Thanks to the British and theirEnglish afternoon tea, the world knows quite a bit about tea etiquette, but did you know there are also rules of etiquette for drinking coffee? Whether you’re drinking alone in a coffee house or are sipping from a cup during a business meeting, following these simple rules can help you avoid unnecessary faux pas and awkward situations.

Some of these etiquettes are also exclusively for the coffee shop, how one should behave with the barista, and so on. Make sure you follow these to set a great impression on everyone you meet!

Know Where to Put the Coffee Spoon

You’re probably going to use a spoon to stir some sugar into your coffee, but what do you do with it next—do you return it to the tray, the sugar pot, or just leave it in your cup?

Well, the ideal and convenient thing to do is to keep it on your saucer, toward the right side. Even when you’re done with the coffee, your spoon should never be left in the cup. Also, don’t use the spoon to try the coffee or to cool it by stirring. And, of course, never lick the spoon.

Always Take A Few Small Sips of Water Before Drinking Your Espresso

Espresso is typically served with a glass of water, and we see a lot of people completely ignoring that glass. However, true coffee lovers know it’s the key to a great espresso experience!

Drinking some water before drinking the coffee will help you cleanse your palette, prepping it up so you can soak up all the aroma and rich flavors.

Be on Your Best Behavior When Ordering in A Coffee House

If you’re ordering in a coffee house, it’s important to follow some basic rules of etiquette, especially if you’re planning to make this your regular coffee run spot.

Here’s what we suggest:

• Stop using your phone when ordering; make eye contact with the barista and greet them nicely.
• If you want a customized order, make sure you know all the specifics and communicate them clearly to the barista.
• Just because you haven’t gotten your caffeine fix for the day doesn’t mean you get to be rude to people serving you your coffee.
• Don’t be too indecisive at the counter; if you can’t decide—step out of the queue and join again when you know what you want.
• Don’t be impatient; you will get your order when it’s ready.
• Don’t ask for multiple remakes.
• Be very specific about your preferences; baristas don’t read minds.
• Leave your most complicated coffee orders for your brewing sessions at home.

In fact, you can make almost all of your coffee shop orders at home, and it’s quite therapeutic too. If you’d like to start soon, you can order espresso coffee beans online from the Red Bud Tea Company.

We also have flavored coffee beans for sale that you can use for some of your wildest coffee orders!