I’ll ‘fess up with a full disclosure up front: I need a cup of coffee in the afternoon.
On busy days at the Museum I can easily spend my fifteen minute recess waiting in line at the coffee cart just to buy that cup of coffee, which leaves me no time to actually drink it (and we aren’t allowed to drink in the store).
I’ve tried bringing coffee from home in a little flask, but you can’t drink coffee that’s sat in a flask all day: it’s *stale* and bloody awful.
As there’s no separate line for staff I have no alternative but to cut the line. The guys at the coffee cart understand, and serve me.
I really needed my coffee today. Easter’s a busy time at the Museum – folks from all over the world are on their spring vacation – but when I cut the line the coffee cart Nazi said to me: “You aren’t allowed to jump the line. We’ve been told to take the names of staff members who do that. I’ll serve you this once, but you can’t do it again….”
Perhaps he wants me to order room service! I walked away in disgust.
“You can have your coffee today…!” he called after me.
I ignored him,
and came back to my register where I met this man:
Wondering Rose 
You should pay and put your order for coffee in early. Then simply collect it from the cart. There must be a solution to such a seemingly simple problem. I agree, stale coffee isn’t worth drinking!
Hi Linda,
If you pay ahead of time you’ll have to walk to the side to remind them you’re ready pick up your coffee – which is jumping the line.
Anyway I can’t walk out fifteen minutes before my break to order the coffee, and at lunch time I don’t know whether I’m going to want a coffee in three hours time…
There has to be a way that a provision can be made for staff. That’s just plain silly, Rosie. Get your ruddy thinking caps on, Management!! Look after your staff for goodness sake!
Hi Amy,
Management supplies us with coffee and tea bags in the break rooms. We used to get “Coffee-Bean-and-Tea-Leaf” coffee which was great, but they’re now giving us some awful stuff that’s a distant cousin to what I’d call coffee. I tried drinking it, I really did, but …
Hi,
It doesn’t seem right that staff on limited time can’t get a cup of coffee and drink it on their break. Is there nowhere you could plug in one of those little traveling heaters that are used to boil water in a tin mug?
That is unreal the top with “got ghosts” on it, maybe someone or something is trying to tell you something, be on the look out. 🙂
OMG I didn’t expect that to happen please feel free to delete it out.
Hi Mags,
I did delete it because it was an advert.
I’ve seen those little hot water immersion heaters, but we’ve never used them. Last time we were in Italy I brought my large American traveling mug with me and just asked the restaurant where we were eating to fill my cup with hot water and they always did.
Hi Mags,
I don’t need to bring a traveling hot water heater, because we can get boiling water in the break rooms.
We used to get really good coffee in the break rooms, but they’re now giving us some awful stuff that’s a distant cousin to what I’d call coffee. I bring my own tea bags from home, but as I don’t like instant coffee I’d have to make my own filter coffee which isn’t as simple as adding a teaspoon of coffee to a cup, plus I don’t use that “coffee creamer” stuff, so I have to bring my own milk. It’s simpler just to go buy the coffee from the coffee cart.
I agree with you that I’m being told “something by someone”. Wish I knew what! When I saw the guy in the “got ghosts” sweat shirt I almost choked.
What a Catch 22! I hate, deplore any scenario that sets one up for playing “gotcha”. Let reason prevail, please.
Hi Georgette,
I don’t know whether other museums have special lines for staff at their coffee carts but I must say it feels good to know you’re on my side.
love the pic as it caught me by surprise.
The picture caught you by surprise? Imagine how I felt when I looked up and saw it standing in front of me!
🙂 Timing is everything!
If I’d seen his sweatshirt last month I wonder whether I would have even noticed it.
Oh, what a stupid situation — I can’t stand when people at work don’t hang together! After your last ghostly posting, I can only imagine this t-shirt totally freaked out out!! (You need a good hike, honey!)
Betty when I looked up and saw that sweatshirt I broke out into a sweat and almost choked. I had to take his photo or you’d never have believed me 🙂
Mr F and I went on a seven mile hike on Saturday in a beautiful canyon we’d never been to before. It was lovely and we enjoyed the new experience of hiking in the rain.
Don’t you just love rules that just make absolutely no sense! I understand the “walking away”–I tend to do the same thing because if I stay I’m going to get into an argument. We’ll have to think about this…I love coming up with end-runs around such situations! Debra
Hi Debra
Oh yaay a kindred spirit 🙂
I so look forward to meeting you at my cash register I know you’re going to find me one of these days…
Well, here’s a question for you. Do you have to have hot coffee, or do you enjoy iced? I have the world’s best recipe for making cold-brewed iced coffee. You could take enough of the elixir with you for as many cups as you want, add ice (and milk and sugar if you prefer) and avoid the hassle completely. Surely they provide ice for you somewhere!
Yes please Linda I would love to get your recipe.
I only need a cup of hot coffee on cold days, and in LA we don’t have many of them. Mind you it was so windy yesterday – and it was a cold wind – that I really wanted a hot coffee.
Here you go: Mix 1/2 cup coarsely ground coffee and 2 cups water in a jar, large measuring cup, or other container. Let stand overnight or for at least 12 hours at room temperature. Strain into another container – I use a metal sieve and a paper coffee filter. Chill. When ready to serve, add water, ice, milk, sugar to taste. Makes four servings.
I like it half and half with milk and a little sugar. Sometimes I just add ice and a bit of water. Because there’s no bitterness at all, you’ll think it’s not as strong as it is – the dose of caffeine is healthy. That’s why I like it with milk. I’m making it with Starbuck’s Verona just now – there actually are some hints of chocolate to the flavor!
That’s all you do? Wow thank you Linda, I can’t wait to try it.
So when I bring it to work is it OK that it won’t be in the fridge?
I don’t usually drink black coffee but I’m going to try it both ways
In the UK We can buy one serving coffee filter cups – just add hot water, milk, sugar etc. They work out expensive for general use, but ok for the odd cup. There is also an excellent brand of freeze dried instant, advertised as tasting like filter coffee (it does), which I sometimes use – again, not cheap, but worth it, for that emergency caffeine fix.
The slogan on the top is a little freaky, given the subject of your last post – don’t you just love it when things like that happen? 🙂
Hi Jacqueline,
I must have a look at our coffee chain stores, we may also have those single serving coffee filter cups. I’ve seen the single serving “instant coffee” but haven’t tried them because I really don’t like instant coffee. It makes me feel nauseous.
It’s not fair. There should be a separate line for staffs. This rule does not make any sense. I hope your management will realize it very quickly.
Hi Arindam,
What happens in India? Do staff at museums have to stand in the same line as the visitors?
I am not sure about museums, but in most of the places in India there are separate lines for staffs & visitors. And I think it’s fair enough. 🙂
I’d love to hear from other readers whether they have to line up with visitors at the coffee cart at their place of work.