Coffee Talk

I drove up to the Dunkin Donuts drive-up window. Here's what transpired:

DD Employee: Can I help you?
Me: Can I have a medium latte, no sugar?
DD Employee: Medium coffee, just cream?
Me: (a little louder) No. Medium latte, no sugar.
DD Employee: Oh, okay.

They always give you the coffee and the sleeve that is to protect your hands from the hot cup separately. They don't put the sleeve on. I don't get it. Why don't they put the sleeve on?!

I didn't leave a tip today. I waited for my 39 cents, because I was irritated that they just didn't listen. Fortunately, they got the order right. Good thing I only ordered one item.

In related news, I've recently become addicted to hot lattes. Espresso, steamed milk, and foam. You can't go wrong. They are equally as good at both Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts (and also at the Barnes and Noble bookstore cafe, which is actually Starbucks coffee). I also enjoyed the one I got at the new coffee shop in Holden, Sweets and Java. I think maybe it's because they make it fresh every time, while with regular coffee, it could have been sitting around for a little while.

Back in high school and college, when I spent literally all of my spare time at the local coffeehouse, I was fascinated with the method of making coffee using those fancy machines with steamers and whatnot. I figured, you had to be specially skilled to make good coffee like that. Now, every Dunkin Donuts has good gourmet coffee, and you can buy those machines for your kitchen. It would be fun to have one of my own, but I also like the social aspect of going out for coffee. Things to think about, I guess. Maybe I'll splurge on a machine when I get my tax refund. Or, maybe I'll set aside the machine price and spend that on takeout coffee for a year.