This fact results in many friends meeting over a cup of coffee at coffee shops. We have many who come in routinely or weekly to meet and catch up. When I first started working at Latte Donatte relationships between the customers were evident, but then even those friendships were shared with my fellow employees. After 2 years of working there and serving these people coffee what has come about? Friendships.
Coffee is more then a comfort food.
It's the basis for many new friends
I get to see on a regular basis!
When going to work I get to look forward to at least 3 friends/groups coming in every time... without fail!
The first group to normally come in is a duo of 2 ladies who... though they are best friends they never come in at the same time. Both ladies get the same drink, Large Caramel Beze Chiller (with no whip!). It's a triangle friendship!Lisa is the first to show up. With her we normally talk about the prank of the day to play on Tracey. This either includes lying about Lisa's new hair color, which is "Tracey... Lisa's hair turned out awful!" (words from Lisa herself), or when Tracey calls in me or Karen (fellow barista) lie and say that Lisa got that last of the chiller base that we have in stock... Never fails to get Tracey every time!! These 2 ladies are a joy to talk to! Yet, like I said before, they rarely ever come in at the same time!
While the pranks against Tracey are evolving I have The Guys showing up. These guys are one of my favorite parts of working in a coffee shop. They are the classic older guys who meet every morning for the coffee, talk about politics, sports, go on with their day and come back the next morning! It's great! The group normally ranges from 4-10+ guys, plus few of their wives and girlfriends of course! Yet, they know all of us girls and are worried if we miss a day that we normally work. I have seen many groups of guys at restaurants but had never thought about the relationship they would have with the employees. Till now... I get a hug, wishes, advice, jokes, a "good luck in school" every day from them!
Who could complain about that?
Grandpa Karl
My third friend at Latte Donatte, is the "Grandpa of Latte". He's the man who lives by coffee. But I guess having 4 cups a day will do that to you! His visits are not an hour long, 15 minutes if he isn't buzzing around town. Yet, the visits can brighten a day. I repeatedly say to my family that if my grandpa was still alive they would get along great! He worries about us girls when we are down, worried that we may be thinking of leaving for another job. Say we have a boy interested and he'll remind us that we are taken! (because he is the only man us girls need) He's another grandpa to several of us.
Customers can be the greatest part of a job.
I get to serve some incredible people. When out in town I can see some of them and carry on conversations, more then just coffee. Many lessons have been learned, jokes shared, ideas shared with my customers. They are more then just incoming money, but friends I look forward to seeing and serving.
I get to serve some incredible people. When out in town I can see some of them and carry on conversations, more then just coffee. Many lessons have been learned, jokes shared, ideas shared with my customers. They are more then just incoming money, but friends I look forward to seeing and serving.
Advice of today:
Strike up a conversation with your customer or barista, you never know they are the friend you'll see every coffee break!
