Tuesdays with Morris

If you’ve spent any time around me, or even have read this blog a time or two, you know that I am a bit of a coffee snob. I fully admit it. I proudly embrace it. When it comes to coffee…yes, I am a snob.

And, as a coffee snob, I have certain expectations when it comes to the entire coffee experience. If I’m in a coffee shop, the environment should be calming, quiet, relaxing. If I’m buying coffee at one of a few select locations, I expect a certain quality and variety. And, in either situation, I expect to be treated as a valued customer.

Yesterday, Emily and I went to the Farmer’s Market at the Minnetrista Center. On any given Saturday, you can usually purchase coffee from a couple of vendors. On this Saturday, a special presentation was being put on by a third coffee vendor. What a day! One location, three choices!

After doing our shopping, I told Emily that I wanted to buy some coffee for the church. And, since this certain vendor was only there for one day and I consider many within the operation to be friends, I wanted to buy my coffee from them. Emily asked if I should, since our vendor at the church has been so good to us and provides us with excellent products and service. I assured her that he wouldn’t mind (and I’ m sure he wouldn’t). So, with Emily’s approval, I approached the vendors display and saw a nice variety of excellent coffee. I also figured, “Hey, if people in the church like this coffee…maybe we’ll start purchasing our beans from them.”

After looking over the selection, I asked one of the workers if they had any ground coffee. He replied, “Sorry, no.” And, so, I was prepared to head inside and buy coffee that had been roasted by my favorite roaster and coffee company.

Now, most of you are fully aware that I never buy pre-ground coffee if it is for my own use. However, our church doesn’t have a coffee grinder and we brew coffee in large quantities, so a little grinder from Wal-Mart won’t do the trick.

But, that’s not where the story ends. As I’m preparing to turn around and leave, another worker says, “Uh, yeah, we’re sort of diametrically opposed to grinding coffee.”

I wanted to reply back, “Well, I’m diametrically opposed to buying your coffee.” However, I said, “I understand that. I was just asking because I wanted to buy a large quantity of coffee for my church…which doesn’t have a grinder. So, I sort of need it ground.”

I told the story to my father and he said, “You should have asked them how they brew their coffee if they are opposed to grinding.” Hilarious!

So, yes, I am now adamantly opposed to buying coffee from this particular vendor. I will admit, they roast some amazing coffee. However, I will not be consuming it. I will still consider many in the organization to be my friends…I just won’t be supporting their business.

This whole situation comes back to the “being treated as a valued customer” issue. One employee had the proper response. Another employee decided to be a coffee snob and treat me like a fool. When I’m attempting to buy your product, you shouldn’t make me feel like a jerk for asking a relatively common question. And, when in a public market, I would encourage coffee vendors to bring along some ground coffee. Not everyone has a coffee grinder.

The whole exchange should have ended with the simple, “Sorry, no.” But, one little comment cost this business a customer.

As I’m preparing for church this morning, this whole experience has me thinking about how we treat others. When people come to the church, do we approach them with love and kindness…Or do we act like snobs…know-it-all’s…turning people away from the very thing that they came to find???