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January 7, 2006
The Coffee Economy
It took a huge amount of willpower to get up early this morning, not dawdle around the apartment until noon, and make it to the library at a reasonable hour. One of the reasons I was able to work up this willpower was the fact that I had no milk and would thus have to get coffee at the Starbucks on the way to campus.
When I got there, instead of the usual Street Sense hawker, two fresh-faced twentysomethings accosted me with good cheer.
"Sorry, but we're closed for renovations. There's another Starbucks down Huron Street! Here, have a $4 gift card! There's also another location on Michigan!"
It's cold. I obviously haven't had my morning coffee. The only reason I can stand toothy morning TV personalities is because they're in two-dimensions, not chirping their misplaced exuberance all up in my grill.
So I ducked into the Dunkin Donuts next door.
I've never seen the staff there so happy. There were four, instead of the usual two, all of whom were grinning ear to ear. They had set up a rope to direct the line, which would likely be long, seeing as that it's the only other place for decent coffee on the block. Sure, I could go to Huron Street if I really wanted Starbucks. Sure, Dunkin Donuts will only give me cream and sugar, not skim and Splenda. Still, you'll find me at Dunkin Donuts for the same reason some people climb Everest: because it's there.
UPDATE: Something to think about before my Starbucks reopens. Frankly, I barely ever get anything other than a regular ol' coffee.
Posted by rj3 at January 7, 2006 10:26 AM
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Comments
Don't think Dunkin Donuts has a 9.3% fatality rate, or those base camp rations you like so much.
Posted by: Dan Zimmerman at January 7, 2006 12:31 PM
You didn't want to get your morning coffee at the Playboy building? But hey, at least now you have an extra $4 for when the Starbucks re-opens.
Posted by: seeking irony at January 7, 2006 1:57 PM
Do you really prefer Starbucks to Dunkin' Donuts? I mean, Starbucks is fine, but Dunkin' Donuts coffee is reeeally good. Maybe it's just that I rarely have a chance to get it.
Posted by: tom at January 7, 2006 8:39 PM
I don't really know what to say about DD coffee, since by the time it gets to me, it's larded up with so much cream and sugar that I can barely taste the coffee. I tell them to take it easy, but it looks to be pre-measured.
Posted by: rj3 at January 8, 2006 9:47 AM
yeah, i agree - i did DD for a while, and asked for "just a little" sugar and cream, but it tasted like sugared milk. i might like DD coffee better if you could mix it yourself.
Posted by: catherine at January 8, 2006 7:50 PM
i wonder why you can't mix it yourself...
Posted by: seeking irony at January 9, 2006 8:11 AM
I always ask for skim at DD (although I am boycotting the one nearest my office for being continually rude to me). Otherwise, I feel like I am going to vomit from their cream.
Posted by: Erin at January 9, 2006 12:35 PM
Huh. I drink it black, which might account for my fondness for it, I guess.
Posted by: tom at January 9, 2006 5:22 PM
