“Can I get a double shot espresso with water to 3/4ths of the way to the top?”
“So, an Americano?”
“No, just what I said.”
“Well, if you order it as an Americano it’s cheaper…”
The man ordering waved his hand dismissively, turning back to his phone as if what might be on it was above what he was doing currently.”
“What size would you like?”
“What are my options?”
” Small, medium, or large.”
“Okay I get that, but, what are the ounce values?”
“16, 20, or 24.”
“Okay thank you I will take a medium with soy creamer, NOT regular, soy.” He emphasized twice marking the second with an emphatic finger point into the countertop.
The barista did her best not to roll her eyes while she bared her teeth in a meaningful smile.
The man didn’t seem to notice, he had better things to think about and thirty minutes to prepare before his presentation. He slid his cuff back over the golden watch frame he’d peeped in at.
Lu Lu, the barista, hadn’t found his antics charming. Not one bit, it had been a long day and she’d seen one too many of his kind. Self-important, unappreciative… pretentious, honestly, they were the worst part of her day, and it wasn’t just the men. Women of his variety were even worse, at least he was just dismissive and above it all. They were more like Rabid snakes if there was such a thing. They seemed to be on the lookout for any small mistake they could get their panties in a wad over.
She muttered her frustrations while going about her business. She smacked the espresso hopper full of old grounds into the trash before ladling in a fresh batch and didn’t bother to rinse it. Not like anyone ever noticed the difference in freshness.
The machine sputtered to life as she tapped the button and rushed to grab the soy cream he’d paid extra for. She could see the difference in his face, he’d had enough of the stuff his jawline was no longer defined. Crazy people think this shit is actually good for you. She hissed under her breath.
“I’ll be right with you.” She called over her shoulder to the next person in line. Five minutes passed between him and his card swipe and he was already impatiently tapping his foot and typing out apologies for his tardiness to the office, watching the barista over the top of his screen while tippy tapping a scathing review toward her behavior and inability to make a simple order quickly. He moved in closer and started to tap at the granite bar top between them as if the action might make her move faster. If another moment had gone by before she slid the offering over the order line he might have asked to retract the two quarters he’d tossed into the tip bucket.
“Double espresso with soy cream.” She almost snarled before turning to the next person in line without further acknowledgment.
“Um, excuse me, I thought I asked for sugar-free vanilla flavoring?” He piped in.
“You didn’t,” She stated plainly. Barely looking over.
“I’m sure I did.” He said again more loudly than before.
“Well you didn’t, she pulled up his order ticket, “the flavoring would have added an extra 75 cents.”
“Seriously? That is so stupid! How can it cost that much for something that comes in a four-dollar bottle.”
“I don’t make the rules sir if you would like to pay the 75 cents, I would be happy to add it to your cup.”
He hissed and muttered his dissatisfaction, digging the change from his pocket he tossed three dimes, and two quarters onto the counter. They bounced and skidded, one slipping from the edge on her side while he placed the cup loudly on the surface next to the others, looking down at her over his unpleasant flared nostrils.
She barely hid her resentment while reaching for the cup. She pictured spitting in it and adding contents from the waste jar to his espresso while pumping twice at the sugar-free vanilla flavoring. What a piece of shit. I hope he chokes on it while navigating to work. She vented silently. These people make me hate this place.
A feeling of sadness washed through her as she handed it over. I used to love the idea of making coffee for people. A thousand fond imaginations poured through her comfortingly.
“I hope you have a better day sir,” she offered half-heartedly as he snatched his cup.
“Well thanks to you I’m now late so…”
She turned to the next woman in line who was smiling sympathetically.
“You still owe me 5 cents.” He said apathetically. Clearly trying to get a point across.
She hastily snatched one of the quarters he’d given as a tip and had to use every ounce of restraint to keep from throwing it into his smug face.
He huffed and muttered something about a poor yelp review with her name on it.
“Sorry for the hold-up ma’am, we are a barista short today so thank you for your patience.”
The woman nodded her understanding, pulling out her wallet she quietly added a dollar before making her order. “For the record… He didn’t ask for the flavoring, to begin with. People like that are just looking for a reason to take out their BS on people who don’t deserve it.”
LuLu’s shoulders relaxed with appreciation. “Thank you.” The woman’s eyes glistened with compassion.
“I was a bartender for a while in college. Saw that stuff all the time, you handled it well.”
Lulu’s cheeks blushed. “You wouldn’t think so if you were in my head.” She admitted, feeling relieved to get it off her chest.
“If his coffee is more bitter than usual it’s his own damn fault. He’s a grown adult treating people like a tyrannical child.” The woman looked over her shoulder speaking loud enough for the grumbling line behind her to hear. The coffee shop went a little quieter. “I’ll take a plain jane light roast, medium, please.”
LuLu did her best to hide the moisture in her eyes. It had been a long shift already, the womans’ kindness blew in like a fresh breeze on a hot midsummer day.
She rushed to pour the woman’s coffee, full of gratitude, and returned with a large cup instead of a regular. “Thank you, sweetheart. What do I owe you.”
“It’s on me.” She replied. The woman beamed back at her and slipped an extra five she’d been holding in her hand into the tip jar.
“I hope you have a beautiful day Lulu! Thank you.” She held up her coffee cup and turned for the front door.
“Hello, sorry for the hold-up, what can I get for you?” She asked with an extra pep in her voice. Her eyes watched the kind woman disappear around the corner, hoping she had a beautiful day also.
>>>—->
It should be noted the man who’d left a negative mark did have bitterness in his brew. After leaving the coffee shop he’d run a stoplight, been ticketed, and in the process missed his presentation, which left his co-conspirators to give it for him. The potential clients became clients indeed and because he wasn’t there to present he was left out of the marketing team created in his absence and snatched from under his nose.
Moral of the story: Unkindness will cost you.