A Breed Apart

Welcome to my blog!
I understand that I am not the first barista to create a blog about experiences "behind the bar (as one blogger cleverly titled theirs)," but I still wish to record the daily antics and trials that ensue while working at a coffee shop.
I believe you have to be a special kind of person to work at a coffee shop, and while I will not name which shop I work in for privacy and of course, those pesky legal reasons, I will give details about my work days there and the ridiculous people and events.
The title "That's Not Your Mocha!" comes from one certain phenomenon that happens quite often in coffee shops. This phenomenon occurs when one customer either ignorantly or blindly walks away with someone else's drink, and therefore causes mass confusion within the shop for any subsequent customer awaiting a drink and all baristi involved.


Oh, and let me clarify: When I say "coffee shop," I am excluding Starbucks.
Starbucks counts as a massive empirical giant of a place-where-one-purchases-coffee-drinks.
When I think coffee shop, I think of a small shop, with a cozy atmosphere, a friendly staff and a bevy of signature beverages.
Sure, I admit to popping into a Starbucks every once in a while, simply because they have some things that I am not able to find elsewhere. However, I am keen on finding shops that have something like Starbucks' that replaces theirs. For example, a small shop near a college campus in my city has a fantastic matcha blended drink that gives me reason not to order a green tea frappuccino.
Although for many it is a reason not to venture into small shops, I enjoy the risk one takes by ordering the same drink more than once. Many small shops use manual espresso and steaming machines, whereas Starbucks mainly uses automatic machines.
Basically, each drink you order from Starbucks is made by a robot, and that is why they are perfect.
But small shops' drinks are made by a special breed of human called "baristi," who are not perfect. So the second matcha blended drink I ordered at the afore-mentioned shop was so sweet I think I walked out of there with a sugar high. But no worries; I love me some sugar!

So yes!
Welcome. I hope you enjoy my rants and raves, and also indulge in finding humor in the crazy life behind the bar. I encourage you to laugh and feel sorry for me. Or praise my lack of humility when it comes to serving the idiots of the world, or praise my wonderful memory when it comes to recalling customers' names and drinks.
Anyway that you have it, please enjoy your stay at my blog.

<3,
MochaMama