Caffeine addicts, Starbucks lovers, and general coffee drinkers this instruction manual is for you. Whether you have only been once, never been at all or are a frequenter – ordering at Starbucks is a hefty task that even us regulars question sometimes. So here is your step-by-step guide that will get you through Starbucks with ease. So next time you get up to the counter and order your favorite latte, you will not only get exactly what you want, but you won’t have any nerves as the barista looks at you and ask, “What can I get for you today?”

Step 1: Check out the Menu Online

The first step begins way before you walk in the doors of this coffee lined building. First as many barista beg first timers to do, you should check out the menu online. This may seem silly, but is key to understanding what Starbucks has to offer. On their site they give descriptions, pictures, ingredients and even calorie counts of every one of their beverages. This makes it easy for you to understand exactly what a “macchiatto” is.

Step 2: Find the drink you want to try

Your next step is to find out exactly what drink you want to try when you go in! With tea, coffee, and many espresso drinks – you have a lot of choices. With endless choices, almost every drink can also be either hot or iced. Choose the drink that sounds best to you and you are most confident in ordering.

Step 3: Know the Sizes

This is possibly the most important step of all. This step will help you be confident in your ordering abilities even on those impromptu Starbucks trips, and keep the barista from hating you. Here is a break down of what you need to know:

Sizes: Starbucks sizes are different from those of your typical coffee house - rather than small, medium, large. They go by an Italian metric system.

Venti = 20 ounces – this is your large

Grande = 16 ounces – this is your medium

Tall = 12 ounces – this is your small

***Bonus Size: Trenta = 30 ounces – this doesn’t even translate to a normal size because it is the king of drinks. Sadly, they only let you get this size in iced coffee of tea drinks. (Believe I have tried with espresso and they have told me it’s “too much caffeine for one person to handle”).

Step 4: Know Your Shots

Shots: One of the biggest questions people have about Starbucks drinks is with the “shots”. Shots are how much espresso they put in your drink. The typical break down is that Tall’s have one shot, Grande’s have two, and Venti’s have three.

That being said you can make any size have more shots than you want, like maybe adding a 4th shot to your latte. I’m not proud of it, but on long days I have done this. If you do this than shots translate as single, double, tripe, etc.

* Important note: Flavors are not shots – they are pumps.

Step 5: Put it to Use

The last step is to take this newfound knowledge and go get yourself a drink! Be sure you know the order to order in. It sounds silly, but there is indeed a way to order what you want the right way. You ready for the formula?

Hot or Cold + Size (look at step 3) + any extra shots + type of milk (Non-fat, whole, skim etc.) + you actual drink + any extra flavor pumps

Ex) iced Grande triple nonfat latte with a pump of vanilla

So, walk up to the barista and order with confidence because you my friend know the secret to ordering correctly at Starbucks.

Now with this wealth of knowledge you may think I have worked at Starbucks, stalked a Starbucks worker, or have nothing better to do than study up on Starbucks facts. But the truth is by following the steps I gave you -- I have become an expert and frequent Starbucks goer. And now you can too.