The other day I was talking to one of my friends and he asked if I had regulars that come in to Caribou. Our regulars are awesome! I realized that I have not made a post about them, or Caribou, really. I have had far too many truly great encounters at Caribou to share them all. When something noteworthy happens, I jot it down on a scrap piece of reciept paper, and shove it deep into my pocket, well frankly my desk is becoming clutterd with them...and I'm ready to share!

First can I tell you, that the following are not barista pick-up lines:
-When a barista asks a guest, "would you like an extra shot in your drink?" it's not a barista's version of a cheesy pick up line! It just means we had to brew 4 shots of espresso (they are brewed in pairs) to make your drink that only requires three, and its easier to pour it into the guests cup than down the drain of the espresso bar (which also makes the bar dirty)
-when a barista asks a guest, "do you work in the mall?" or "what's your name?" these are not pick up lines, either. I genuinely want to know if they work in the mall or what their name is, so I don't have to refer to guests as their drink. "the lady with a medium double cup, no sleeve, 2 sweet and low, half shot of cinnamon in a decaf coffee"


Now, let me tell you about some of my favorite regular guests: (in no particular order)
-Mike, who works upstairs...well Mike "doesn't like to pay for his coffee" so he doesn't.

-The cute old man that comes in ever night for a small....skim...latte. He never assumes we know what he wants, like some jerks..who slap down money and expect their drink pronto.

-The curly haired boy that works in the stock room at Williams Sonoma, that gets a large latte or americano.

- In general, our friends who order their drinks in Italian- small medium large, it's the way we roll, no tall carmel macchiatos
served here!

-"chops valet"- comes in Fridays at Five for a large latte. He's a valet in the mall, and has chops, thus his nickname. well, chops valet always tries to order alcohol in his latte- it's pretty funny..I have to remind him we don't have any of that here, and he mopes for a few seconds, I ask, "is it really that bad?" to which he says, "no, no, I just like to complain for no reason"

-the cleveland chess club, I have yet to determine if it is an official club..but it's a group of middle age men that get together Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night and play chess. One of them brought his girlfriend, last weekend, she seemed to meld well with the guys, and she tipped, I think she's a keeper.

-the "joint rollers", a couple that come in Sundays at Five, each get a coffee and baked good. They roll up little pieces of napkins and put them in the hole on the lid of the coffee, sketchy? what?

- I just put the pieces together on this guy: he works in the salon upstairs. He often drinks mango tea with 3 sweet and lows. He came in the other day and asked if I had a lighter, matches, or a blowtorch. I think he need something to light a cigarette and fast. He calls me 'darlin'. What twenty something calls another twenty something 'darlin'

- The guy that gets a large coffee with seven ice cubes.

...just a brief list of the things that bring a smile to my face...