Coffee shop

I remember the days, more than a decade ago, when you established your ‘cred’ at a coffee shop by using the shorthand slang that the counter folk use. Coolness was measured in part by the brevity with which you could explain what you wanted in your cup. I would order a “double-cap” or an “au-lait”, because I was a regular and I knew that was what they were called. Losers read off the big menu behind the barista. Cool kids look them in the eye and speak their language.

The Starbucks person around the corner from me just called out a “double, decaf, white, skim, no foam extra hot mocha.”

Wow.