If you order these 7 things at a café, people automatically assume you’re upper-middle-class

Walk into any café and you’ll notice something interesting.

It’s not just what people are drinking—it’s what those drinks (and snacks) say about them.

Cafés are little theaters of status. The laptop you pull out, the way you order, and yes—the items you pick from the menu—all send signals.

And whether people admit it or not, certain choices carry the unspoken assumption that you’re from a particular social bracket.

Here are seven of the biggest giveaways.

1) Oat milk lattes

Remember when soy milk was the “fancy” alternative? These days, oat milk has taken over as the premium choice.

It’s not just about taste or avoiding dairy. Oat milk signals that you’re tuned into wellness culture, sustainability, and food trends. And that carries weight socially.

I’ve lost count of the times I’ve seen someone order an oat milk latte, then open their MacBook and settle into a long morning of remote work.

Whether fair or not, the perception is clear: you’re probably educated, urban, and doing okay financially.

2) Cold brew coffee

Cold brew isn’t just iced coffee—it’s positioned as a craft product. It requires time, special equipment, and often comes at a higher price point.

Ordering one tells people you’re willing to pay more for something that feels elevated.

And because cold brew has been heavily marketed by third-wave coffee shops, it’s become shorthand for a certain lifestyle: design-forward, minimalist, probably well-traveled.

I once read in a behavioral economics book that people don’t just buy coffee—they buy identity. Cold brew is a perfect example of that.

3) Avocado toast

Yes, the infamous avocado toast. It’s been joked about endlessly, but the stereotype exists for a reason.

Avocado toast became the symbol of millennial spending habits precisely because it blended “simple” ingredients with a café price tag that felt anything but simple.

And yet—it’s still a go-to order for those who want to project taste, health-consciousness, and a willingness to spend on lifestyle luxuries.

When someone orders it, the assumption isn’t just that they’re hungry. It’s that they’re comfortably middle class (or higher) and see brunch as an identity statement.

4) Matcha lattes

Matcha carries a certain aura. It’s exotic to many Americans, yet deeply traditional in Japan. And in the café scene, it’s marketed as the healthier, trendier cousin of coffee.

Order a matcha latte and people assume you’re in the know about antioxidants, adaptogens, and all the wellness buzzwords floating around Instagram. It’s not just a drink—it’s a lifestyle signal.

I had a friend who joked that matcha is like wearing yoga pants for your insides. Not wrong.

5) Artisan pastries

Not all pastries are created equal.

A plain bagel or a supermarket muffin doesn’t carry the same weight as a croissant made with cultured butter or a kouign-amann with caramelized layers.

When you order the latter, you’re broadcasting taste. It says you don’t just want something sweet—you want craftsmanship.

And because these items often come at a premium, they also hint at disposable income. Someone who orders a $6 laminated pastry over a $2 donut is, whether consciously or not, signaling class.

6) Kombucha

Kombucha at a café counter almost feels like a wink. It’s not mainstream soda, it’s not juice, it’s fermented tea with probiotics.

Choosing it places you in the category of people who care about gut health and alternative wellness.

And because kombucha is still relatively niche in many places, it carries an insider vibe.

I once overheard a barista say, “We don’t even need to upsell kombucha—it sells itself to a certain type of customer.”

That “type” is usually assumed to be an upper-middle-class and health-oriented individual.

7) Single-origin pour-over

Finally, the pour-over. It’s arguably the most telling of all café orders.

A pour-over isn’t just about caffeine—it’s about ritual.

It takes longer, costs more, and comes with tasting notes that sound like they belong on a wine list. “Hints of blackberry, jasmine, and cocoa.”

Ordering one signals discernment. It says you care about where your coffee comes from, how it’s prepared, and that you’re willing to pay extra for an elevated experience.

But more than that, it tells others you’re part of the third-wave coffee tribe—people who see coffee as culture, not just fuel.

Final thoughts

Do these orders actually mean you’re upper-middle-class? Of course not. Anyone can buy an oat milk latte or a croissant.

But social perception is powerful. In café culture, the little details of what you order send signals, whether you intend them to or not.

And those signals get read as markers of taste, education, and, yes, class.

So the next time you’re at a café, look around. Notice what people order and what you automatically assume about them.

Chances are, you’ll realize how much we all participate in this quiet theater of status—one latte at a time.