Barista Diaries - Addicts

Because of my availability, I work in the mornings. Generally I'm awake around three o'clock to be at work by four A.M. Working a similar schedule from day to day allows me the opportunity to greet the same faces every morning. I've found that the best way to get to know my customers (as with all relationships) is to find & focus on our common interests...or just talk about them (because everyone likes to talk about him or herself). I have customers who give me book recommendations. I have customers who tell me about their love life. I have genuine customers who seem to really be interested in what I do when I leave the four walls of the store. There are certain customers who have a generally pleasant demeanor & are easy to talk to & there are others (who I pride myself on having developed comradery with) who take a while to break down. Even though I wake up at an ungodly hour it's reassuring to know that I'll be greeted all day long with so many familiar faces. It's as if I live in an episode of "Cheers"...where everybody knows my name.