Sip Smart: 7 Coffee Orders to Avoid on a First Date (Unless You Want to Be a Meme)
First date at a café? Here’s what not to order if you want to make a strong, stylish, and spill-free impression.
There’s something undeniably romantic about a first date at a café. The ambient music, the scent of roasted beans, the subtle intimacy of sitting across from someone with just enough caffeine to make eye contact less terrifying.
But let’s be real—first impressions matter. And what you order? It says something. Not just about your taste in coffee, but your vibe, your mood, your entire love-life energy.
I’ve seen enough awkward café dates (and maybe been part of a few) to know that certain drinks… just don’t hit right when you’re trying to flirt over foam.
So in the spirit of CoffeePreneur wisdom, here are 7 drinks you should probably not order on a first date—unless you’re looking to add a comedic plot twist to your love story.
1. The Super Specific Custom Order
“I’ll have an iced oat milk latte with one pump vanilla, two pumps hazelnut, half-decaf, extra foam—but not the kind from the wand, the automatic steam, please.”
Listen, I respect your right to caffeine craftsmanship. But this kind of order says: high maintenance, possibly memorizing moon phases before texting back.
Keep it chill on date one. Save your barista brilliance for the third hangout.
Try instead: A simple flavored latte or a flat white. Smooth, approachable, still stylish.
2. The Triple Espresso Shot
There’s “let’s have a conversation” energy, and then there’s “I haven’t blinked in 12 minutes” energy.
Ordering three shots of espresso on date one can feel… intense. Like you’re prepping for a heist or a TED Talk.
Try instead: A macchiato or cortado. Still gives you that bold edge—without the eye twitch.
3. The Cold Brew at 7 PM
Even if it’s hot out. Even if it’s your favorite. Cold brew after 5 p.m. says one of two things:
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You’re secretly nocturnal.
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You’re not sleeping tonight—and neither are your anxious thoughts.
Unless your first date is a night-long city walk, maybe steer clear.
Try instead: An iced latte or cold tea. Still cool. Still chic. Less potential for 2 a.m. spiral.
4. The Unicorn-Colored Seasonal Frappuccino
I’m all for fun. But if your drink has more toppings than your date has Instagram followers, we might be in for a sugar crash and a vibe crash.
Also, whipped cream on your upper lip while trying to flirt? Bold move.
Try instead: A vanilla iced latte or mocha. Just enough sweet without the neon swirl.
5. The Gigantic Size (We’re Talking Bucket-Level)
You order a drink the size of your soul, sit down, and suddenly it’s towering between you and your date like a caffeinated wall. There’s no eye contact, only steam.
Try instead: Regular or medium size. Remember: conversation, not competition.
6. Anything That Takes 10 Minutes to Make
If your drink needs to be blessed by three herbs and a chant before it’s served, your date might finish their cup while you’re still waiting.
That delay? A vibe killer.
Try instead: Go for something that matches the flow—ready in 2–3 minutes, so your chemistry doesn’t cool before your coffee’s even served.
7. Nothing At All
Ordering nothing on a coffee date is the ultimate red flag. It says: “I agreed to this, but I’m not actually participating.”
Even if you don’t love coffee, get a tea, lemonade, or hot chocolate. It’s about joining the moment, not sipping air while your date second-guesses everything.
Try instead: Anything! Seriously—even water with intention is better than nothing.
Final Sip
At the end of the day, your coffee order won’t make or break your future love story. But it does set the tone. You don’t need to overthink it—but you also don’t want your first impression to scream “chaos.”
Go for ease. Go for something that makes you feel you—but maybe the version that still knows how to pronounce “macchiato.”
And if it goes south? At least you got a good brew out of it.