Starbucks

Every morning (for the last few years at least) I get a cup of coffee at Starbucks on the corner of 19th & J. It has come to the point where the baristas, who I love dearly, begin making "my drink" as soon as they see me. Some times it is so quick that I wonder if they see me outside in the parking lot or something. "My drink" also known as the "standard issue" is an Iced grande caramel macchiato (or something...I drink them -- doesn't mean I can spell it..).

Since it has been colder in the mornings I have really wanted a hot drink. But I couldn't get it at my usual spot because they start making the drink for me before I get there. Maybe, just maybe, they have some alarm that goes off between 7:30 and 7:45 and they just start making it.

So, I found myself cheating on my usual Starbucks. Horrid, I know. I am the most faithful person I know but I had to go somewhere else. I tried the one at 16th and P for a few days, then the one somewhere further up J ...maybe 26th and J st. It just didn't feel right.

There is a Starbucks in my building at work but it is run by the cafeteria people, not actually baristas. I went there a few times but got tired of telling them how to make the drinks the right way.

This morning I went back to my familiar Starbucks. Sunday mornings aren't usually that busy and it is never the same baristas as during the week. I knew that these people would at least be less familiar with me and I might have a chance.

We walk in. The kids grab their milk and superfood thingie. One person is in line in front of me. The barista at the bar looks at me and says, "Grande caramel macchiato?". Ok, it wasn't even a question. I said, "no." She looked at me blankly and I just refused to look back at her. This is the point where I should have said what I really wanted but I didn't.

I get to the counter and it is indeed a barista I knew. Damn. She automatically rings up my drink and calls it out. The barista at the bar echos it. Meanwhile I'm chanting, "no, no, no". It was bizarre. They look at me as if I need some excuse so I said I was cold. Normally I would have just gotten a cappucino but when I used to get that they knew it was for someone else and they would make it the way he liked it and that is not the way I like it. So on the spot I made up something -- a toffee nut latte. Not even on their menu anymore. Ingenius!

So she asks me if that was my normal 'winter drink'. Seriously. I told her it just sounded good at the time. Then the kids start asking why I got a different drink and if the toffee nut latte was now my favorite. The barista chimes in and tells them, "No, her most favorite is the caramal macchiato."

I think Sacramento may be getting a bit too small for me.