These days it's harder and harder to find a good cup of old fashioned coffee shop coffee in Los Angeles. It's hard to believe there was a time when coffee wasn't served by Barista's at caffeine pusher chains into cardboard cups with sleeves to protect your hand from burning. I'm talking about the days before the fancy latte and Tall, Grande or Venti servings. Ordering a cup of coffee was just that -- a cup of coffee poured into a heavy duty restaurant-style cup set nicely on a doily lined saucer. What was best about the deal is you could usually get an entire breakfast for what the average cup goes for now. Sure, I may be holding onto the past with an over glorified sentiment but I can't help myself. The impersonal interactions I've encountered when getting my morning rush fix have left me feeling weak. I miss the days of Norms, Chips, Googie, Tiny Naylor's and the rest. I've got a problem with leaving an obligated tip for someone who does nothing more than hand my order to me over a counter cluttered with CDs, breath mints and an array of over priced brand products. I have no problem leaving a tip to someone who returns to my table now and then to freshen up my coffee and knows just how much to pour.
Comments
Made the cup of joe seem, well special. In that grandma sense of special.
Kind of like the starchy and greasy plate of comfort you ordered before that slice of pie and cup of mud.
I used to think those paper doilies were something really special as a kid. Like handmade lace.
What did I know? I was 3 or 4 at the time. Everything the world had to offer was cool.
There was an old woman who lived down the street from us. I used to visit with her a lot. She would make these little nosegays for myself and my sister with those doilies. Snipped a few flowers from her garden. Usually a hydrangea bud. We thought we were so cool. She'd fill us up with cookies and lemonade (thinking back on this aspect --was she sending a message to my mom?), and would give us a piece of black licorice for "the road."
Memories...