“Think about me every night. Oh, isn’t that sweet? I guess so…” Sabrina Carpenter sings in Espresso, turning a tiny cup of coffee into one of pop’s most recognisable metaphors for being impossible to forget. Her point is less about caffeine and more about attitude: sweet, bold and a little addictive. Suddenly, espresso feels like a character of its own.
And on October 1, coffee has even more reason to take centre stage. This year marks the first International Coffee Day formally designated by the United Nations, following a resolution adopted in March. The 2026 FAO celebration carries the theme ‘Celebrating Coffee, Honouring the People Behind Every Cup’, putting the spotlight on coffee’s cultural, social, economic and environmental significance, as well as the people and communities behind it.
While there is a bigger story behind every cup, there is also the one sitting right in front of you. The way you take your coffee can reveal something about your taste, habits and perhaps even your temperament. So, what does your usual order say about you?
Bold, Like Your Espresso
You do not need a complicated order. You know what you want, and you want it concentrated. Espresso drinkers tend to give off a direct, no-nonsense energy. There is little room for fussing when your coffee arrives in a tiny cup and disappears in a few sips.
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Sabrina Carpenter may have made espresso a pop-culture attitude with her hit song, although there is a funny twist: she has said that baristas now expect her to order espresso because of the song, while she actually orders tea.
Then there is Pedro Pascal, whose famously intense coffee order takes things to another level. His viral Starbucks order was a venti iced quad espresso with extra ice and six shots. Pascal later explained that his morning drink gradually went from four shots to six as he felt the coffee was becoming less strong.
If your order is essentially “give me the caffeine and let me get on with my day”, you may relate.
Straight Up, Like An Americano
Americano drinkers like their coffee with a little breathing room. You want the flavour of espresso, but you are not interested in turning the drink into a dessert.
Cold Brews, Micro-Lot Coffees And Home Brewing: Here Are The Biggest Coffee Trends In IndiaThere is something quietly practical about this choice. It is familiar, uncomplicated and easy to carry into a long morning.
Taylor Swift has also been associated with the Americano, although her more famous coffee order is her Grande Caramel Nonfat Latte, which Starbucks even turned into “Taylor’s Latte” during its 2021 collaboration with the singer.
The Americano crowd is less about making a statement and more about knowing what works. You probably have a favourite order and see no reason to reinvent it every time.
Soft, Like a Latte
Latte people like balance. Coffee matters, but so does the experience of drinking it. A little milk, some softness and perhaps a touch of sweetness can make the morning feel considerably more civilised.
Durvasula’s survey associated latte drinkers with people-pleasing tendencies and generosity, suggesting they were often willing to make time for others even when they had plenty on their own plate.
Ariana Grande is a fitting celebrity example. During a Carpool Karaoke coffee run, she ordered a soy latte, keeping the drink relatively straightforward.
Taylor Swift also belongs in the latte conversation, thanks to her much-discussed caramel nonfat latte. If your coffee preference involves milk, sweetness and familiarity, you are in very good celebrity company.
Particular, Like a Cappuccino
You have opinions about coffee. Not just “I like coffee”, but very specific ideas about how it should taste, how much foam it needs and exactly what goes into the cup.
Brad Pitt certainly knows his way around a cappuccino. The actor has reportedly described himself as a three-cappuccino drinker in the morning, switching to espresso later in the day depending on his schedule. He has also spoken about enjoying the ritual of sitting down and taking time over his coffee.
If your order comes with precise instructions, you probably understand the appeal of getting exactly what you asked for. After all, there is a difference between simply drinking coffee and having very definite ideas about how your coffee should be made.
Playful, Like Iced Coffee
Hot coffee when it is 35 degrees Celsius outside? Not for you.
Iced coffee drinkers tend to approach their caffeine with a little more playfulness. In the original survey, people who preferred cold, sweet or blended coffee were associated with social boldness, spontaneity and a willingness to try new things.
Charli D’Amelio is firmly in the iced-coffee camp. Her reported Dunkin’ order is a cold brew with whole milk and sugar.
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Ben Affleck has also spoken about his preference for iced coffee with milk and two sugars, sometimes switching to Splenda or almond milk.
So if your coffee comes cold, sweet and customised, you may simply be someone who likes a little fun in the routine.
Easygoing, Like Instant Coffee
Instant coffee does not need a ceremony. No weighing beans, waiting for the perfect extraction or watching a barista pour your morning caffeine into a carefully chosen cup. Add hot water, stir and get on with your life.
That is almost exactly the association found in Durvasula’s survey. Instant coffee drinkers were described as more laid-back and traditional, although the findings also linked the group with procrastination and less planning.
Sarah Jessica Parker gives the humble instant cup a surprisingly glamorous seal of approval. The actor has reportedly said that she makes coffee at home and drinks either Nespresso or Nescafé instant coffee, recalling the instant version as something that reminds her of Greece.
So perhaps instant coffee is not about settling. It is about knowing when you do not need to make something complicated.
Change Is the Only Constant
Perhaps the hardest person to categorise is the one who never has the same order twice.
One morning it is an oat-milk latte. The next, an iced Americano. Then a matcha. Then a cappuccino because someone recommended a particular café. Suddenly, you are buying a bag of beans and considering a home espresso machine. There is no neat box for that. And perhaps that is the point.
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Coffee preferences can reflect moods, routines, tastes and trends, but they do not define a person.
Sabrina Carpenter may have made espresso synonymous with a certain pop attitude. Pedro Pascal has made six shots part of his morning ritual. Sarah Jessica Parker has shown that instant coffee can feel perfectly chic.
Your order is still just your order.
But on International Coffee Day, it is also a fun excuse to ask the person sitting across the table: what does yours say about you?
