I entered through the north door at the same time as this other fellow came in the south door -- that's why I noticed him. And I noticed that he didn't get in line, he walked across to the other side of the store and stood near where the coffee drinks come up.
Things were not going well and it was taking a long time for things to happen, so I had plenty of time to observe things as I waited for my coffee. After a few minutes, this guy -- who hadn't ordered anything -- went up to the barista and said, "say, I'm from just across the way and, well...I didn't bring any money today, so I was wondering... if you're going to throw those out, may I have one?" He pointed to a couple of drinks behind the bar that were, I guess, mistakes destined for the dumper.
The barista, already flustered from being a little behind, hurriedly grabbed one of the drinks and handed it to the guy, but the guy waved it off and said, "no... no... I'd rather have the other one, please."
Ah, I thought... that means he's been standing there this whole time watching for a mistake to come up -- and he's kind of particular. I was greatly amused by this, which is good because it took my mind away from thinking about how sadly screwed up that store is right now -- in fact, while this was transpiring I noticed the store manager scooting out the door, even though his crew was obviously in trouble. Ha!
On my way out the door (without my French Roast, I might add), I was right next to Free Coffee Guy, and I said to him, "that's quite a system you have there!"
He looked a bit startled, but said to me, "Don't tell anybody!"
I laughed and said, "are you kidding? I'm telling EVERYBODY!"
I thought it was funny. And clever, if a little cheap-o. It's not as if he "looked like" he needed free coffee, but what do I care, especially if Starbucks is throwing the stuff out anyway? He was in a suit, tie and nice overcoat. Sideburns and a ULTRA-MEGA-EXTREME-soulpatch screamed "I'm keeping Portland Weird, yes I am!"
I walked out of the store and waited at the corner for the streetlight to change. About forty seconds later he walked out of the store, approached me and said, "for the record, I feel really bad about this now, I'm going to give this drink to a homeless person."
I don't know if he was putting me on -- it didn't really sound like it -- but I told him he didn't need to explain anything to me, that's for sure.
I sure hope he didn't give it to some homeless person... I think it was an eggnog latte.
2 comments:
Yeah, at Pioneer Square we had several regulars like that guy (maybe not so dressed up) who would sit at a table... and watch... and wait. Too many coffees/forgotten coffees/or wrong coffees are especially common at that Starbucks location because of the computer sticker machine-- and any number of screw ups can happen with that.
I was in there yesterday to get some coffee. I looked and looked, but that elusive French Roast was nowhere to be found. This is the Starbucks at Sandy & 39th, by the way.
Just for kicks I asked the lady behind the counter to look in the back. She was gone for five minutes and came back empty-handed, so it was Christmas Blend for me.
Now, I have some vaguely definite idea in the back of my head about how I want coffee to taste, so I don't understand Starbuck's emphasis on all the wonderful journeys your palette can take with all the "citrusy" and "chocolaty" and ''delicate finish" and what-not descriptions on their coffees from all over the world. I look for French Roast, but for all I know the Martian Uplands Fair Trade blend tastes the same.
They have teenagers working at Starbucks, but the music being played in the stores, and the CDs they sell at the counter are generally for people in their sixties. Joni Mitchell or Bob Dylan, anyone?
From the stories Emily has told me, the workers at the Pioneer Square Starbucks are much more savvy and strict with the street people who try to get free goodies.
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