Contributor: Jerry Guarino
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“I’ll take a Venti hot chocolate, raspberry scone and one of those new holiday cups,” said the man as he flirted with the beautiful girl behind the counter. The Latina barista took his money, winked and prepared his order. Meanwhile, the line was back out to the doorway, not uncommon at this time of the morning.
But the prices were still high. $3.25 for a hot drink, more if you wanted anything special. Not that any coffee shop is taking change anymore. More likely, people are scanning their debit card across a laser, totaling $11.25 or more. But it’s a new day. Coffee houses are as important as showers for the fortunate few and almost as much for the 99%. Thank goodness for debit cards.
Fortified with coffee and a superior scone, they go off to conquer the world, knowing that the working Joe can’t compete with his home brew and store bought donut. The right breakfast separates the haves and the have-nots and creates confidence. If you’re sitting down to a $39 breakfast buffet, you’ve already impressed your potential client. He/She will go along (thanks to expense accounts), ignoring the cost, demonstrating that they are as comfortable in this venue as the mechanic getting his meal at McDonalds.
That’s why this latest trend will catch on. It’s a natural marriage, the combination of all that is required in today’s society with the convenience of starting the day off right.
The Latina barista took off her apron and walked over to the man she had served. “Well, it’s almost 9:00am, time I got to my day job.” She kissed her husband, coming on for the day shift at the cafe and walked across the floor to take her place behind the bulletproof glass. An older woman with a cane walked up to her, handed her a paper and smiled. “Dear, can you put this social security check in my savings account?” The Latina looked as beautiful behind the teller counter as she did at the café inside the bank. “Certainly, Mrs. Wilson. When you’re finished, you should try the Italian roast today. It’s very good.”
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Jerry Guarino’s short stories have been published by dozens of literary magazines in the United States, Canada, Australia and Great Britain. His first collection of twenty-six critically acclaimed stories, Cafe Stories, was released in October, 2011. It is available as a paperback on amazon.com and as an e-book on kindle.
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“I’ll take a Venti hot chocolate, raspberry scone and one of those new holiday cups,” said the man as he flirted with the beautiful girl behind the counter. The Latina barista took his money, winked and prepared his order. Meanwhile, the line was back out to the doorway, not uncommon at this time of the morning.
California coffee houses were a little different than those back east. Sure, they still have their share of serious bankers, lawyers and business professionals, but you can tell by the way they order. On Wall Street, it’s a lot of black coffee, maybe with a Danish. In D.C. it’s a croissant and latte and in Boston, it’s black tea and “that’s all thanks…I have my Dunkin Donut.”
But the prices were still high. $3.25 for a hot drink, more if you wanted anything special. Not that any coffee shop is taking change anymore. More likely, people are scanning their debit card across a laser, totaling $11.25 or more. But it’s a new day. Coffee houses are as important as showers for the fortunate few and almost as much for the 99%. Thank goodness for debit cards.
Fortified with coffee and a superior scone, they go off to conquer the world, knowing that the working Joe can’t compete with his home brew and store bought donut. The right breakfast separates the haves and the have-nots and creates confidence. If you’re sitting down to a $39 breakfast buffet, you’ve already impressed your potential client. He/She will go along (thanks to expense accounts), ignoring the cost, demonstrating that they are as comfortable in this venue as the mechanic getting his meal at McDonalds.
That’s why this latest trend will catch on. It’s a natural marriage, the combination of all that is required in today’s society with the convenience of starting the day off right.
The Latina barista took off her apron and walked over to the man she had served. “Well, it’s almost 9:00am, time I got to my day job.” She kissed her husband, coming on for the day shift at the cafe and walked across the floor to take her place behind the bulletproof glass. An older woman with a cane walked up to her, handed her a paper and smiled. “Dear, can you put this social security check in my savings account?” The Latina looked as beautiful behind the teller counter as she did at the café inside the bank. “Certainly, Mrs. Wilson. When you’re finished, you should try the Italian roast today. It’s very good.”
- - -
Jerry Guarino’s short stories have been published by dozens of literary magazines in the United States, Canada, Australia and Great Britain. His first collection of twenty-six critically acclaimed stories, Cafe Stories, was released in October, 2011. It is available as a paperback on amazon.com and as an e-book on kindle.
Author:
Jerry Guarino
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