What's in your coffee?

On Coffee, Culture, and Necessary Curiosity

Last week I went through the Starbucks drive-through for breakfast and there was a long line, but I’d been about one other time in six months so I thought perhaps this was new traffic thanks to the ever-present pandemic altering reality. When I got to the speaker, a very cheerful-sounding barista greeted me and promptly informed me that their espresso machines were down while rattling off categories of drinks that meant I couldn’t get. 

“No worries,” I said, “I just wanted a black coffee and a breakfast sandwich anyway.” 

When I got to the window, I complimented her on remaining so cheerful despite having to tell a long line of people they couldn’t have what they want today. She said people hadn’t been mean for the most part, but also that “People don’t know what’s in their drinks so they ask for something else, and I have to be all, no, that has espresso in it too.”

She handed me my coffee and sandwich and I drove away thinking about Starbucks regulars that don’t know what was in their …