Back in July, I stopped by my local Starbucks to order for takeout a latte for Barbara and a Pike Place coffee for me. This I did despite the fact that it was extremely hot and humid that morning.
Why do we crave steaming hot drinks even in the middle of a heat wave? I don’t know, but I wasn’t intending to drink mine outside. It was to be enjoyed in air conditioned comfort at home.
In deference to the oppressive heat outside, I was wearing a summer button-down, short sleeve shirt that was at least two decades old, a pair of cargo shorts, sneakers and short socks. I expected no one to pay attention to my attire.
Behind the counter at the order/payment station stood a young man – maybe 20 years old – whom I did not recall having seen there before. Attached to his green apron was a pin stating that he was in training and requesting patience from those he would serve.
He took my order without incident, and I paid. Knowing the drill at this Starbucks, I waited at the order station while he moved a few steps away to prepare the Pike Place. After he filled the cup, secured a lid on top and a sleeve around the outside, he picked up a black marker and wrote something on the cup. He then handed it to me. I wished him luck in his new position and moved to the other end of the counter to await the latte. I then looked at what he had written, expecting something generic like Enjoy or Cheers. Instead, written on my cup was I love the outfit.
I read it a few more times, and the words did not change, I love the outfit.
What the heck did that mean? First, I didn’t consider what I was wearing to be an outfit, and second, even I didn’t love what I was wearing. They were just old, comfortable summer clothes.
As I stood there, I was a bit baffled and tried to make sense of it. Eventually, the latte arrived, and I headed out of the shop. During the short ride home, it occurred to me that maybe the kid was ridiculing me. That didn’t make sense, though. From our brief encounter, it seemed like he was just trying to do his new job.
At home and still puzzled, I took to the Internet to see if I could get any clues. It didn’t take me long. A search of “Starbucks writing on cups” retrieved an artificial intelligence overview stating that baristas are once again writing on cups to “personalize the customer experience and foster a sense of community. “
So, there was my answer. The kid was just doing what he was told to do but may have run out of things to say by the time he got to me and my cup. It was a bit of a relief to me that he wasn’t messing with me! I then enjoyed my coffee.