What is a Double Double Coffee?

If you ever mention coffee in Canada or any variation of a morning coffee to a Canadian, you’ll inevitably hear them bring up the double double. They’ll repeat it like a bunch of seagulls.

But what the heck is it and why’s it such a big deal?

Well it’s nothing magical sadly, it’s just a cup of coffee with 2 creams and 2 sugars. Sorry to burst your bubble, most Canadian memes are rather ordinary but lovable.

The Tim Hortons double double

The double double comes from Tim Hortons and is a popular order for many Canadians. If you’ve ever had to do a coffee run for co-workers, you’d know that it’s the most common way people drink their coffees.

Because it’s such a ubiquitous term in Canada, not many know that the double double is a term trademarked by Tim Hortons. Don’t worry, it’s like Kleenex or Band-Aid, they won’t sue you for saying it unless you’re selling coffee in Canada.

An iconic Canadian order

Invented before most of us were around, the Tim Hortons double double has been a thing since before Tim Horton’s was big, all the way in the 70s. So most of us, have grown up learning about the double double as we started drinking coffee.

The double double is such an entrenched part of Canadian symbolism at this point that the Canadian Oxford Dictionary added the term “double-double” to its lexicon in 2004.

On a side note, French Canadians do not colloquially use that term but they will recognize what you mean if you order one.

Now you know

So, is this a new order for you or have you been ordering double doubles this whole time without knowing it?

Either way, now you know. You’re now part of the “secret club” of over 40 million members. 😉 Order one next time you’re at Timmies and let us know if you’re one of us.

FAQ