Starbucks I love Starbucks, the whole experience First I have to deal with that line up. Depending on the location, time of day and all Your gonna find about 6 to 8 people in that line up. Then there’s this curious thing Starbucks does... They’re aware they have 8 or so people standing in line. And Starbucks has elected to greet every single one of them the same way; with a question. Oh and not...What would you like to drink? But with... “Welcome to Starbucks, how are you today?” I hear them ask this and I’m thinking to myself as ‘number 8’... *what if someone isn’t having a good day?* The odds are this is very possible you know. So I’ll start checking the people in line, before me. Looking for any signs of emotional instability With my luck some girl will burst into tears, Having busted up with her boyfriend or something. It’s just a risky sort of thing to say when people are waiting. I know I’m supposed to use that time in line to decide on my drink. You know, So you’re ready when that Barista wants to take your order But for some reason... I find myself thinking about all kinds of other stuff. First I scan the room; see who’s here. Anybody I know? I want to make sure I don’t make eye contact though, cuz I haven’t got time for chitchat Then I like to check out how stressed the Baristas are trying to keep the line up from growing out the door. Anyway I always use my line-up time thinking about other stuff By the time they ask “Can I take your order?” I’m ready to look at the drink menu. It pisses people off, I know, but it’s just the way I roll. OK? So I’ve placed my order; now this is where Starbucks starts to resemble a walk-in clinic Now that I’ve been through the waiting room, placed the order I don’t get the drink right away... Like a patient going on to wait in the examination room... I go to the next waiting area, a mess of people waiting at the delivery bar, for their drinks to be made. It's a bit of an elite group though. You see anyone can order a Starbucks brewed coffee and get it right there at the cashier. This second group, patiently waiting, are your coffee snobs. They've decided to pay that extra few dollars to get the custom made barista drink. There's a bit more entertainment for this group too When they put your drink up on the bar... The barista calls out that complex order... "Grande, extra hot, 5 pump, vanilla, non fat, no foam, Latte. This is that moment that separates us coffee snobs from the masses. Back when I was a kid in the school cafeteria, some kids on financial assistance would be instantly identified by the lady serving. Cuz she’d take their ticket and call out “Free Lunch” to the cafeteria staff serving them. I wish they would call out the regular coffee drinker’s orders like that too. Just to make that distinction. Hi can I take your order...“Brewed Coffee!” Hi what would you like?...“Brewed coffee Hi....“2 pump, no foam, extra hot, long shot Carmel Maciatto!” So Starbucks make great coffee. But why are they so popular? Lots of shops are making good coffee. I think I've discovered why.....

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