You know you're not in Seattle when ...

There are many things New York has to offer over Seattle, however good coffee is not one of them! For the month I have been here, I have been desperately trying to find good coffee. I find myself settling for Starbucks the majority of the time since I at least know what it is generally going to taste like. When I see new coffee shops that look promising I get excited, but usually end up dissappointed. However, my experience today tops all others...

On my lunch break at my internship which is on the upper East Side, I came across a cafe I had not seen before. It was part of Food Emporium which is a trendy grocery store, like a super chic Whole Foods. It had big glass windows, modern looking tables and chairs in a sitting area, and a very shiny, fancy looking triple automatic espresso machine. Maybe it was just because it was so shiny, but I thought to myself, "this places looks very promising for high quality coffee." Once inside I realize they serve "Illy" coffee ... which is ok ... and see that on their menu they list "Mocha - dark chocolate" ... which sounds delicious. Here is how the rest of my experience went:

Me: "I'll have a 12oz soy mocha"

Barista: "A mocha?" blank expression

Me: "Yes, I'd like a soy mocha please."

Barista: confused expression "You want a ...mocha?"

*You'd think I was speaking in code or something!*

Me: "Yes, with soy milk."

Barista: "So do you want a cappuccino... or coffee... in it?"

Me: trying to remain pleasant and not sound aghast "Yes, I want coffee with chocolate sauce in it."

Barista: still very confused "Coffee...?"

Me: "Yes, coffee with chocolate, a 'mocha' with soy milk"

Barista: "Mocha is a flavor, what is it you want?"

Me: trying to think of some other way to explain it "Ok, I want a latte, with chocolate flavor - mocha flavor, and soy milk."

Barista: finally showing some sign of understanding "Oh, a latte with mocha"

Me: "... And soy milk"

Barista: "What size?"

Me: calmly and slowly "A 12oz latte with mocha and soy milk"

I’m standing there watching her make it, she reaches under the counter and holds up a carton of Silk Soy Milk…

Barista: “This is what you want?”

I tell her yes, pay for the drink, and sit down to drink what I’m praying is decent coffee. Luckily it was as good as any coffee I’ve had here, which just means it wasn’t bad. I sit there finishing my cup of coffee stunned at the fact that a “soy mocha” could cause such confusion at café!