finite.style

In a nod to the finite style motto, this inaugural post concerns an issue I'm sure many of us deal with every day: coffee shop etiquette. Every day I'm in a coffee shop at least twice, and I always notice something that strikes me as either rude or clueless. I wonder, are these people having a bad day, always this rude, or just plain don't get it. Here are the two I see the most often.

The cream and sugar hog
This is probably the one that aggravates me the most on a daily basis. After you've gotten your coffee and you're getting cream and sugar at the little table on the side, do you really have to stand right in the middle so nobody else can use it at the same time?

Less common, but even more annoying, is when you have somebody who's holding a conversation while at this table, and taking their sweet time. Hurry up! Most of us are already grumpy enough in the morning without our caffeine fix, and the last thing we need is your conversation about Brad the guy who won't call you back (he's just not that into you) holding us up.

The clueless
I don't expect you to be a coffee expert, but please.... if you're waiting in line for a few minutes just to order, at least think about what you want. Don't get up to the counter, then look up at the signboard and go "Uhhhh............. gimme a minute"


I actually have no problem with people who order needlessly complicated drinks. I figure if you're going to pay $5 for a coffee, you should get it any way you want. Speaking of expensive coffee though, guess what I tried again recently? McDonald's coffee. Forget what you used to know about it, and give it another shot, you'll be pleasantly surprised.