Realized why my barista remembers my drink but not my name

Dude at the counter said 'venti oat latte' and I just nodded. Then he asked my name and I blanked for a full three seconds. He laughed and said 'you're the guy who always orders the same thing but never looks up from his phone.' Hit me that I probably look like a robot to him every morning.

2 comments

2 Comments

garcia.tyler12d ago

Notice this same thing plays out everywhere now, not just coffee shops. People walk into stores with earbuds in, grab their stuff, and scan their own items at self checkout. We're basically training ourselves to interact with machines instead of humans and then act surprised when the humans start treating us like we're part of that system. That moment when you blanked on your own name is just your brain checking out of those small social exchanges because they feel like another transaction. The real fix isn't just saying your name first, it's actually deciding to be present for the thirty seconds it takes to buy coffee.

elliot_taylor12d ago

Wait, have you tried just making a point to say your own name first when you walk up? I started doing that after the same thing happened to me with my coffee guy. I'd walk in and just say "Hey, it's Elliot, can I get my usual?" before he even had to ask. It felt a little forced at first, but now we actually joke around for a minute instead of me being a phone zombie. Plus, now he remembers both my order and my name, which feels way less awkward than the silent nod exchange.