John Cena ordered off-menu to get go-to coffee at Mass. cafe. Here’s what it’s like

John Cena’s order at a Springfield coffee shop was on brand for the WWE legend. You can’t see it on the menu.

But you can still get it, and it’s an excellent coffee-forward espresso drink.

Last week, the Massachusetts native surprised the staff at Socialite Coffee Bar in Springfield when he stopped by the cafe hours ahead of his appearance on Monday Night Raw at the Mass Mutual Center.

His order: a flat white. Well, actually two flat whites. The coffee shop wrote on social media that he hung out for an hour and ordered a second one.

Cena, a self-described coffee aficionado, has said in interviews that a flat white is his go-to coffee order. It’s similar to a latte, but with a stronger ratio of coffee to steamed milk.

So, how was Cena’s go-to coffee order during his Western Mass. pit stop? I swung by Socialite to find out.

John Cena’s flat white at Socialite Coffee Bar

When I arrived at Socliate Coffee Bar on Allen Street in Springfield, I was surprised to see that “flat white” was not among the options on the menu for hot coffee drinks.

Latte? Check. Cappuccino? Present. Cortado? Yup. Flat white? Absent.

It turns out that Cena went off-menu to get his standard order. Fortunately, the staff was happy to make one.

I’ve never personally made a flat white. But the sense I get is that it’s similar enough to a latte that any decent coffee shot can adjust. I imagine it’s like modifying a fancy cocktail order.

If this is not a good comparison, coffee nerds should not hesitate to reach out and let me know about it. Send all angry emails to nsimmons@masslive.com.

What does it taste like?

This drink rules. It’s a latte for people who actually like coffee. It even comes with the little milk-foam art.

It’s a velvety espresso that tinkers with the milk configurations. You know how you can adjust the treble and bass on a stereo? This turns down the milky treble and jacks up the coffee bass.

With the new caffeinated settings, you can actually taste some of the subtle nuances of the quality coffee coming through.

You get the bitterness of the road. But you also get the fruitier, lighter notes. It’s a bit acidic and bright, which is on brand for a lighter roast coffee. But it’s not as astringent as taking it straight.

As someone who normally takes their coffee black, I adored this drink. It felt like I was still drinking coffee — and not a cup of steamed milk that was actively trying to hide the espresso from me.

So what was Cena, a native of West Newbury, doing visiting a cafe in Springfield?

Cena, who played football at Springfield College, was in town for a Western Mass. homecoming. While he’s mostly known as a Hollywood star these days, the 48-year-old is back in WWE for his retirement tour.

On Sept. 16, Cena was in Springfield to open up Monday Night Raw at the Mass Mutual Center. Cena gave a heartfelt salute to Springfield, noting that many old friends and teammates were in attendance.

As for Socialite, the cafe got plenty of buzz in the wake of Cena’s visit. An employee said that the day after the visit, the coffee spot saw a huge influx of customers coming in to try Cena’s drink order — even if they didn’t actually know what it was.

A staffer told me that she heard multiple customers try to order an iced flat white. Unfortunately, that’s not really a thing they do.

As of this week, the flat white is still absent from the regular menu. But it’s possible a John Cena special could eventually make its way onto the board, a staffer said.