Regular Coffee
In New York diner and cart language, a coffee with milk and two sugars, not a plain black coffee.
Example
Ask a street cart for a regular and you get coffee already light and sweet, handed over in the blue and white Anthora cup.
Related terms
NYC slang
Bodega
A corner convenience store found on nearly every NYC block, selling snacks, coffee, sandwiches and household basics...
NYC slang
Bacon Egg and Cheese
The standard New York breakfast sandwich, griddled bacon, egg and American cheese on a roll from a bodega or deli.
Coffee
Porto Rico Importing Co.
A Greenwich Village coffee bean merchant since 1907, selling burlap-sack beans by the pound from a wood-floored shop.
NYC slang
Schmear
The Yiddish-derived word for the generous layer of cream cheese spread on a bagel at New York bagel shops.
Frequently asked questions
Where does regular coffee still mean milk and sugar?
Street carts, bodegas and Greek diners. At third wave cafes just order an espresso drink like anywhere else.
Is street cart coffee worth trying?
Yes, once, for the ritual and the Anthora cup. It costs little and comes fast. Manage flavor expectations accordingly.
What do I say if I want black coffee?
Say coffee, black. At a cart or diner the unqualified word regular means milk and sugar, so naming what you want avoids a sweet surprise.
