Jaffe

Coffee etiquette

You go into Starbucks, line up (queue) like everyone else, wait for your turn, and order your coffee of the day, mochafrapuccino, or whatever you're into. You get your drink and you're finished, right? Wrong. You forgot about the condiments counter. Although this counter is barely big enough for two people to stand side-by-side, it has everything: 3 types of milk (skim, whole, and half & half (which is half cream and half milk)), sugar and sugar substitutes (I've seen at least three substitutes: Splenda (sucralose), Sweet'N Low (saccharin), and Equal (aspartame)), powdered cinnamon, powdered vanilla, powdered chocolate... you get the idea. The problem with the condiments counter is that there really is no line (queue); some people (like me) just want to put a little milk in their coffee and move on. Others like to make their coffee taste a certain way, and are not satisfied (i.e., won't move) until it does. The typical method for modifying the flavor of a Starbucks drink seems to be:

1) Add a bit of this and a bit of that (should include at least one item that is powdered)
2) Stir, stir, stir
3) Taste
4) Pause to reflect
5) Repeat 1) - 4)

If the person is alone at the condiments counter, this would be acceptable. However, when there are a lot of people waiting to modify their drinks this behavio(u)r is extremely annoying. Therefore, I would like to propose the following 'Rules of Starbucks Condiment Table Etiquette':

1) Add items to your drink in a timely manner
2) Step to the side of the condiment table while you are tasting to allow others to add items to their drink
3) If you have to add more of an item, excuse yourself before reaching across or ask someone to pass you the item
4) Try to remember what you added (and how much you added) to your drink so that you can modify your drink more quickly the next time you visit

If we would all abide by these simple rules, the Starbucks experience would be better for everyone.

posted by Aron @ 9:00 PM