to mix it up sometimes.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Dutch Bros, the research also found half of Americans will select random drinks to try when they’re craving something different from their usual orders or try to create something based on their preferences.
Coffee cafe regulars
Nearly half the poll have a coffee spot that they frequent more than once a week, so it’s no surprise that 65 percent are likely to try a drink recommended by their barista. People also get new drink recommendations from their friends and family (48%) and three in five like to repay the favor, saying they enjoy coming up with creative drinks for their loved ones to try.
When it comes to their drink preferences, nearly a fifth of respondents found their go-to beverage while browsing social media. While 35 percent like to order their drink straight off of the menu, a quarter of respondents like to order a custom drink, and 31 percent do both.
“Customizing your drink is simple, fast and delicious,” says Kayla Barton, Dutch Bros director of research and development, in a statement.
As for customizations, people are most likely to change their toppings (71%) above all else. Sixty-five percent would also adjust their drink’s temperature, the amount of ice, or sugar level. When they swap the milk in their drink, Americans’ favorite substitutions include almond milk (48%) or coconut milk (43%). To make their drink a little more interesting, people are most likely to add whipped cream (39%), honey (38%), or vanilla extract (37%).
Top it off?
Respondents also weighed in on their favorite toppings for specific drinks. Forty-four percent believe honey belongs in tea and some people enjoy adding whipped cream to their coffee (35%) or smoothies (34%).
However, there can be happy accidents too – 23 percent have accidentally ordered the wrong drink and it became their favorite.