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To order at Tim Hortons, say the size first, then the drink, then your cream and sugar as numbers, such as "a medium double-double." Order food before drinks so your coffee doesn't go cold. Scan your Tims Rewards code before you pay. Use the app or go inside for custom or large orders.
How Do You Order at Tim Hortons, Step by Step?
You order at Tim Hortons the same way at the counter or the drive-thru: food first, then drinks, each drink as size, name and add-ins. Following that order matches how the crew builds it.
- Pick the right channel. Use the drive-thru for a quick order of a few items. Go inside for a big or complicated order, or order ahead in the Tim Hortons app.
- Order food first. A Tim Hortons employee told Narcity that crews start making each item as soon as you say it. If you order coffee before a breakfast sandwich, the coffee sits on the counter while the sandwich cooks.
- Order espresso drinks before brewed coffee. Lattes and other espresso drinks take longer than brewed coffee, so mentioning them first means everything is ready at the same time.
- Say size, drink, then add-ins. "Large Original Blend, two milk, one sugar" is easier to hear than a long description. Not sure what to get? Start with the best Tim Hortons drinks.
- Scan your Tims Rewards code before paying. That way your points are added, and you can use a reward if you've chosen one.
- Pay and check your order before you drive away or leave the counter.
What Do Tim Hortons Coffee Orders Mean?
Tim Hortons coffee orders use a number shorthand: the first number is cream and the second is sugar. A "double-double" means two creams and two sugars, and it is the most-ordered coffee in Canada.
The Dictionary of Canadianisms on Historical Principles traces "double-double" to 1985, and it was added to the Oxford Canadian Dictionary in 2004. Tim Hortons' 2020 sales data put the Double-Double first nationally, the "regular" second and black coffee third. The cream and sugar amounts grow with the cup size, so a small and an extra large double-double taste about the same.
| What you say | What you get | Medium calories |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Brewed coffee, nothing added | 4 |
| Regular | One cream, one sugar | 100 |
| Double-double | Two creams, two sugars | 200 |
| Triple-triple | Three creams, three sugars | — |
| Four-by-four | Four creams, four sugars (rarely ordered) | — |
| "Deux-deux" | Double-double in French (useful in Quebec) | 200 |
| A "99" | Nine creams, nine sugars (a secret-menu joke order) | — |
Calories are from Tim Hortons' August 2025 Canadian nutrition guide. Triple-triple and four-by-four aren't listed in the guide, so we haven't estimated them.
What Sizes Does Tim Hortons Coffee Come In?
Tim Hortons brewed coffee comes in four sizes in Canada: small (10 oz), medium (14 oz), large (20 oz) and extra large (24 oz). Espresso and iced drinks stop at large. The extra large is the best value by volume, at 9.8¢ per ounce compared with 15.9¢ for a small. Our coffee menu lists every size and price.
How Do You Customize a Tim Hortons Drink?
You customize a Tim Hortons drink by naming only what you want added, not what to leave out. The same Tim Hortons employee told Narcity: "We don't hear the 'no,' we hear 'sugar.'" At a noisy drive-thru, "no sugar" can easily become "sugar."
Cream, Milk and Dairy-Free Options
Tim Hortons offers cream, milk and dairy-free options. In Canada, the dairy-free choices are Chobani oat milk, Silk soy milk and Silk almond milk. You can add them to hot and iced drinks, but some drinks can't be made dairy-free. The Coffee Mocha, French Vanilla and Hot Chocolate are made from pre-made mixes, so changing the milk doesn't remove the dairy. Choose a brewed coffee, Americano or latte instead.
Sugar, Sweetener and Flavour Shots
Sugar is counted the same way as cream: "one," "two," and so on, scaled to the cup size. A medium double-double has 21 g of sugar. Flavour syrups add about 25 to 30 calories per pump, so a flavoured latte or seasonal drink always has more calories than the plain version. If you want less sweetness, ask for fewer pumps rather than a different drink.
Custom Drinks and "Secret Menu" Hacks
Order a custom drink by listing its parts, not by its nickname from social media. Many crew members won't know what a TikTok name means. Say "a medium White Hot Chocolate with a shot of espresso," not "a Coffee Crisp." Our secret menu guide lists the popular combinations and what to say for each.
How Do You Order in the Tim Hortons App?
You order in the Tim Hortons app by choosing a restaurant, building your order and paying before you arrive. According to Tim Hortons' help centre, the steps are:
- Open the app and tap the Order tile.
- Select your restaurant.
- Open the menu categories and choose your items.
- Customize each item.
- Review your order and check out.
You then pick it up in-store, at the drive-thru or curbside, depending on the location. Some stores also deliver through the app. Many stores have a "Mobile Pickup" area at the counter. The app is also where you set your cream, sugar and espresso shots without having to say them out loud. Toppings and tea bags usually still need to be requested in person. For everything else the app does, see our Tim Hortons app guide.
How Do Tims Rewards Work When You Order?
Tims Rewards gives you 10 points for every dollar you spend, and you trade points for free items starting at 300 points. Points are added automatically on app orders. At the counter or drive-thru, you have to scan your Tims Rewards code.
To use a reward, select a Reward Level in the app and add an eligible item to your order. For example, if you've selected the 400-point level, have at least 400 points and add a brewed coffee, Tim Hortons deducts 400 points and the coffee is free. Points expire 12 months after the month you earned them, which the Narcity employee said catches regulars out.
Which Tims Rewards Reward Is Worth the Most?
The best-value Tims Rewards are a hash brown or a classic donut at 300 points, worth about 0.7¢ a point. The worst value is a 10-pack of Timbits at 800 points or a small coffee at 400, both worth 0.40¢ a point. We divided each item's listed price by its point cost to show how much each point is worth.
| Reward level | Example item | Listed price | Value per point |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | Hash Brown | $2.19 | 0.73¢ |
| 300 | Classic donut | $2.09 | 0.70¢ |
| 300 | Cookie (Chocolate Chunk) | $1.69 | 0.56¢ |
| 400 | Extra large brewed coffee | $2.35 | 0.59¢ |
| 400 | Small brewed coffee | $1.59 | 0.40¢ |
| 600 | French Vanilla | $3.59 | 0.60¢ |
| 600 | Original Iced Coffee | $2.89 | 0.48¢ |
| 800 | Original Iced Capp | $4.29 | 0.54¢ |
| 800 | 10 Timbits | $3.19 | 0.40¢ |
| 1,100 | Bacon Breakfast Sandwich | $4.49 | 0.41¢ |
| 1,300 | Farmer's Breakfast Wrap | $5.59 | 0.43¢ |
| 1,800 | Loaded Bowl | $9.99 | 0.56¢ |
Prices are this site's Canadian reference figures, checked on September 26, 2026, and vary by location. Point levels are from the 2026 Tims Rewards chart.
In practice, pick the most expensive item in a reward level. The 400-point level lists brewed coffee without a size, so check in the app whether your store applies it to an extra large before redeeming it on a small. At 800 points, an Iced Capp is a better use of points than 10 Timbits.
How Do You Order Faster at the Tim Hortons Drive-Thru?
You order faster at the drive-thru by having your order, payment and rewards code ready before you reach the speaker. These tips come from a Tim Hortons employee interviewed by Narcity, plus our own ordering advice:
- Go inside for big orders. A long order at the speaker holds up every car behind you. At the counter, the crew can start your order sooner.
- Have your cards ready. Get your payment card and Tims Rewards code out before you reach the window. If you pay with a Tims Card, check its balance first.
- Unplug your phone from the car charger. A phone that is still plugged in is hard for staff to scan.
- Screenshot your Tims Rewards barcode. The app needs a connection to load your code, and a screenshot still scans when you have no signal.
- Keep custom drinks simple. Tea bags and toppings slow the line down. If your drink needs them, order at the counter or set it up in the app.
How Do You Order Timbits and Coffee for a Group?
For a group, order Timbits by the box and coffee as a Take Twelve, not as single items. Timbits come in boxes of 10, 20 and 50, and a mixed box lets you choose the flavours. A Take Twelve is a 12-cup box of brewed coffee, listed at $19.99 before tax.
Boxes are cheaper per item. A box of 6 donuts costs $9.39, compared with $12.54 for six singles. For orders this size, the counter or the app is faster than the drive-thru. The Timbits menu and donut menu list current box prices. Not sure which donuts to choose? See the best Tim Hortons donuts, ranked.
How Do You Order at Tim Hortons Outside English Canada?
In Quebec and other French-speaking areas, say "deux-deux" for a double-double. Not every crew member will recognize "double-double." Outside Canada, the term is listed as a menu item in the Philippines and Thailand, according to Food Republic, but it doesn't appear on American or British menus. In the US, the safest order is to say "two creams, two sugars." Our Tim Hortons in the US guide covers how the American menu differs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you order a coffee at Tim Hortons?
Say the size, the coffee and your cream and sugar as numbers, for example "a medium double-double" or "a large black." If you want milk or a dairy-free option instead of cream, say it by name, such as "medium, two oat milk, one sugar."
What does "regular" mean at Tim Hortons?
A "regular" at Tim Hortons means one cream and one sugar. It was the second-most-ordered coffee in Canada in Tim Hortons' 2020 sales data, after the double-double. A medium regular has 100 calories.
What is a triple-triple at Tim Hortons?
A triple-triple is a coffee with three creams and three sugars. It's a step up from a double-double. It isn't in Tim Hortons' published nutrition guide, so the exact calories aren't listed.
Should you order food or drinks first at Tim Hortons?
Order food first. Crews start making each item as soon as you say it, so ordering coffee first leaves it cooling while your food cooks. Order espresso drinks before brewed coffee for the same reason.
Can you order ahead at Tim Hortons?
Yes, you can order ahead in the Tim Hortons app. Choose your restaurant, build and pay for your order, then pick it up in-store, at the drive-thru or curbside, depending on the location.
Do Tims Rewards points expire?
Yes, Tims Rewards points expire 12 months after the month you earned them. Check your balance in the app and use points before they expire, especially if you only visit occasionally.
How many points do you need for a free coffee at Tim Hortons?
A free brewed coffee or tea costs 400 Tims Rewards points. Select the 400-point Reward Level in the app, add a brewed coffee and the points are deducted when you check out. The reward level lists brewed coffee without a size, so check in the app whether an extra large qualifies at your store.
Can you get oat milk at Tim Hortons?
Yes, Tim Hortons in Canada offers Chobani oat milk, plus Silk soy milk and Silk almond milk. You can add them to brewed coffee, lattes and iced drinks. Pre-mixed drinks like the French Vanilla and Hot Chocolate still contain dairy.
How do you order a Tim Hortons secret menu drink?
Order a secret menu drink by naming its parts, not its nickname. Crew members aren't trained on social-media names, so describe the base drink and each change. Expect to pay extra for added espresso shots or syrups.
Is it faster to order inside or at the drive-thru at Tim Hortons?
For large or complicated orders, it's usually faster to go inside, because a long order at the drive-thru holds up every car behind you. For one or two simple drinks, the drive-thru or a mobile order is quicker.
What is the cheapest thing to order at Tim Hortons?
A small brewed coffee is one of the cheapest things on the menu, at $1.59 before tax. For a snack, a cookie costs about $1.69 and a classic donut costs $2.09. Prices vary by location and province.
This is an independent, unofficial guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Tim Hortons or Restaurant Brands International. Ordering tips draw on Narcity's interview with a Tim Hortons employee, Food Republic, the Dictionary of Canadianisms, Tim Hortons' help centre and 2020 sales release, and Milesopedia's 2026 Tims Rewards chart. Reward values are our own calculation from this site's reference prices and change when prices do. See Sources.