The time – one sunny afternoon on a relatively workless Friday. The place – the Java Green outlet at the mall next door. The characters – the Java Green cashier and me.
Me: Hi, I want a small coffee. Do you have anything smaller than a regular cappuccino or a regular latte?
JGC: Sorry ma’am, we don’t serve small coffees.
Me: Okay, tell you what, just give me an espresso with a shot of milk.
JGC: Espresso is plain black coffee, ma’am.
Me: I know. But…
JGC: It’s very strong, ma’am.
Me: Yes, I know. But can’t you give it to me with some milk?
JGC: Ma’am, espresso comes without milk, ma’am. It’s plain black coffee.
Me: Yes, yes, it’s just…
JGC: Americano is also strong black coffee, ma’am.
Me: Wha…?
JGC: You could go for a cappuccino or a latte, ma’am.
Me: I don’t want a cappuccino or a latte! They’re both too much to drink! I want something smaller. Why can’t you give me an espresso with milk?
JGC: No, ma’am.
Me: What?
JGC: We don’t serve espresso with milk ma’am. Espresso is plain, black coffee ma’am.
Me: Listen, you little imbecile. I knew the difference between an espresso and a cappuccino while you were still learning how to count to ten. Now, I know that’s what your IQ probably is. What you don’t know is that I’ve had a pretty frustrating day trying to write witty lines promising eternal beauty to ugly, middle-aged women. So don’t push your luck and connect all the loose circuitry in your brain so that you understand this: whatever pithy amount they’re paying you to wear a neon green apron, it’s not worth getting your face stuffed into a steaming hot milk jug. If the guys at Barista can manage to do this, so can you. So. Give. Me. An. Espresso. With. A Shot. Of. Milk. NOW.
(Of course, I didn’t say that. Well, not out loud anyway. I believe it was something along the lines of “Fiiiine, a latte please”. Ashish, my friend, you’re not alone, you see.)
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