Coffee Tips (and the Elimination Thereof)

Rather, it's the tip cup that bothers me... I have recently become frustrated with something at doughnut establishments, and I'm not referring to the scones, although -- seriously -- just think about the writing possibilities if I were.

But for the sake of this column, I need to be oblivious to all of the other ones in order to keep some sort of focus, so bear with me here... To begin, I do realize that doughnut (or donut, take your pick) shops aren't the only places with these cups.

Yogi: That's right, I am.

Smokey: Me too

Blood and jelly are the same color and I realize that... The thing is, I always end up tipping because it's become an obligation rather than a choice. Is it the way the employees stretch to grab the lemon-filled that is so challenging, or is coffee pouring more of an art than I thought it was? At any rate, my first question is what we are tipping when we contribute extra change, sometimes even dollar bills, into the doughnut tip cup.

Still, this tip cup could have its advantages. For example, doughnut establishments could use the money to fund research in the creation of new doughnuts. Personally, I'd like to know that my extra 15 cents per day was putting some college intern hard to work in order to find out if sprinkles really do taste better when they're multi-colored, or to see if crème mixed with pickle juice is such a bad idea after all. And then, when this research is complete (and thorough), I want to see my name somewhere on the official document...

Doughnut Shop Owner: Wait a minute, wait a minute -- you are getting way too carried away.

Greg: So are you. And it's about time someone stood up for the doughnut consumers of America.

Owner: That's ironic, considering most of them sit down.

Greg: True. But that's besides the point. I will only stop writing when you tell me why the tip cup is there.

Owner: I will, but I need you to keep this is a secret, okay?

Greg: Sounds good to me.

Owner: You see, we need advice -- like, really serious advice. And so we put that tip cup there hoping that we'd get it, and unfortunately people are missing the point.

Greg: Oh, I see. Well, I have some advice for you, sir.

Owner: Thank you, what is it?

Greg: Well, it'll cost you 50 cents...

But I digress.

Coffee House Possibilities

We think about it a lot! While driving we're thinking about it. At work we think about it. At work we think about it. While we're in the gym we think about it. We also incorporate our fantasies into our daily lives and imagine meeting that person who gets our heart racing and our palms sweaty at the places we go. Come on admit it, we all have our fantasies. When your single your always imagining meeting that right person.

So that person walking in is hoping for the same thing you are. After all you're not the only one thinking about it, we all are. Why not, it could happen and it certainly does! We hope for that coffee house possibility of meeting that right person. Certainly while we are sitting at our local coffee shop we look up as someone is coming in and wonder and hope.

In fact, take a hot sip while driving and you might have a different possibility, an accident. After all, there are no possibilities while sipping your mocha café latté driving. Try not just picking up your coffee to go, sit and enjoy a refill. Regularity creates familiarity creating a sense of comfort, which allows two people to ease into conversation. Most people follow routines and by following one yourself you could see the same person regularly. To give your possibilities more of a chance try going to the same coffee shop and go at the same time.

If it goes nowhere don't worry, the great thing about your coffee house, there is always another person coming in creating endless coffee house possibilities. You never know unless you try. Take a chance and even say hello. When you see that certain someone that cause your heart to have a little arrhythmia, don't just freeze, at least smile.

So sit enjoy, what's your rush after all the coffee is good and that next person walking in could be the one you want to meet who wants to meet you, anything is possible at the coffee house!