Driving thru at Starbucks

Dear Reader,

I don't even know where to begin in describing my most recent Starbucks drive-thru experience. When I choose the Starbucks closest to our home, I know I'm risking getting eccentric drive-thru employee who tries out a few different accents in the course of an order and makes the whole experience, well, interesting. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of that reality once again.

He begins with an Australian accent, complete with a "good day," but then throughout my order switched to a more Irish-like accent (rolling his "r"s toward the end.) And, as it usually happens, when I drove up to the window, he turned on the New York accent and mimics Joey Tribbiani's "How you doin'?" Really, he did. It takes every ounce of kindness not to laugh. I have to wonder if a supervisor has discussed this habit with him and whether other customers are as distracted by this behavior as I am.

I ordered a tall coffee, which using my Starbucks coffee bag is free (love that promotion by the way.) Since it was 3 p.m., I decided a decaf coffee was a wise choice. However, apparently at that Starbucks they stop brewing decaf after 2 p.m. according to drive-thru guy. He offers to brew an Cafe Americano for the same price, and I'm fine with that offer. I do find it odd though that Starbucks would not brew decaf in the afternoon and evening. Hmm.

My mom teases me about my high expectations of service at Starbucks. My argument is always that I think that along with a good cup of coffee I'm paying for good customer service. And, apparently, at this particular Starbucks, a performance by Australian, Irish, New Yorker guy is also included.

Sincerely,
Abi