AH!

It's been nearly a month since I've posted anything. Wow, sorry! I haven't come up with anything delightfully amazing lately, so I think that I'll just give you a do and don't list of coffee house etiquette. This was taken from a former barista friend:


1. Please try your hardest to have a pleasant expression on your face when ordering, such as a smile. Or just don't outright grimace/glare at us. We know you haven't had your coffee yet, but you don't have to scare us as we get it ready for you.

2. Get off your cell phone when you are ordering. It is by far the rudest thing we encounter everyday. Even if you can't find it within your willpower to hang up, at least get it away from your ear until the order is complete. We don't want to talk to you friend on the phone, we want to talk to you, and get you something tasty to drink, but it can be very hard when you're engrossed in your conversation about that new rash in an uncomfortable place that you're talking very loudly about.

3. Don't be afraid to ask questions about certain drinks. We'd rather you ask before you order it, and then change your mind rather than ordering something that you bring back due to hating it because you didn't ask in the first place. We baristas tend to know random coffee trivia that we will gladly share with you. Also, it's fun for us to suggest drinks that we know are delish, though they may not be currently displayed.

4. Please, please do not walk into a shop and just start saying your order without first making sure that someone working is paying attention to you. It is very aggravating for me to be in the middle of a conversation with a fellow employee only to have someone talk over us with their drink order because they think we need to be interrupted. Just give us a second to wrap things up, and we will be happy to wait on you. We'll even smile.

5. Don't ask me how I am and then go right into telling me what drink you want. If you have the courtesy to ask, then have the courtesy to listen.

6. Tip your barista. Even if it's just random change (and a bit of lint) found in your pocket, it's better than nothing. Some of us have cats to feed.

7. If you make a mess at the creamer bar, clean up after yourself- if it's a big spill, let us know, do not leave without telling us. You're a wimp if you do that. Your mother doesn't work there, but we do. And we don't accept some things that your mother would. Coffee shops tend to provide napkins for the general well-being and cleanliness of the place. They're not just pretty decorations.

8. Get to know the names of your baristas, especially if you go to the same place everyday. Don't you think it's weird to not know something as simple as someone's name who you see everyday who's nice enough to give you warm, yummy coffee??!! We know all of you....at least by your drink name. For instance, at one coffee shop where I work there's vanilla chai guy, Dr. Decaf, Mr. extra large vanilla skim latte, etc. (Those names have not been changed for privacy.)

9. Please provide specifics about your drink as you're initially ordering. At the same coffee shop mentioned in the previous note, it's our policy (not a fun one, necessarily) to ask every single customer if they would like skim or 2% milk, and then if they would like whipped cream. Apparently some people like hearing us ask this over and over again, because some of our regulars will still just say "Mocha, please." Ok, well, what size? We can't just give you a cupless mocha. And now what kind of milk? Whipped cream? You order this the same way everyday, can't you just say "Small mocha, please, with skim and whip." THANK YOU!! I would kiss you for that, but I might get fired. And if you want something like ice in your hot tea, don't wait till I've carefully put the lid on and carried it to you at the register. Tell me as I'm pouring the water in, or hey, maybe when you order it!

10. Please know the difference between skim and 2%. Or know that they are two kinds of milk. Because we get a few people every week who, when we ask if they would like skim or 2%, say no. Or sometimes yes. Trust me, your latte will taste much better with milk.

11. Change up your drink order once in awhile. We'll get excited for you, and your taste buds will rejoice.

12. This one kind of goes with number 2- we ask for your undivided attention only for the amount of time that your order takes. If you come in with a friend and you're chatting it up, pause the conversation completely until you've ordered AND paid. I have the hardest time interjecting into conversations to ask for money, or clarifications on an order and end up feeling rude, when you should've just finished the interaction with me first! I want you to receive/give the right amount of money, and then get the right drink. I am a jealous barista. Jealous for your full attention for about a minute. You can do it!

13. Give us feedback. Even negative feedback. And don't automatically go over our heads and complain to our weary boss about a grievance with us. Please come to US, and then we can have a civilized conversation about it. Sometimes we haven't had our coffee for the day yet either, so we tend to not be perfect. (Not to imply that coffee makes one perfect. But it does add a glimmer to one's personality.)

14. I don't invent the prices. Please don't yell at me.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Steamer

Luckily for me, my coffee house is located in a building that is a little over a century old. It's gorgeous and big and there are so many interesting people coming in and out of our shop because of it. Anyway, there is a woman who works upstairs named Jan and she is probably our most regular customer. Jan is hard working, jovial and just a really decent human being. Every day she brings her clients (all children) downstairs to pick out a bakery treat and sometimes get a drink. One of her clients is easily one of the most precocious and hilarious children that I have ever met, and I have nicknamed her Tater Tot (don't ask...there's no story behind it). Anyway, it's one of the biggest highlights of my week to see Tater Tot and to hear her ridiculous stories and I usually spend a little bit of my Friday's trying to come up with a drink that I think she'll like. Her favorite thus far has been my Chocolate Covered Strawberry Steamer with extra whipped cream. Here's how to make it:

.Steam two shots of strawberry flavor and milk together (do it together because otherwise fruit flavors curdle when hot milk touches them)
.Add chocolate, but only half the amount you'd put into a hot chocolate.
.Stir
.Add whipped cream (a healthy dose if it's for your favorite little one)

Voila! The perfect treat for your favorite precocious child. :) Drink up!

ps...for you espresso lovers, don't be afraid to try this with espresso. i know you're thinking "ew...strawberry and coffee?! gross!" but really, it's not so bad. if you're really bothered, just add a hint of strawberry to your chocolate. :)

Tea?

Not only am I a huge fan of coffee, but I'm also a tea lover as well. Luckily, my shop has a vast array of teas for our customers (and me) to enjoy. Today's drink was an experiment in tea. Here's what I did:

I brewed two bags of peppermint/spearmint tea in about a quarter cup of water. I let it steep for about 3 minutes, then I pulled the bags out. While the tea was steeping, I dissolved some sugar and honey into a cup, then I poured the hot tea concentrate over the mixture. To this I added ice and more water and voila! A delicious glass of slightly sweetened mint iced tea. Try it...you'll love it.

S'more Mocha

Fact: I'm in love with mochas. I'll take them any way you wanna give them to me. Yesterday's drink was a S'more Mocha. It was frothy, hot and delicious. Here's what was in it:

Flavors: Chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and a tiny hint of orgeat.
Shots of espresso: 3


I drank this one with a little bit of skim milk because we were out of soy. Delicious!!!

Autumn Maple Latte

Drink of the day: Autumn Maple Latte

Flavors- Brown sugar cinnamon and maple
Shots of espresso- 3

*side note: I only drink soy milk unless I'm too broke to afford it.


This drink was so good. Immediately after I finished it, I looked into the empty cup and wanted more. The best part about it was that it wasn't so sweet that I couldn't taste the espresso. I tend to over-sweeten my drinks which is terrible because not only does it add unnecessary calories, but it takes away the rich flavor of the espresso. This drink could also work as a steamer for those of you who live a less caffeinated lifestyle. Drink up, me hearties!

Hiiiii

I'm Ana and this is the place where I will write all of my thoughts about working in a coffee house. It'll be real and sometimes raw. Happy reading! :)