Latte-Reason to Smile

I am doing the A-Z challenge.  Today’s letter is L  for Latte.

Latte-Reason to Smile

I pulled into Pour Girl’s Coffee shop recently, right behind a little, black sports car, to get my usual sixteen ounce, regular latte.  I waited a minute or two, before I decided to grab the sporting green, and see what the pundits had to say about the Giants.  So engrossed was I that several minutes passed before I realized that this was taking far longer than I had imagined possible.  Exactly what was that guy in the sporty little number ordering?

Just as I was reaching the conclusion that he was probably ordering some sort of fru-fru drink, a coffee container was passed out the window, and off he sped.  As I pulled alongside the shop, the gal inside opened the window, and asked, “Your usual latte?”  As I gave her a big smile and said, “All right.  You already know,” she handed me my latte, already made!  Now I really had reason to smile.  That’s what I call efficient.

Yes, I am a frequent flier, when it comes to this particular form of coffee.  I mean, when I am at home, I still utilize an old-fashioned percolator and brew my own pot of goodness.  But when I am on the road, which occurs quite often these days, as I travel back and forth between the mountain and Willits, I opt for the latte approach to life.

Yes, it costs in excess of three dollars a pop, plus a well-deserved tip, but it is one thing I regularly splurge on.  I made the mistake of pulling into the little coffee shop on the north end of Willits, and saying, “I’d like a twenty ounce Vente Latte, please,” and then watched as the person looked at me blankly, and said, “Is that a large?  You see, I’m not up on the StarBucks lingo...”  Oops, I had done the unthinkable, and requested a latte using the term that applies only in StarBucks.  My bad.

I guess StarBucks is the biggee, when it comes to supplying Californians with the liquid gold, that comes in a coffee container.  I do appreciate the consistency that StarBucks exhibits; it’s just that whenever possible, I like to patronize the little guy, especially when I remember that the above-mentioned Pour Girl’s is owned by a woman who was a seventh grader in my very first homeroom, when I began teaching in 1990.  Great success.

A latte in the hand is a sure-fire way to get the day started.  I never indulge after nine in the morning or so, but up until that point, I am all about it.  There was someone at the middle school, a million years ago, who got a latte-maker for Christmas one year, so she brought it down to the school.  There was great excitement at the next staff meeting, as we gathered around the precious machine, and watched the process of having lattes made, on the spot.  

It was all too exciting for words.  It was also rather complex, with the measuring of the expresso, and the preparation of the steamed milk.  We actually only had staff meeting lattes twice, before the thrill disappeared.  After all, staff meeting were so exciting, in and of themselves; who needed lattes?

It’s not actually a matter of needing them; it’s more like wanting them-desperately.  If you don’t drink coffee, then you probably bailed out from this piece long ago.  If you do, then I say let’s hit the StarBucks down the block.  Make mine a regular, if you please.  I’ll buy, if you’ll fly.