Going out for coffee with friends or grabbing a take-away barista coffee to go is one of our favourite things to do. But what about going out for coffee with food allergies? Is it safe to order a store made coffee? Whether you have a milk allergy or another common food allergy such as soy or nuts, ordering coffee can pose a risk. Even with the increasing variety of milks and milk-alternatives available. Explore some of the things you can do to reduce risk while still enjoying a coffee or other drink with friends.
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Potential exposure to food allergens when ordering coffee
Ordering a hot drink from a coffee shop may seem like a fairly safe option. But it may not be as risk free as you think. The main concern when ordering a barista made coffee is cross contact.
Allergies to cow’s milk
Commercial coffee machines come equipped with a steam spout for heating and frothing milk in a small jug. This heated milk is used to make milky coffees like flat white, latte, cappuccino and others.
Many coffee shops now offer alternative’s to cow’s milk. Plant based milks like soy, oat and almond milk are popular with people who need to or chose to avoid dairy for various reasons. This includes allergies or dietary preferences.
If you have a cow’s milk allergy, you may think the availability of non-dairy alternatives is a good thing. However, ordering a coffee with a non-dairy milk comes can come with a real risk of reaction.
When someone orders a milk-based coffee in a cafe, busy baristas will usually just wipe down the steam spout between orders. The cloth they use to wipe down the spout may still have milk on it
If your barista does use a clean cloth – and a separate clean milk jug for each type of milk or milk-alternative – there’s a good chance that residue from other milks will be left behind in the steam spout itself.
Allergies to plant based milk ingredients like soy and nuts
Even if you aren’t allergic to cow’s milk and order a coffee with normal dairy milk, the popularity of plant based milks can put you at risk if you have other allergies, such as to soy or nuts.
The same risks can arise from residues of non-dairy milk in the steam spout, jug or on cleaning cloths and equipment.
Practical ways to reduce risk when ordering coffee with food allergies
Just because you have food allergies doesn’t mean you need to miss out on ordering coffee or meeting friends at a coffee shop over a drink.
Always disclose your allergies
As always, you should disclose your food allergy to the server before placing your order. Yes, even if you are just ordering a coffee. Even if you think your choice of menu item is safe, letting the vendor know means they can take steps to prevent cross-contact with your order.
Order a black coffee
If you really want to order a coffee to enjoy with friends, or just to take away, consider ordering a straight black coffee. A long black can be a safer option as it doesn’t require the barista to use the steam spout on the coffee machine or the warming jugs.
Ask for milk separately
For those who really don’t like black coffee, you may be able to order your coffee black and ask if you can add your choice of milk separately. Coffee shops are often happy to add milk straight from the carton or to provide you with a small jug of your chosen milk ‘on the side’ (in a clean jug and not heated).
Again, milk that hasn’t been heated using the steam spout on the coffee machine will have less chance of cross contact.
Order something other than coffee
For an even safe option, just order something else to drink like a cup of tea, juice or soda. A pre-bottled drink is often the safest option of all.
Ordering a treat with your coffee
Many coffee shops and cafes offer food for sale, including baked treats like cookies and cakes. It’s becoming more common to see gluten free, dairy free and vegan options available to buy with your coffee. Unfortunately, unless these are pre-packaged they are often not labelled with ingredients.
If you plan to order food with your hot drink, make sure you disclose your allergies and ask questions about the ingredients. In our experience, some staff don’t have a good understanding of allergies and may confuse gluten free and dairy free. Or they may lack knowledge of ingredients in items that have been purchased from third party providers for resale. If you don’t get a satisfactory response about ingredients, don’t take the risk.
Also be mindful of cross-contact with other ingredients in the kitchen or display case. It’s not uncommon for treats containing nuts or gluten to be located close to the safer options. It’s also important to ask staff to use new gloves or tongs when selecting items for you.
More about eating out with food allergies
When ordering food and drink away from home, we highly recommend using food allergy chef cards. These are a great way to communicate your allergies clearly to your server or the kitchen preparing your food and drink.
And never forget to take your EpiPens or other autoinjectors along with you in case you do have a reaction.
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