Coffee Behr Update

This morning my cute papi barista informed me that tomorrow is his birthday.

He turns 21.

*sigh*

BEHR HUGS

Coffee Behr

I'm in love with my barista.


I used to be a die-hard Starbucks fan. I even have one of their "gold" reloadable cards that earn me stars and eventually a "free" beverage. But after realizing I was spending a small fortune on coffee and being slightly abused by the staff - and not in an S&M dungeon fantasy way - I slowly backed off and left the Starbucks family. I drop by occasionally for a late afternoon pick me up but otherwise, they lost my business.


About a month or so ago, I decided to stop in a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, which, here in the Los Angeles area, is the "rival" coffee stop to Starbucks. CBTL is slowly growing but not at the fanatic "let's take over the coffee world" pace that Starbucks has grown. They have their own line of coffees, teas, mugs, machines, pastries, etc. and their prices pretty much equal that of Starbucks.


So like I said, I stopped in one humid hot morning for an iced Americano, which is four shots of espresso to the two at Starbucks. Anyway, I started popping in to CBTL every other morning or so and one of the baristas, Nick, quickly learned my name. He's a cute papi with a tattoo on the inside of his right forearm (I think it's a name). He's also got this cute little dusting of hair on his upper back just below his neck, a small little patch of chin hair and a slight moustache. He has one of the nicest smiles too.

But more than the fact that he's cute, it's his warm smile and his conversational "How are you Mark?" that makes me feel appreciated as a customer. I know the game of baristas and cashiers and checkstand folks: kill 'em with kindness and they'll come back. In the case of Nick, it's working. As long as this cute papi is taking my beverage order, flashing that smile, and giving me that look like he'd like to drink me...I'll keep going back.

Besides....the coffee is far superior to that other place.

BEHR HUGS

Behr Rant

This morning - as every work day morning - I went to Starbucks when I arrived at work. (There's one in the lower level of the towers I work in here at downtown LA.) I've been coming to this Starbucks practically every day for at least 5 years.

Now the benefit of being a "loyal" customer is when I walk up they pretty much know what I want. Monday through Thursday it's a venti coffee, Pikes Place. On Friday I go fancy with a triple shot vanilla latte (no foam).

This morning as "Jack" the manager is swiping my gold Starbucks card he mumbles that the price went up. Yes...a venti cup of Starbucks coffee is now $2.15. WHAT THE FUCK? That's a 7.5% increase over yesterday's price. I understand that there are increased costs to running a business and all of that....but come on....that is WAY too much for a cup of coffee.

And do you think maybe it could have been mentioned to the customers that the prices were increasing?

So here's what I plan to do. I plan to use up the remaining funds on my Starbucks card...and then quit Starbucks altogether. Maybe an occasional latte or in the off chance I get to meet someone new (date-like). But this daily thing is going to stop. I'm already saving money since making another life change; this will only help keep more money in my account.

BEHR HUGS