You're ordering coffee wrong – barista shares why you should never go 'extra hot'

We all have different preferences when it comes to ordering coffee.

While some love milky lattes with lashings of syrup, others like to keep it simple with an espresso or flat white. Because of this, baristas are used to catering to their customers' different taste buds.

But there is one request that some resent fulfilling. A coffee shop worker shared an order he will refuse to complete – for good reason.

Tahsin Ahmed, of Baristas Lounge in Whitechapel, said there's "no way" he'll hand customers "extra hot" coffee. While some assume this is just for safety reasons, there's also more logic behind this.

By raising the temperature too high, coffee beans can burn. As well as this, it can impact the consistency of drinks and make them more watery.

Tahsin explained: “When you make the milk so hot, the coffee is definitely getting watery." To demonstrate his point, the barista explained that it's just like when you melt butter.

He said: "When you warm it a little you see it getting softer but when you heat the butter too much, it gets watery – it’s the same thing with hot milk”.

While some baristas choose to use thermometers to get the temperature of their coffees precisely right, others rely on their institution. Tahsin said you can get a good gage by placing your hands onto the pitcher – or by looking at the consistency.

He said: "When the milk is made properly it is a silky milk creating that foam on top and creating such a nice texture so when you serve it, it looks very shiny on top and looks beautiful."

As well as being mindful of how silky and creamy the texture of the coffee is, baristas want to ensure it doesn't come out acrid by burning the beans.

So, you've been warned – don't order extra hot coffee. Not only do you run the risk of annoying your barista, you could also be handed a very bitter drink!