Category: Coffee Questions

But what about this place?

  • Let this be the next segment of “But what about this place?”
  • Let this be an addendum to my previous statement “Bring the suggestions, I will always go!”

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I recently stumbled across the following article: Coffee Shop with Fish Swimming Right at the Foot in Saigon.

I did some digging and read more on this coffee shop and the concept. I have come to the conclusion that I just can’t do this.

I feel like I’m adventurous, but I don’t think I’m that adventurous.

I can’t sit in ankle deep water, in an artificial tank, with fish just swimming by my feet as I try to drink my coffee. I would be too jumpy and end up spilling my coffee! And honestly, it just sounds gross. I don’t want the smell of coffee disrupted by the smell of feet, or fish.

Maybe I am overthinking it, but this is one place I don’t find appealing, one place I cannot say I will put on my list of places to try–but maybe you could try it and let me know how it goes? 😬

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Coffee Deliveries . . . of the future . . .

I recently stumbled upon the following: Coffee Drone Could Predict When You Need Caffeine–and Deliver It.

This delivery system is in new technological terrain. It would not just have a drone, instead of a physical person, delivering your coffee, it would have a smart system connected to you to be in tune with your exact caffeinated needs. Nifty.

Now, I’m a bit of a late-adopter when it comes to technology.

I didn’t get a Kindle account or a read a book on a device until about 3 years ago. I didn’t listen to audible until this year. I like older model cell phones–the kind that still fit into my pocket and have been paid off for years. So, the idea of an app connected to my body monitoring my caffeine routines doesn’t sound like fun. I won’t even wear a FitBit for my steps, heartbeat, or sleep patterns–I don’t want all this information documented or shared with me, my brain is full enough.

Furthermore, I still kinda like people. Kinda.

I still want some human interaction.

Yes, I truly believe we are robbing ourselves, slowly, of the remaining opportunities to practice conversation and basic human decency with strangers. It bothers me. So a drone? Not for me. I either want to order my coffee and speak with the barista, or thank the delivery person.

This is not for me, but maybe it’s for you. What do you think?

Would you want a coffee drone delivery system in your life?

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How long should I stay?

Quite a number of years ago, before I was a passionate coffee drinker, I read this article in the New York Times: “How Long is it Okay to Linger in a Cafe or Restaurant?”

The question and commentary stuck with me for some time, and obviously still resonates with me.

Two years ago I really started making the local coffee shop my work space and personal space. I started drinking coffee to relax my mind and take a break from life. I started taking online classes and made the coffee shop my place to study, write, and learn. Throughout this development, I monitored my time, not out of this article’s inspiration per se, but out of a genuine feeling that a couple of hours was enough time for me.

Recently, as I have started researching and doing more business in coffee shops, I have still paid attention to the length of my stay, but now out of appreciation–I want to make sure that I am a fair and polite customer.

In this pursuit, I wanted to determine what exactly “fair” and “polite” looked like–especially given that I started to take note of others’ behavior.

“7 Rules for Coffee Shop Etiquette” and “How to Work on Your Laptop Without Being a Jerk” summed it well.

Basically, I have followed a standard that is appropriate and amenable. I have been on the right track, my instincts were on point.

How long should I stay?

  • Well, as long as I purchased something reflective of my time there–one hour means less spending expected, four hours means more purchasing expected–I am good.

How long should I stay?

  • Well, if I ‘ve been parked in my seat for some time and it’s empty, I am welcome to keep sipping my cup or sitting next to my empty cup for a little bit longer. If my seat is needed and I do not plan to purchase anything else, I should relinquish my seat, or buy something else, out of courtesy to the business and other customers.

How long should I stay?

  • Well, allow me to defer to my own high expectations. If I were a business owner, how long would I expect a person that bought a $5 coffee to stay?

This concept, this rule of thumb, this etiquette lesson, is my own guiding outline. There are no hard and fast rules, but generally speaking a coffee shop is a business, it’s not your home and it’s not your office, so make sure to treat it with respect and patron appropriately.

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If there are other considerations or input to this etiquette question and lesson, please feel free to comment–often times there are multiple ways of answering behavioral questions.

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What is coffee?

My fourth attempt to answer “What is coffee?”

Coffee is  . . .

  • my boyfriend (mug)
  • a drug  . . . a warm delicious drug (meme)
  • an essential part of my ‘responsible’ grown-up disguise (meme)
  • all you need (me . . . and a whole lot of other people)
  • liquid patience (meme)
  • my motivation (me . . . and a whole lot of other people)
  • a pleasure (me . . . and a whole lot of other people)
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Favorite pairings

What are my favorite things to pair with coffee?

  • At home:
    • chocolate chip cookies–homemade (both my mom and I bake regularly), or store-bought chocolate chip cookies from Sprouts
    • peanut butter cookies–homemade only
    • pumpkin bread–made from Trader Joe’s mix
  • At Starbucks: lemon loaf
  • At Mothership: croissant or pumpkin pop-tart (when in season)
  • At Einstein Bros. Bagel: a chocolate chip bagel, toasted, with nothing on it
  • At Bingo: maple bar donut

Those are the first items, and regular venues of coffee, in my life, over the past couple of years, that pop into mind.

What about you? What’s your favorite thing to pair with coffee?

3 Third
Coffee and a Pumpkin Pop-Tart at Mothership in Las Vegas, Nevada
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And what will you have today?

There are a lot of coffee drinks out there . . . when you order you could very easily ask for a/an:

  • espresso
  • doppio
  • affogato
  • cortado
  • ristretto
  • cold brew
  • nitro brew
  • americano
  • latte
  • cappuccino
  • mocha

. . . and that’s only the beginning, or the first ones that pop into my head.

Props to baristas–not only can you explain each of these quickly and accurately, you can make them. Props to coffee–you’re so versatile! And props to all you coffee drinkers–you keep coming up with different ways to enjoy coffee. 😊

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Keurig v. Coffee Pot?

This is a work-related question:

Which is better for the workplace: the Keurig or the coffee pot?

Benefits of the Keurig:

  • Individual taste preferences more readily available for all
  • Everyone can bring their K-cups and use their own K-cups
  • No clean-up required
  • Depending on the Keurig, there may be options for various serving sizes

Benefits of the coffee pot:

  • More coffee available at one time
  • More people know how to use it–it amazes me how many people need constant direction on a Keurig
  • Arguably less wasteful–I have read and heard that the K-pods are considered wasteful due to their single-use nature
  • Arguably cheaper–think the cost of a big tin of coffee v. a pack of K-pods

This is a simple question that led to an extended discussion and no definitive answer–so I ask, which is better for the workplace: Keurig or traditional coffee pot?

 

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What is coffee?

My third attempt to answer “What is coffee?”

Coffee is . . .

  • an acceptable drink–any time of the day (me)
  • my valentine (me . . . and a whole lot of other people)
  • essential (me . . . and a whole of other people)
  • my blood type (meme/mugs)
  • the most important meal of the day (meme)
  • the gasoline of life (meme/mugs)

 

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But what about this place?

Let’s be clear:

There are a plethora of options for coffee. Everywhere. Anywhere. There is no shortage of options.

There is great coffee being served in many of these places. Forget the places with bad coffee, or mediocre coffee. I do not care about those places. I need not comment on where they are or who they are–they/we know who they are.

Now, the places serving great coffee. The coffee may taste great, but it may be served with a bad attitude.

I have worked in public relations as a tour guide. I have worked in retail. I have worked as an educator. Relationships are everything. Attitude is everything. Delivery is everything.

A few people have suggested places and I have actually been to some of these locations. Recently someone said what about _____, they have great coffee. I responded in the affirmative, they do have great coffee, but each time I have gone to that place the servers have been rude. Interestingly, this same person responded with: I know! This led to a long conversation on the importance of service.

I try my hardest not to be negative. I try my damndest to consider alternatives. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, and a second chance.

Here, on Cups and Comments, I only want to talk about the great places–the great places all-around. We all have bad days, but if I come back, if I come back multiple times because the coffee is indeed good, and I’m still treated poorly, or spoken down to, or brushed aside, I will not put you here. People need to feel safe and happy while they drink coffee, otherwise it’s way too bitter and nobody likes that.

So what about _____ or _____ or _____? But what about _____? Well I’ll try it; in fact, I’ll want to try it a few times if I have the opportunity. But it has to be a great experience all-around, an overall wonderful place to savor coffee, in order to make it on this forum.

Bring the suggestions, I will always go! But know that I take this seriously–so just because I try it, does not mean I will recommend it. All recommendations come from the heart, from a great coffee experience, from an outstanding overall experience, always.

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When should I call the cops?

So, with the advent of so many news stories featuring people calling the cops, I have to share when I have had the opportunity, unbeknownst to me, to call the cops.

  • Once I was at a coffee shop and someone who appeared homeless sat next to me. So I smiled and nodded. They had their coffee and I had mine–no desire to call the cops.
  • Once two teenagers walked into the coffee shop and put their stuff down to study. They got two free waters and proceeded to study. They studied, I drank my coffee. I did not call the cops.
  • Once five teenagers walked into a different coffee shop. Two sat on top of each other on the couch, one sat on another couch to charge their phone, two others sat on chairs. The five of them spoke amongst themselves. They sat in the back, bought and got nothing. I sipped my coffee. I spoke with one teenager at one point. I made a joke, we laughed. I went back to my coffee. I did not call the cops.
  • Once there were two middle schoolers, before school, walking to school, stopped inside the coffee shop and picked up their mobile order. They were not accompanied by an adult. They sat down and spoke amongst themselves and were most likely going to be late to school. At the time, I worked for the local school district and yet I did not call city police or school police.
  • Once I sat down and was in a frantic state to get something done, something I realized on the drive to the coffee shop. I worked for a full 15-20 minutes before purchasing anything. I did not call the cops on myself, nor did anyone call the cops on me.

Call me insulated. Call me relaxed. Call me oblivious. Call me what you want. I have yet to feel the urge or the inclination to the call the cops. I have not seen the need.

When people are quiet, minding their own business, enjoying themselves, using a space appropriately (yes, sitting down and just working or charging your phone is appropriate), I just see no reason to call the cops.

Would I approve of someone asking any of these patrons to buy something? Yes. It is a business. Here’s another angle though–do I know anything about these people?

What if these teenagers are someone’s kids that work at these places? What if these teenagers have only this place that is safe in their lives? What if this person is not actually homeless? What if this person that is homeless, and bought their drink, just needs 5 minutes of peace before dealing with a life that I cannot fathom as anything but exceptionally difficult. What if my smile is the only smile these people get?

I do not pretend to know everything that has happened in publicized events. Nevertheless, I do know that due to publicity I have taken greater note of my surroundings and wondered how we have come to the point where we seem to be calling the cops first, or calling the cops at all . . . there are so many other things, more productive things, we could do . . . 

 

 

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