Tea, do you ever drink it?
What about chai drinks? Love ‘em? Hate ‘em?
In the past I’ve voted The Village Coffee Roastery as the best place in Phoenix to get a chai.
Another alternative drink is Starbucks’ Caramel Apple Cider. Try ordering it with a shot of espresso and watch the baristas face when they tell you what an interesting combination that will be.
What other alternatives to coffee do you order when you are out and about?
I hear the Coffee Bean at Scottsdale and Doubletree has free wireless internet. I’m going to check it out on Saturday. The Coffee Bean at Camelback/Scottsdale used to have WiFi but I haven’t been there in months.
Do you ever go to a coffee shop and people watch?
I do. I’m usually hiding behind my laptop working, and it’s easy to watch the crowd and listen in on their conversations at the same time.
Right now I am waiting for a colleague at Starbucks. The one on 92nd St. I’m inside seated on one of those cushy chairs. A number of people are sitting outside on such a hot day. It’s at least 110 degrees outside. There are mist machines blowing cool mist, but it’s somewhat surprising.
Inside it is interesting. One woman is sitting here reading what must be an interesting book. She just answered a phone call and taking notes studiously. She has a pen with a giant yellow flower glued to the end. One of those silk kinds. Must be an important deal made humors by the flower.
On the other side is a guy in his mid twenties and he’s filling out test forms to become a real estate agent. I’m guessing he’s fresh out of college looking to get into this hot real estate market.
It’s almost like a tiny culture here at a Starbucks. People from all walks of life just sitting down for whatever reason. Some of them are taking a break from work. Others are working. I’m not sure what I’m doing. Back to work. Back to my coffee.
Some of you might be interested in Creative Coffee, it’s this Friday, June 24th at 8 am. Happens every month and designers and others in the creative business usually show up. This is the first month they’ve had it in Tempe as well as Phoenix.
Even though the temperature is 115 by the readout in my car, I still order my coffee hot when I order at a coffee shop. Why? It’s an odd question. I suppose it might taste better, maybe I’m used to it hot, but there is another reason. It’s that I get more drink for my money when it’s hot.
The difference is the ice. The ice takes up a good 30 to 50% of the drink volume and I’m a thirsty guy and don’t want to spend my money on ice. How about you? Fed up with the iced drinks that are more ice than drink?
I know I’m not alone in this thinking. Just today I was visiting the Starbucks at 92nd St. when a guy sat down across the room and commented to his girlfriend that the drinks should cost less because of all of the ice. His ‘tall’ drink was gone in a couple of swigs because it was filled to the brim with ice. That’s just not right. I can get a bag of ice at Walgreens for only $1.
So what has to change? For one, I think Starbucks should offer ice in a separate cup on request (maybe they do?). Second, I think the baristas need to be conscious of the amount of ice they put in the cup. You don’t need to fill the entire cup with ice to the brim.
Rant in the comments if you feel the same.
When you visit a coffee shop do you stay around after you get your drink? Do you sit down and enjoy your coffee? Do you take a laptop, a book, a pad of paper? Or are you in and out, and fast?
I know a lot of people who like to visit a coffee shop and spend hours there, usually with their laptop or a pad of paper and a phone… working. Then I know other people who wouldn’t spend more than 5 minutes sitting at a coffee shop – people who go just for the coffee.
On that note, I’m the type that can spend hours at a coffee shop – not just to waste time – but to work. I take my laptop and usually am able to get a whole lot done. Being away from my desk lets me just focus on work without any distractions.
Wi-Fi News reports that a Seattle based coffee shop turns its wireless internet connection off on weekends. Apparently the owners felt to many people brought laptops in and didn’t buy anything, stayed for the entire day, and didn’t socialize with the other patrons. Here’s a link to the article.
My question for you:
If you frequent coffee shops how do you feel about laptop users?
Double points if you work at a coffee house and can comment from that perspective.
I took this photo over at Mama Java’s Coffee House.
