Sure, the media (and social media) & everyone else is abuzz about Lake Superior’s State University List of Proposed Banned Words for this year. While it’s somewhat amusing to look them over, and perhaps even more amusing to look up to see who/where Lake Superior State University actually is, we’re taking it one step further and giving our own input of a few words we’d like to ban from the Truck. Yes, this might be directed at you- please, if yer sensitive, please click away.
Caramel macchiato Um, no. A macchiato includes espresso “marked” with milk. (Wiki). Around the world this would include a dab of foam, but we prefer a very short free pour of steamed milk. We serve ours in a demitasse cup- only, and without any other flavoring. We can make you an (off the menu) caramel latte if you’d like- but we prefer to use the appropriate names for drinks (macchiato), as well as make them in a ‘proper’ way (sans caramel).
“Extra Hot” Cappuccino. We hope you trust our staff of professional baristi to know how to make you a drink that will taste better than you can make- if not a whole lot better than other places. We can customize drinks for you, in almost any way. Though we can’t pour overly hot steamed milk in a cappuccino. Trust us. A cappuccino should be able to be enjoyed right away- the temperature (cooler than a latte) improves the flavor and experience. Please understand that we will smile and do our best to make you the best drink possible- we’re also happy to explain why we make drinks a certain way. Thankfully, lots of customers have thanked us for these tips- and drinks.
Grande. Since 2007, our Orange Truck has been rolling around San Diego, offering drinks in two sizes: Lil’ and Big (or, if you will, “Small” & “Large”). While we appreciate you trying to order sizes in other languages, a “grande” (to us) is a larger (16 oz (hot) cup), not a 12 oz (lil’) one. Please understand that we will confirm your size with our “creatively” branded sizes (“um, would you like a little or big cup?”)- not to make you look silly, but just in case you have made a mistake (it’s possible) with your spanish as a second language skills. For us, a “tall” cup would be a larger one. The only passable usage at the Truck would be, “Man, the Naranja Grande is the bee’s knees.”
Iced Cappuccino. There’s no way in hell (or even Little Italy) we can make an iced capp, including putting warm foam atop an iced drink. An iced latte? Sure, but once you start asking to layer warm milk on a cold drink (b/c you’ve seen someone else order it somewhere else perhaps?), we encourage you to listen to our explanation of why we think it’s a really bad idea.
Regular. We prefer to divide the world into two kinds of people- those who divide the world into two kinds of people- and those who don’t. We find those who order a “regular” drink are, for sure, world dividers. What’s “regular” for you may not be “regular” than someone else. We’re also made a little uncomfortable by claiming your preferred drink a “regular” separates you from “the other” (think Sartre over Hegel here), whose “irregular” drink is ‘off,’ and thus not as good as yours. Please keep this in mind when we ask if you’d like a “regular 12 oz” or “regular 16 oz” drink the next time you order your regular nonfat sugar-free soy vanilla latte with a little coconut whipped cream. 🙂
As for more words, oh well, there’s no room for ALL of ’em. Try just to look out for other people, listen to what people are saying, and to not drive all crazy like the majority of drivers here in San Diego. Be nice to others. Recycle. And please clean up after yourselves. Or at least put your trash in a proper waste receptacle.
Thanks for listening. Ciao for now,
David & the JOTN Barista Crew
Prose on the Nose- The Caffeinated Blog. 