Coffee Talk

I walked into my local Starbucks a few days ago.

As I do frequently.

Way too frequently.

Thankfully I have about 25 Starbucks to choose from.

Within 10 feet of where I live.

So I have managed to avoid “The Norm Treatment.”

You know, I walk in.

The barista yells “Norrrrrrrrrrrrm”.

And a cup of my favorite beverage comes flying at me without putting in an order.

Sure, it would be nice to walk in and have them make my drink without having to ask.

But that would feel like an addiction.

I think denial is a much healthier way to live.

I usually get the same exact drink.

Large  (no made up words like “Venti” for me).

Sugar-Free Vanilla (I gotta watch my figure).

Americano.

With half hot water.

And half steamed soy.

I usually like it in the PM.

Instead of the AM.

And if it’s late enough in the day, I get it half-caff.

Why not, it’s my drink.

This concoction usually rings up at around four bucks.

I say usually because the price is different almost every time I order.

Its as inconsistent as airport security.

Sometimes they make you take off your belt.

Sometimes they don’t.

I don’t get it.

Well at Starbucks, sometimes they charge for the flavor.

Sometimes they don’t.

Sometimes they charge for the soy.

Sometimes they don’t.

Or maybe, just maybe, my order is so confusing I have figured out a way to beat the man.

One thing I do love about Starbucks is their policy of having to read your drink order out loud.

So everyone can hear it.

Usually it goes a little something like this....

We have a ..... Venti ... Soy Americano... um.. Misto ... with half...

Giggle giggle giggle.

At which point I say, is there Sugar-Free Vanilla in there?

They really love me.

Well thanks to my frequent drinker status at Starbucks, they sent me a gold card.

That gives me big time perks.

No pun intended.

I get free flavor.

And free soy.

And after every 15 orders, they send me a coupon for a free drink.

Anything I want.

My high is a $7 latte.  For free.

I don’t even remember drinking it.

But I sure did love ordering it.

I think my gold card says that I have reached Average Addiction Status.

They call me an ASS for short.

But either way, all of my discounts make quite the difference,.

Dropping my daily habit to about three bucks a day.

Cheaper than meth, right?

I try not to go to the same Starbucks two days in a row.

For good reason.

I visited the drive-thru a couple of days ago and made my order.

To which the barista responded, “hey, I remember you.”

Ouch.

I was humiliated.

No less than four billion people go to that Starbucks every day.

And she remembered ME.

I think it’s time for a little detox.

Or maybe a little more rotation in my venues.

The nice thing about where I live is that if you are looking for a Starbucks, you have a lot of choices.

If you don’t want to wait in line at the real Starbucks.

You can walk 100 yards to the grocery store.

And get your coffee at the mini-Starbucks.

I’ve done that more than from time-to-time.

A few days ago I was cruising through my old neighborhood when I stopped by my old grocery store.

While I was waiting in line to order, I noticed a picture of the barista that usually works there.

As I took a closer look at the picture, I noticed there were dates next to her name.

As in birth date.

And death date.

It turns out she was diagnosed with cancer a few months back.

And a few months later, she was gone.

Just like that.

My mouth literally fell open.

I couldn’t believe it.

It’s not like we were close.

She might’ve known my drink.

But she certainly didn’t know my name.

Turns out she was 62.

Never would’ve guessed that.

I found out she was working a full shift at Starbucks.

And then a full shift at the department store.

Across the street.

Every day.

Just to make ends meet.

I didn’t know that either.

I just knew her as the person who made my drink.