December 01, 2005

A Sad, Weak Woman

In which Starbucks loses a valued and loyal customer for one, or possibly even two days.

Me? I only like my coffee one way. You walk into a dim tired joint, sit at the counter, and tell the beefy young waitress you want a cup of coffee. She turns around and pulls a glass carafe from under a big stainless Bunn coffeemaker, and the coffee comes to you hot and black and fully caffeinated in a plain thick white ceramic cup. You get free refills. If it's a new girl, before you order, you ask her first if they have free refills, and when she says yes, you tell her you'll have one of those. She stops for a minute and then figures out the joke, and says you have to buy the first cup. You leave her a dollar tip.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at December 1, 2005 10:47 AM
Comments

I've been reading Dashiell Hammett this week, too.

Posted by: Janis at December 1, 2005 10:57 AM

Reading? Reading's for saps, toots. Except for the racing form and the box scores. If a man reads those, he can make something of himself. It just might not be much of something.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at December 1, 2005 11:14 AM

I used to like the coffee you describe, but unfortunately it has become increasingly hard to find. Most places now offer only coffee-flavored water, which tastes particularly awful when the only additives available are a creme-like powder as opposed to real milk or cream. Blech.

There is an exception here in San Antonio, however. The Magnolia Pancake Haus offers great coffee with their outstanding breakfasts -- omelets, real buttermilk pancakes, crispy waffles with bananas and pecans, apple smoked bacon, country hash browns and terrific eggs benedict. There's even something called a Pfannekuchen which is a sort of pan-fried puffed up pancake with granny smith apples and lots of cinnamon, served with whipped cream. Yum.

I am happy to drink their coffee.

Posted by: Grouchy Old Yorkie Lady at December 1, 2005 11:31 AM

Waffle House coffee RULES! And boy are their waitresses beefy! And surly! I can get a whole meal, including coffee, for what $tarbuck$ wants for their fancy schmancy coffee flavored beverage.

Posted by: skillzy at December 1, 2005 11:52 AM

And coffee is good for you. Scientist say so. (Thanks to Jim Smith for the link.)

As for Waffle House, it may now be long enough past the time of the event to finally share the story of my evening ten years ago at the Prattville location.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at December 1, 2005 12:18 PM

Man, I miss Waffle Houses...

Posted by: Nate at December 1, 2005 12:57 PM