Cheap Trick: Ordering a Less Expensive Drink

Occasionally, I treat myself to a non-homemade coffee drink. I work hard to not make it a habit, because if it becomes a regular thing, it no longer feels like a treat. Then when I need a treat, I find myself buying something else, which is not a good idea for the wallet. We all need a little treat from time to time, so it's nice to have something that's not terribly expensive reserved for those times.

My favorite summer coffee treat is an iced latte, which is just espresso and milk over ice. I prefer it with two shots of espresso, and not too much milk. 

When I ordered one today, the store was on the empty side, and the guy behind the counter suggested I order an iced doppio instead. He explained that an iced doppio is the same two shots of espresso over ice, but without the milk. He said that since I did not want too much milk, getting the espresso over ice would be less expensive than an iced latte, and I could add exactly the amount of milk I wanted.

I had never considered ordering a doppio, in part because I didn't know that a doppio was basically what I wanted. Smart guy! And his suggestion saves me almost a dollar every time I order my treat.

Do you know what's in your coffee drink? If so, is there a way to order it that will be less expensive? It might be worth taking a minute to ask a friendly coffee-shop person for his help.