“This can’t be happening.” It was nearly dinner time when the realization struck me. There would be no coffee available tomorrow morning. But, indeed it was true. You see, I was visiting my family in Ohio and the house I was spending the night in was being renovated. Not in a …
A while back I read How Starbucks Saved my Life by Michael Gates Gill. In the interest of full disclosure I read it out of curiosity, as opposed to organic intellectual interest. In other words I read it to see how that memoir compared to my historical fiction novel, Tripio. I may offer a full …
A trip to my Starbucks #204 It is the summer of 1992. In my “Starbucks novel”, Tripio, Jay works at a Starbucks store #204 located on north side of Chicago on the corner of Clark, Diversey and Broadway. In Tripio, for the sake of brevity and authenticity, I refer to it simply as store #204, …
The tale of two Starbucks green aprons I am reading “How Starbucks Saved my Life” by Michael Gates Gill with great interest and a good deal of empathy. I am marking Starbucks 50th anniversary by attempting to read other books on Starbucks that focus on the baristas, and not the business. My novel, Tripio, does …
HOWARD BEHAR AND I ‘TALK’ AT A STARBUCKS “You know the store where Tripio takes place is gone now?” I asked Howard next. I had no idea why. “Oak Park?” He looked back from the street to meet my eyes. ‘No. The one on the corner of Diversey, Clark and Broadway. Dickens is stll there, …
H.B “”So are you here for work?” Howard Behar asked me. We had stepped outside to sit down at his table of choice. ‘For the week.” I responded with my trademark caution. I had not worked for Starbucks since 1994. I did run one of the first Barnes & Noble Starbucks cafes for about a …
“Well, I can’t chicken out now. I can’t use an easy excuse. “You must do the things in life you think you cannot do“. Eleanor Roosevelt. That quote. That quote stayed with you all the way through Tripio. You had so many chances to quit. Why didn’t you? Honestly, because you couldn’t. What the hell …
Question for Kevin- In Tripio, Jay is frustrated by the expectation that all the espresso shots had to be between 18-23 seconds. Did Howard Behar, Howard Schultz really believe all the pours were to specifications? Even on 1,000 customer mornings? Answer-1-1.25 fluid ounces including. crema made from 7 grams of espresso blend in 18-24 seconds.” …
“The last time I saw Howard was at my store in Oak Park. I was the manager then. He was with the new Regional Manager- Stu. Yes, Stu Fields. God no. I give Stu hell in Tripio. Not really. But, the whole incident with the spilled mocha on the door and Stu talking into his …
In a post a couple months ago, I said I didn’t really care too much what your choice of coffee beverage was. Sorry, if I have too much gravitas for cheap click bait, its just who I am. As a middle path, I offer a few ideas for gifts this season for the coffee lover …