Place Description:
I am writing about the coffee shop I work at called Caribou Coffee. It is a chain that is based out of Minnesota. When you walk in there is an instant cabin feel. It is a longer, more narrow coffee shop. Right when you walk in there is merchandise and coffee that can be purchased on shelves both sides. Then past that on the left side is the bakery case and refrigerated case with an assortment of bakery items, bagels, fruit cup, yogurt, bottled beverages, etc. The registers are next the bakery/refrigerated case and then behind them on a counter are the coffee makers. To the right of the coffee makers is a sink, and then even further right is the “cold bar.” This is where most of the cold drinks are made with the ice bin and blenders, as well as, the ingredients for most of the cold drinks. To the right of the registers, and across from the “cold bar” is the “hot bar.” This is where the espresso machines are as well as ingredients for the hot drinks and such. There is a swinging door to the right of both the hot and cold bar. This leads to the back room where inventory is stored on huge shelves that go up to the ceiling and in a big freezer and refrigerator. In the very back of the back room, there is a desk with the store compouture and also the sinks where the dishes are done. Going back the the view from entering the store, to the right on the other side of the merchandise is a seating area with floor to ceiling windows and about 6 wooden tables with wooden chairs around them. There is a stone gas fireplace off to the left of that first seating area with four comfy chairs surrounding two sides of it. Further to the left there is a big wooden rectangular table that has six wooden chairs around it. To the left more is the mixing station with sugar, creme, and really anything someone would want to add to their coffee, tea, etc. Then towards the back of the store there is more seating on both sides with big windows on the right wall. If you walk all the way to the back and take a left that’s where the bathrooms are, and there is also a door on the back wall that leads to the back where garbage can be taken out.
Outline:
I will be writing about a "typical" opening shift at Caribou Coffee as a Shift Supervisor. I am dividing it up into three (might change it to four) parts that are at different times of the day. I will be writing another group of vignettes with a "typical" closing shift as well, however, I only did an outline for the opening shift.
Sunday 5:15 AM
When opening the store there is typically only one other person. The exception is if someone is training, or if there is a big promotion that day. Amy is the Team member that is helping me open the store that day. She is a senior is High School, has medium length brown hair that is almost always straightened, brown eyes, and about 5’ 4” in height. There isn’t much talking during the first few hours of getting the store prepped and opening the store because it is so early and both of us are really tired. I unlock the door, turn off the alarm, we clock in, and I instantly make my favorite drink (a cold brew with a shot of milk chocolate). I time the espresso machines, turn on the oven for heating up, count the safe, do some computer work, and prep the rest of the bar area. Amy sets up the bakery case, assigns herself to a register, makes coffee, and preps the bagels since they have to unthaw in the oven. After opening the store sunday mornings are typically not that busy until later. I pull sandwiches from the freezer and put them in the refrigerator to unthaw for the next day. I complete the orders I wasn’t able to get done before we opened and then Amy and I wait. We talk just about life. If it’s really dead we will sit in the comfy chairs and wait for customers. On the rare occasion of having motivation, we will clean something. It takes awhile for my mind to wake up, but the coffee definitely makes me jittery. About an hour and a half into a morning shift I can’t sit still because of how much coffee I drank. Opening shifts aren’t fun because of how early they are, but they are actually quite peaceful for the first ew hours. A few regulars come in. Around 9:00 AM, things start picking up.
Sunday 9:00 AM
At 9:00 AM, a third person comes in, Rachel A. The “after church rush” is going to come in around 9:30 AM and we need to be ready. We prep everything, making sure everything is well stocked so we don’t have to waste time re-stocking it during the rush. People start to come into the store in big groups. Families, friends groups, and even business groups. The line gets bigger and bigger and the pace gets faster. During the winter months the line turns into more of a blob as people try to cram into the entryway to get out of the cold. The peaceful morning quickly slips away to noisy chaos. For some, this can be stressful, and even for me at times it is stressful (especially when someone orders a coffeeless cooler). One person on register, one person on bar, and the other helping out wherever is needed at the moment. Some customers are just happy to be there, with their families, taking their time. Others need coffee and they need it now. The oven is running non-stop, heating up bagels, sandwiches, and bakery. The store is so lively.
Sunday 12:00 AM
The “after church rush” is dying down. Still quite a few people in the sitting areas. This is the time to clean up all of the messes that were made during the rush. The second shift supervisor comes in to take my position so I get go home! It’s Rachael M. She is bubbly and fun. She has short dirty blonde hair and lots of piercings on her ears and a nose ring. She also has a pretty tattoo of flowers on her forearm. There is lots of relief when she comes in. I have successfully made it through another morning. Rachel M is one of my favorite coworkers and we usually like to go to the back right when she gets in a talk about the latest gossip going around the store. Lot’s of it revolves around our manager. Nice guy, but is also pretty lazy. By that time I have had enough cold press (fancy word Caribou uses to describe cold brew/iced coffee), so I make myself a milk chocolate mocha. This is the time everyone takes to breath and relax before the next rush. It is peaceful again, but a different kind of peaceful. There is a soft sound of the customers in the shop talking amongst themselves, and the occasional sound of a drink being made. There is a slow, yet steady flow of customers coming in, and with no line, there is often conversation that is made between the worker and the customer. I seperate the tips, put on my jacket, and gather all my things. I say goodbye to everyone and walk out the doors to my car.
Rough Draft 1
Sunday, 4:45 am, Winter
“Why.. just why”, I think as I turn off my first of many alarms ringing loudly trying to get my lazy ass out of bed. I grumpily flip around to face away from my phone that rudely woke me up and fall back asleep. Five minutes later, more ringing, but it’s somehow it’s even more annoying than the first time. Half-asleep me seems to always know how to cheat the system and turn off the remaining four alarms knowing full well that I am going to risk being late in doing so. I fall asleep for a second time. Ten minutes pass. Then ten more. Almost as if my subconscious knows what’s at stake, I wake up in a panic, lunge for my phone, it’s 5:10 am. “SHIT!” I hear my mom yell from her room with concern, “Lauren are you ok? Is everything ok?” I scramble out of bed and fling open the doors to my closet. “Yup! Everything’s fine mom!” As I struggle to find a clean pair of jeans, I realize how cold it is in my room. Last night it got down to -10 degrees and my mom is pretty cheap when it comes to turning on the heat in the winter. I end up just grabbing the jeans I wore to work last time and look at the clock, it’s now 5:12. “It’s already been two minuets!?”, I think to myself. I run over to my dresser, grab the first t-shirt I see and put it on, grab my keys, my phone, and my favorite sweatshirt off my desk. I grab my coat off the railing and thunder down the stairs. There is no time to even put on my shoes so instead I just grab those too and race out the door. It slams behind me. I get into my car and toss everything into the passenger seat. It’s now 5:14. I have one minute to be one time. I pull out of the garage and down the driveway. I have gotten to work in two minutes before, and so if I can make it in that time I’ll only be a minute late. That’s fine. I turn onto the road and drive like a madman going 60 mph in a 40. I take a right at an uncomfortably fast speed down a back road and then I can see it. I’m so close and the clock just turned 5:15. I can make it. I see a familiar car already waiting in the parking lot. I pull up right next to it and cheekily grin at the driver. It’s Amy, one of my favorite co-workers, and I am very happy to see that I’ll be opening with her. I open my door and swing my legs around so I can put on my shoes. I just finally realize how cold it is outside. I thought my room was cold, but this is much worse. As Amy gets out of her car making fun of me for always running late, I shove on my second shoe and quickly put on my coat for the 28 second walk to the front door. “Well good morning to you too”, I mumble as I rub my eyes. We shuffle to the door. The morning is still, snow is lightly falling. I look up at our unlit sign, Caribou Coffee, and can’t help but smile. I may not be a morning person, but hell I’m excited for some free coffee.
Rough Draft 2
Sunday 4:45 AM Winter
“Why.. just why”, I think as I turn off my first of many alarms ringing loudly trying to get my lazy ass out of bed. I grumpily flip around to face away from my phone that rudely woke me up and fall back asleep. Five minutes later, more ringing, but it’s somehow it’s even more annoying than the first time. Half-asleep me seems to always know how to cheat the system and turn off the remaining four alarms knowing full well that I am going to risk being late in doing so. I fall asleep for a second time. Ten minutes pass. Then ten more. Almost as if my subconscious knows what’s at stake, I wake up in a panic, lunge for my phone, it’s 5:10 am. “SHIT!” I hear my mom yell from her room with concern, “Lauren are you ok? Is everything ok?” I scramble out of bed and fling open the doors to my closet. “Yup! Everything’s fine mom!” As I struggle to find a clean pair of jeans, I realize how cold it is in my room. Last night it got down to -10 degrees and my mom is pretty cheap when it comes to turning on the heat in the winter. I end up just grabbing the jeans I wore to work last time and look at the clock, it’s now 5:12. “It’s already been two minuets!?”, I think to myself. I run over to my dresser, grab the first t-shirt I see and put it on, grab my keys, my phone, and my favorite sweatshirt off my desk. I grab my coat off the railing and thunder down the stairs. There is no time to even put on my shoes so instead I just grab those too and race out the door. It slams behind me. I get into my car and toss everything into the passenger seat. It’s now 5:14. I have one minute to be one time. I pull out of the garage and down the driveway. I have gotten to work in two minutes before, and so if I can make it in that time I’ll only be a minute late. That’s fine. I turn onto the road and drive like a madman going 60 mph in a 40. I take a right at an uncomfortably fast speed down a back road and then I can see it. I’m so close and the clock just turned 5:15. I can make it. I see a familiar car already waiting in the parking lot. I pull up right next to it and cheekily grin at the driver. It’s Amy, one of my favorite co-workers, and I am very happy to see that I’ll be opening with her. I open my door and swing my legs around so I can put on my shoes. I just finally realize how cold it is outside. I thought my room was cold, but this is much worse. As Amy gets out of her car making fun of me for always running late, I shove on my second shoe and quickly put on my coat for the 28 second walk to the front door. “Well good morning to you too”, I mumble as I rub my eyes. We shuffle to the door. The morning is still, snow is lightly falling. I look up at our unlit sign, Caribou Coffee, my work, basically my second home, and can’t help but smile. I may not be a morning person, but hell I’m excited for some damn good coffee.
Sunday 5:15 AM Summer
As I sit in my car, I have the air conditioning blasting already dreading the fact that I am wearing pants in 70 degree weather. The sun isn’t even out yet, and when it does come out it’s only going to get hotter. The song “Defying Gravity” from the play Wicked is blaring through the speakers. I’m in a theater music mood this particular morning. I see a white toyota in my rearview mirror pulling into a parking spot in the next row back. It’s 5:15 exactly, “right on time Amy” I say aloud as I turn off my car. I hit a wall of moisture as I get out of the car. If the temperature wasn’t already bad enough, the humidity made things ten times worse. “You awake?!”, I yell back to Amy as she sleepily gets out of her own car. As I start walking to the door, I hear a grunt behind me. I fumble around for the store key and then struggle with the door. No matter how many times I have to lock and unlock this damn door it never gets easier. I hear the click, we’re in. I swiftly walk to the backroom so I can shut off the alarm before it can go off, Amy is slowly trailing behind me. I toss all my stuff on the chair in the back and then go back to the front to start getting the store prepped to open. I like to try and get all the prep done as fast as I can so I can have some time to just relax before officially opening the store, but the first I need coffee. Almost robotically, I open one the the fridge and pull out the pitcher with the iced coffee and put it on the counter. I reach for a large cold cup, put in 4 pumps of milk chocolate, and fill just about the entire thing up with coffee, leaving an inch for ice. After taking one sip I feel a little more awake. Awake enough to start grinding out all of the preparatory tasks that need to get done.
While Amy preps the bakery case, brews the coffee, and gets a drawer setup, I start the oven, get ice for the bin, get scoops for all of the toppings, count the safe, place orders for more bakery items and sandwiches, and time the espresso machines. Timing the machines is always my least favorite thing to do, but it’s also one of the most important things to do for prep. The machines have to be between 20-25 second when pouring the espresso otherwise it will taste bitter if it’s over or under that time. On humid days, the machines always seem to have a mind of their own and today was no exception. They didn’t seem to want to stay within the time they needed to. Finally, after about 15 minutes of trying to get them to cooperate, they are all in the time frame they needed to be. I check my phone, it’s 5:45 am. Even with the machines being difficult, I finished my prep early and now I have 15 minutes to relax before the busy morning starts.
This is always my favorite part of a morning shift. Amy is also done with her morning prep, so we take our drinks and sit in the comfy chairs by the fireplace, the sun still behind the horizon and the sky a dark navy blue. Even with it being a hot summer morning, there is just something so comforting about sitting next to a fireplace, in a worn out leather chair that has honestly seen better days... (TBC)
Sunday 9:00 AM Fall
“Oh great, here comes the first rush of customers”, I say in my most sarcastic voice as I watch a group of cars all pull into the parking lot at the same time. I’m already three large iced coffees in and it’s only 9:00 in the morning. My entire body is shaking as the caffeine runs through my veins. I watch as one by one people get out of their cars and rush to get inside, clutching their jackets and burying their faces in the collars to try and block the harsh fall wind from their faces. Relief floods their face as they file through the doors, a blast of hot air welcoming them in... (TBC)
“Good morning, are you a parks member?”
Sunday 11:47 AM Spring
(TBC)
Final Essay
https://docs.google.com/document/d/16QqW57d1iF6RXMoCTMZqgyza0i4MDFQPQiig8hpH3TY/edit?usp=sharing
My Coffee Shop
Sunday 4:45 AM Winter
“Why...just why”, I think as I turn off my first of many alarms ringing loudly trying to get my lazy ass out of bed. I grumpily flip around to face away from my phone that rudely woke me up and fall back asleep. Five minutes later, more ringing, but it’s somehow it’s even more annoying than the first time. Half-asleep me seems to always know how to cheat the system and turn off the remaining four alarms knowing full well that I am going to risk being late in doing so. I fall asleep for a second time. Ten minutes pass. Then ten more. Almost as if my subconscious knows what’s at stake, I wake up in a panic, lunge for my phone, it’s 5:10 am.
“SHIT!”
I hear my mom yell from her room with concern, “Lauren are you ok? Is everything ok?”
I scramble out of bed and fling open the doors to my closet, “Yup! Everything’s fine mom!”
As I struggle to find a clean pair of jeans, I realize how cold it is in my room. Last night it got down to -10 degrees and my mom is pretty cheap when it comes to turning on the heat in the winter. I end up just grabbing the jeans I wore to work last time and look at the clock, it’s now 5:12. “It’s already been two minutes!?”, I think to myself. I run over to my dresser, grab the first t-shirt I see and put it on, grab my keys, my phone, and my favorite sweatshirt off my desk. I grab my coat off the railing and thunder down the stairs. There is no time to even put on my shoes so instead I just grab those too and race out the door. It slams behind me.
I get into my car and toss everything into the passenger seat. It’s now 5:14. I have one minute to be on time. I pull out of the garage and down the driveway. I have gotten to work in two minutes before, and so if I can make it in that time, I’ll only be a minute late. That’s fine. I turn onto the road and drive like a madman going 60 mph in a 40. I take a right at an uncomfortably fast speed down a back road not even taking into consideration that there could be ice on the roads, and then I can see it. I’m so close and the clock just turned 5:15. I can make it. I see a familiar car already waiting in the parking lot. I pull up right next to it and cheekily grin at the driver. It’s Kierstyn, one of my favorite co-workers, and I am very happy to see that I’ll be opening with her. I open my door and swing my legs around so I can put on my shoes. I just finally realize how cold it is outside. I thought my room was cold, but this is much worse. As Kierstyn gets out of her car making fun of me for always running late, I shove on my second shoe and quickly put on my coat for the 28 second walk to the front door. “Well good morning to you too”, I mumble as I rub my eyes. We shuffle to the door. The morning is still, snow is lightly falling. I look up at our unlit sign, Caribou Coffee, my work, basically my second home, and can’t help but smile. I may not be a morning person, but hell I’m excited for some damn good coffee.
Sunday 5:15 AM Summer
As I sit in my car, I have the air conditioning blasting already dreading the fact that I am wearing pants in 70 degree weather. The sun isn’t even out yet, and when it does come out, it’s only going to get hotter. The song “Defying Gravity” from the play Wicked is blaring through the speakers. I’m in a theater music mood this particular morning. I see a white toyota in my rearview mirror pulling into a parking spot in the next row back. It’s 5:15 exactly, “right on time Amy”, I say aloud as I turn off my car. I hit a wall of moisture as I get out. If the temperature wasn’t already bad enough, the humidity makes things ten times worse.
“You awake?!”, I yell back to Amy as she sleepily gets out of her own car. As I start walking to the door, I hear a grunt behind me.
I fumble around for the store key and then struggle with the door. No matter how many times I have to lock and unlock this damn door it never gets easier. I hear the click, we’re in. I swiftly walk to the backroom so I can shut off the alarm before it can go off, Amy is slowly trailing behind me. I toss all my stuff on the chair in the back and then walk back to the front to start getting the store prepped to open. I like to try and get all the prep done as fast as I can so I can have some time to just relax before officially opening the store, but first I need coffee. Almost robotically, I open the fridge and pull out the pitcher with the iced coffee and put it on the counter. I reach for a large cold cup, put in 4 pumps of milk chocolate, and fill just about the entire thing up with coffee, leaving an inch for ice. After taking one sip I feel a little more awake. Awake enough to start grinding out all of the preparatory tasks that need to get done.
While Amy preps the bakery case, brews the coffee, and gets a drawer setup, I start the oven, get ice for the bin, get scoops for all of the toppings, count the safe, place orders for more bakery items and sandwiches, and time the espresso machines.
Timing the machines is always my least favorite thing to do, but it’s also one of the most important things to do for prep. The machines have to be between 20-25 second when pouring the espresso, otherwise, it will taste bitter if it’s over or under that time. On humid days, the machines always seem to have a mind of their own and today was no exception. They didn’t seem to want to stay within the time they needed to. Finally, after about 15 minutes of trying to get them to cooperate, they are all in the time frame they needed to be. I check my phone, it’s 5:45 am. Even with the machines being difficult, I finished my prep early and now I have 15 minutes to relax before the busy morning starts.
This is always my favorite part of a morning shift. Amy is also done with her morning prep, so we take our drinks and sit in the comfy chairs by the fireplace, the sun still behind the horizon and the sky a dark navy blue. Even with it being a hot summer morning, there is just something so comforting about sitting next to a fireplace in a worn out leather chair that has honestly seen better days. I know that in a few hours this store will be flooded with people ordering iced and blended drinks, complaining about the heat and humidity, but still with smiles on their faces. The sun will be shining bright, fluffy clouds will be lazily floating across the sky giving brief moments of shade, but this weather won’t last for long. I mean, it’s Minnesota. It’ll probably be freezing again in the next couple months.
Sunday 9:00 AM Fall
“Oh great, here comes the first rush of customers”, I say in my most sarcastic voice as I watch a group of cars all pull into the parking lot at the same time. I’m already three large iced coffees in and it’s only 9:00 in the morning. My entire body is shaking as the caffeine runs through my veins. I watch as one by one people get out of their cars and rush to get inside, clutching their jackets and burying their faces in the collars to try and block the harsh fall wind from their faces. Leaves dance around the parking lot, swirling in graceful twirls as the wind blows harder. Relief floods the customers faces as they file through the doors, a blast of hot air welcoming them in. I take a sip of my coffee and set it aside. The after church rush is starting, and I need to be ready to make drinks non stop for a solid two hours.
I hear Amy welcome the first customer with the familiar Caribou greeting, “Hi, welcome to caribou! Are you a perks member?”
“Yes I am! Number is 952…”
I listen closely.
“I’ll have a medium Northern Light latte with sugar free vanilla.”
As soon as I hear the customer’s order, I start to make it. The line is only going to get longer, and I need to try and get ahead of the orders as much as I can before they start piling up on the screen. The next order is a caramel Cooler, and the one after that is an americano with an extra shot. While the milk is still steaming and the espresso shots are being poured for the latte, I get the Cooler ready and put it in the blender. I then go back to the latte. Four pumps of sugar free vanilla, pour in the two shots, and then pour in the steamed milk, holding back the foam until the very end. Perfect!
“Medium Northern Light latte! Sugar free vanilla!”, I yell while placing it on the pick-up counter. As they come to pick up their drink, I smile. “Have a nice day!”, I say in my most cheerful voice. I may be tired, even after all that coffee, but I can’t show it.
I quickly turn around to the cold bar where the Cooler is waiting blended and ready to be poured. I reach for a large cup and swiftly pour it in. One of my favorite things to do is to put whip cream on blended beverages. I would like to say that it is an art that needs to be perfected as a barista, and I have most definitely perfected it. I start by carefully lining the rim and then create a base. After that I go up into smaller and smaller circles until it is like a little mountain of whip cream with a cute little curl at the top. I snap on the lid and grab a straw.
I yell out the order and place it on the pick up counter, “Large caramel cooler!”
Once I’m a few drinks in, I start to get into my rhythm. I will sometimes work on three drinks at once. I’m yelling out orders left and right, and saying, “have a nice day”, so many times that I feel like a broken record. Every so often, I grab the towel I keep under the espresso machine to quickly wipe down the counters because I am someone that can’t work well if my work space is dirty. When trying to make drinks as quickly as possible, it is inevitable that I’ll spill milk, toppings, espresso, etc. I am keeping myself so busy that I don’t even notice Rachel walk in at 9:30. Once she’s clocked in she assists me on bar. I make the actual drinks and then she tops them off with whatever they need and gives them to the customers. With both of us working together, we fly through the orders, but still people keep piling in. What use to be a line is now just a big blob of people trying to all squeeze inside to keep out of the wind. I take a quick look at the clock and it reads 10:00 AM. It has already been an hour since the rush started! It feels like it has only been 20 minutes. Although a rush can be stressful, they help the time go by fast.
There is a brief break in the “after church rush”, and I realize how hot I am from running around doing everything. I take a moment to relax. I grab my coffee that I stashed under the counter so it wouldn’t get in the way, and then bring some of the dirty dishes back to the sinks. As I walk back out to the front, I feel a gush of wind from outside through the door as a customer is leaving. I take a breath. There are more cars pulling into the parking lot and I know that the next rush is about to start. I quickly wipe down the counters again and do a little bit of tidying up. The doors open, a gust of wind hits my face. Here we go again.
Sunday 11:47 AM Spring
It’s been a long day. Almost seven hours to be exact. Today is the first warm day of the year getting to get up to 55 degrees, and I can’t wait to get off work so I can enjoy it. “Only 13 more minutes left and then I get to go home!”, I think to myself as I rinse off a plate and put it into the sink filled with sanitizer. I have been washing dishes for almost an hour and honestly there is nothing better than being able to hang out in the back, listen to music, and not have to talk to any more customers after a long and busy day. It is actually surprising that I have been able to stay back here so long since I am typically called to help on bar from time to time if there is a rush. Just when I think I’ll be able to make it through the shift without having to go back out, I hear Rachel A’s voice.
“Lauren! I need your help!”
“Damn it”, I whisper under my breath.
I wipe my hands off on my apron and turn off my music. The song “Morning in America” by Jon Bellion had just started playing which made me even more sad that I had to leave. When I walked out, there was already a cluster of people waiting for their drinks, as well as a line out the door. I sighed and looked at the drinks that still needed to be made. The weather definitely was playing a role in what people were ordering because there were a lot of blended and iced beverages.
“Want me to be on hot bar, or cold bar?”, I asked Rachel A.
“You can chose it doesn’t matter”, she replied over her shoulder as she rinsed pitchers in the sink.
I decided to go on the cold bar only because I wanted to do the whip cream on the blended beverages. I’m in my zone, making the drinks like it’s second nature, forgetting that my shift is almost over until someone hugs me from the side. It’s Rachel. Also known as, “Shift supervisor Rachel”, or “Rachel M”.
“Ya missed me?”, she asks with a big grin on her face.
I was so happy she was there because not only was she one of my favorite co-worker, but that also meant that I could go home now.
“Oh, I guess I missed you just a little”, I replied sarcastically.
As soon Rachel clocks in, she takes over the cold bar for me so I can leave. I grab the tip jar and bring it to the back so I can divide them up. Technically we are suppose to count tips once we are clocked out, but no one ever does. I dump the money on the desk and bring the jar back out the the front in case there are any more customers. Once I’m in the back again, I divide the tips three ways. Some for me, some for Amy, and some for Rachel A.
I look at my phone and the time reads 12:07. I should have been off seven minutes ago, but anyone who works here knows that you never actually get off work on time. I put my coworkers tips in little brown paper bakery bags, and write their names on them in red sharpy. I also draw a smiley face on each of them for good measure. Now it’s 12:10 and I am ready to leave. I grab my keys, my tips, my phone, and my jacket. There are still quite a few people that are in line, but the rush is definitely dying down. I walk over to the first register, click time clock, then enter my number, 22, type in my declared tips, and clock out. I’m done!
I decide to make myself another iced coffee before I leave. I grab the pitcher out from the refrigerator, put in 4 pumps of milk chocolate, fill it almost to the top, and leave an inch for ice.
“Bye Guys! See you tomorrow Rachel!”, I say as I walk out.
“Bye!”, they all respond in unison.
As I push open the door and step outside, I hear birds chirping in the little trees that border the parking lot. The air smells fresh, and the sun is warm against my skin. After a long drawn out winter, I am ready for spring to finally be here. I get in my car and toss everything in my passenger seat, including my jacket. It’s 55 degrees, I don’t need it. I connect my phone to the aux cord, the song Morning in America by Jon Bellion still paused right at the beginning. I can’t help but smile.It’s such a beautiful day and this song is perfect for the mood I’m in. I roll down my windows and start the car. Before I pull away, I take one last look at the now lit sign; Caribou Coffee, my work, basically my second home. As I pull away, I take a sip of my cold press and can’t help but think, “damn that’s good.”
Things to Consider
Things to consider for this paper in particular…
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Are there enough details when simply describing the place?
There is enough detail. I have worked there for almost two years now and know this place like the back of my hand.
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How do you establish yourself as credible?
Like I said before. I have worked at my Caribou Coffee location for almost two years now. I go there all the time even when I am not working. There were times where I would be pulling 30 hour weeks during the summer, both opening and closing shifts. I am also a shift supervisor so I have gained even more experience through that. I am very knowledgeable about the company itself and my specific store.
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How do you move a discussion of a place into a new unique are? Is it same ol’?
How I am going about describing this place and my experiences is by walking my audience through a Sunday; almost like a “day in the life” of a barista. However, I can see where that would be pretty boring if I just stuck with simple things that happen on an average day. So I will be writing in vignettes and talk about specific events that have happened during certain times during the day at my store specifically. I will make it seem like it’s over the span of one day though. I have some crazy stories, including having the president of the company come into MY store.
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What do we need to know about the intended audience?
I would say the intended audience would be people that have gone to Caribou Coffee before, or know about it. While it does match up to lots of stereotypical assumptions of a chain coffee shop, there are many things that set it apart as well, and unless you know of Caribou Coffee, it might be hard to recognise that.
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What values do you assume your readers have? How are you tapping into it with your place?
Since Caribou Coffee is based out of Minnesota, and the place is in Minnesota, I will be assuming that my readers will understand my references to “Minnesota nice” and the atmosphere that the Midwest has. People from the North are very prideful of where they come from (especially Minnesotans). Part of this is simply because it truly is a great state tand another part has to do with the fact that it is extremely underrated and people from the North feel like they need to be prideful of where they come from as a way to justify why they choose to live there.
Character
Name: Lauren Revsbech (Not sure if I’ll be giving myself a name in the story)
Gender: Female
Age and Date of Birth (as your story does not need to have a contemporary
setting): Age is 19 and DOB is 9/25/1998
Birth City: Chanhassen, MN
Parent’s Names: Dan and Lori (Stepmom Jane)
Siblings: Ross, Claire, Andy, Tony
Ethnicity: White
Pets: Calico cat at name Speckles
Education: High School is Minnetonka, College is FSU
Favorite Movie: Deadpool
Favorite TV Show: Gossip Girl
Favorite Book: Tigers Curse series or Harry Potter series
Favorite Food: Sesame Chicken
Favorite Day of the Week: Friday
Favorite Hobby: Reading and Napping
Favorite Drink: Dr. Pepper and/or Chocolate Milk (Favorite drink at caribou is a Large Cold Press with a full shot of Milk Chocolate)
Favorite Band: Jon Bellion and Hippo Campus
Favorite Song: (Currently) Cherry Wine by Hoizer
Favorite Halloween Costume (if s/he celebrated Halloween): Deadpool
Religious affiliation: Christian
Political affiliation: On the fence (doesn’t like getting involved with politics to be honest)
Love interest(s): I wish
Eye Color: Dark blue
Hair Color and Style: Long curly hair, dirty blonde
Height: 5’ 5”
Weight: 140 lbs
Skin Tone: KINDA tan, but also kinda not
Facial Description (does s/he have a unique nose, forehead, eyes, ears, lips,
ect.?): Has big eyes, round face
Clothes (what s/he is wearing or usually wears): Jeans and a plain shirt, either grubby old maroon hightop converse, or black sketcher work shoes
Other Physical Characteristics (booty, busty, muscular, corpulent, scrawny,
disproportioned, ect.): Athletic build, muscular thighs, long legs, super short upper body, high waist
(I’m going to do these specifically with work since that’s where the stories will take place)
Defining Moments: When there are rushes
The one childhood instance—good or bad—that indelibly affects who this
character is now: Parents were separated (never married)
The character’s proudest moment: Opening the store successfully as a shift supervisor for the first time
The character’s most embarrassing moment: Spilling an entire Coffeeless Cooler on myself and the floor while trying to bring it to my customer
The character’s career goals of future aspirations/ambitions: Wants to work for disney on the creative team
Whom the character would most like to have dinner with (past or present)
and why: Jon Bellion because he is my favorite artists and is a genius, or Lin Manuel Miranda for the same reason as Jon Bellion
Three adjectives the character would use to describe him/herself: Bubbly, talkative, caring