This problem seems to unique to you. What exact words did you use? I only drink black coffee, and in the decades I've ordered it from myriad coffeeshops, there has been a single time that I received a coffee with cream on it - and that was because I ordered a "regular" at Café Du Monde, which the menu clearly states is cafe au lait, so I quickly learned that it was entirely my own fault for not paying attention and not using amply descriptive words to communicate my desires.