23. Coffee overload

I was sat in a coffee shop when I overheard the barista say to a customer ‘Take your time, there are about 20,000 different drinks available’.

Sounded like a mathematical challenge to me.

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If the menu below was real, how many different drinks could made?

How many would be drinkable?

Size: S, M, L

Drink: Filter, Americano, Cappucinno, Machiatto, Latte, Espresso, Hot chocolate.

Coffee type: Decaf or caffeinated

Flavour: Vanilla, Mint, Hazelnut, Ginger, Caramel, None

Milk: None, whole, skimmed, soya

Hint: Be methodical, work out the hot chocolate options first.

Solution
Hot choc
Size *Flavour*Milk = 3*6*4 = 72

Coffee
Size*Drink*Type*Flavour*Milk =
3*6*2*6*4 = 864

Total number of drinks
864 + 72 = 936

This doesn’t consider extra shots of coffee or syrup. Imagine how many variations there are in a big coffee shop!

Me … I’ll have a black filter, no milk, no sugar.

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