A study by clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula has found links between the type of coffee people order and specific personality traits, including extroversion, patience, perfectionism, sensitivity and social boldness.
Durvasula examined around 1,000 people, recording both their coffee preferences and details of their personalities. The findings were later published in her book "You Are Why You Eat: Change Your Food Attitude, Change Your Life."
Coffee remains a daily ritual for most people in Greece, often the first habit of the day and a small pleasure before work begins. While the choice between an espresso and a latte is usually put down to simple taste, researchers have looked at whether these preferences might connect to deeper personality patterns.
Ordering an espresso or a latte cannot serve as a personality test on its own, but the correlations recorded in the study are worth a closer look, offering a different angle on an everyday order.
Plain espresso: practicality and simplicity
According to the findings, people who drink their espresso plain, without sugar, milk or other additions, tend toward a more practical and functional way of thinking.
Fans of plain black coffee appear more traditional in their choices and prefer things simple and clear. The study links this group to greater efficiency, but also to a stricter side of character.
In some cases, the research also recorded lower levels of patience among plain espresso drinkers.
Latte or cappuccino: warm and sociable
If your coffee includes milk or milk foam, you may belong to the group of people who enjoy the more relaxed side of daily life.
According to the findings, those who prefer a latte or cappuccino tend to be characterized by greater sociability, warmth and generosity.
They also often show a strong tendency to look after the people around them. That trait can have another side too, since it may mean they place other people's needs above their own.
Freddo or iced coffee: spontaneity and adventure
Iced coffee, particularly popular in Greece, appears to be linked to a different personality type altogether.
The research connects a preference for freddo or iced coffee with people who are more spontaneous, creative and adventurous.
These are people who seem more willing to try something new, change plans at the last minute, or make a decision without needing much preparation. The same tendency, however, can also be linked to greater impulsiveness, particularly in decisions made on the spur of the moment.
Decaf or plant-based milk: detail and control
If your order is more specific and includes decaf, oat milk or another customized combination, the study's findings link this to a greater need for control and perfectionism.
People who order this way are likely to know exactly what they want and pay particular attention to detail.
This can also show up in other parts of daily life, through more discipline and more deliberate choices. On the other hand, these same people may find it harder to cope when something does not go according to the plan they had in mind.
What your coffee choice really means
Choosing a coffee is, above all, a personal preference and cannot on its own determine a person's character.
The correlations described above come from this particular study and are more interesting as a different way of looking at our daily habits than as an actual personality test.
Still, the next time you order your favorite coffee, it might be worth asking yourself whether your choice says a little more about you than you thought.
