When I lived in Japan I noticed that too. Whenever I ordered or looked at the menu it often specified hot or cold and I could hear people in line say hot or iced pretty naturally. I know I had my アイスホアイトモカ down living there. While being a barista in the states everything is so ambiguous which is difficult. Like we have it stating as an iced tea lemonade on my menus and people order it like that but then I’m trying to figure out what kind of tea they want.

I’ve never worked at a coffee chain but I worked in food service and I always thought the correct order was to state hot or cold (so the person knows what type of cup instead of giving the size then having to switch from grande hot to grande iced) then size (which cup)? Like if people thinking for 2 seconds while standing in line for 5 minutes this can be easier and faster for everybody? *facepalm*

I believe they mean when a customer orders, for example, a vanilla latte with 4 ice cubes when they actually wanted an *iced* vanilla latte with only 4 ice cubes, and then get mad when they receive a hot drink with steamed milk vs. an iced drink with cold milk and extra extra light ice.

No, it is what this photo is referring to. People have ordered a chai with 4 ice cubes, but didn’t specify hot or iced but wanted it iced. So it is the same.