And then the nut was born from the coffee bean...

To the Sojourners Abroad:

Is there life before coffee? There is NO life before coffee. There is life AFTER coffee !!

Sometimes I think this quote fits appropriately with the "regulars" that come into Starbucks. You know, the ones where the Barista sees them walking through the door so we know exactly what they are getting and it better be made this exact way otherwise they will freak and die. Oh, and I'm not joking about the freaking and dying.

I've been at Starbucks going on my third week now. Its enough time to start associating the faces to your "regulars" and start memorizing their orders. It's also enough time to figure out which ones are complete nuts, addicted and just mesmerized at the Starbucks taste. Lets start with the nuts: These are the people who come in thinking they know exactly what they are talking about. They assume I can override computer transactions and make things cheaper with a snap of my finger. These are the people who ask if the shift lead is going to make their drink or if I am going to make it. They are the kind of people who order Macchiatos and what they REALLY want is a cup filled with foam and espresso poured right over it. These nuts literally pull out their hair (I'm not joking) and yell at the Barista if something is not to their liking.

Who knew coffee could be such a life or death matter? I know I didn't.
The addicts can be worse than the nuts sometimes. They can taste every granulated sugar you drop into that drink. They know their Americanos verses their Drips. They know when they want a Black eye or a Red Eye. The addicts know every letter that should go on that cup and can taste the difference between every bold blend (flavored coffee) in the store. If they applied for the job they would be the Albert Einsteins of coffee. FYI don't even think about steaming their milk the "wrong" way. When they say no foam it means don't even think about putting a bubble in that drink. These people take advantage of refills (which most people don't know about amazingly) and have a Starbucks gold card. They are the everydayers that jump around from store to store. Addicted they are and they could never give up their coffee.

The people who are mesmerized by the taste of Starbucks tend to come up to the counter asking you what is in every drink and stand for 10 minutes deciding what to order. To be honest...I don't mind. I enjoy explaining flavors and different drink options. I enjoy explaining what the word "curdle" means to people. They are the people who come in saying "I want something chocolaty with no espresso and whip cream. You pick". They know they enjoy a Starbucks every now and then but their taste buds have not quite adjusted to the taste of coffee unlike the addict who can tell you what part of the acidic taste goes to in your mouth. I love these people because they make me laugh and you have to explore what their tastes are. Its people like this I enjoy because a cup of coffee should always make you smile.

I thoroughly enjoy my job. I laugh at all three kinds of these people. I noticed that I am kind of all three but not nearly as much of a nut. I enjoy having people tell me that I add the right kind of foam or that it is the best "color" foam they have seen. People who pick up their cappuccinos and grin because the weight is exactly as it should be is exciting for a new Barista to see. Some people really get into the mood of the Baristas and enjoy laughing with them. I've seen little kids come in to order their creme based fraps. and WWII veterans come in with their sweethearts sharing their timeless story with us. Its exciting...but the nuts tend to be overwhelming...welcome to Starbucks.

Love,
Corrine Pilar