And it comes with free refills

Actually, American chains like IHOP have coffee denial down to a science, the mug is just about as small as one could reasonably allow, and the ceramic is almost an inch thick. All because someone in middle management did some math in hopes of a promotion a few years down the road on how to save as much money as possible on coffee.

They need it. Americans don’t get vacation days.

I know this is a joke but if you ask for black coffee or unsweet tea, you will get what you are expecting in most cases. They may ask as a courtesy if you want sweeteners or creamers with that because many people wish to sweeten their drinks themselves as they may prefer artificial sweeteners or wish to control their dairy or sugar intake for dietary reasons.

When they reach for the 16oz paper cup after i order a cortado...

I always used to get "should we leave room at the top for cream or sugar?" It makes sense since at that spot the cream and sugar are off to the side to be added by the customer. And black coffee was used to differentiate from the various flavored or specialty jawns.

But it always made me giggle that the simplest order in coffee needed clarification.

Americans mostly drink Arábica beans. The only Robusta coffee out here is in Vietnamese style coffee filled with a ton of condensed milk.

TIL I've only ever been served "European" coffee here in North America.

Caramel macchiatos haven't been a hit the Old World, I take it.

What's interesting to me is just how popular massively sweet, milky tea has become in the USA. Never thought I'd see anything challenge coffee's dominance.

With mostly sugar in it

You should try sex and drugs.

Do you know something about Dr. Glaucomflecken that I don't? He seems to be a solid dude (from his vids on YouTube.) The 'X' stuff I get, but looking for clarification since you removed him as well.