Chris Anderson Has Really Big Hands: coffee @ Starbucks on 6th

The Starbucks on 6th and Broadway is the busiest SBUX in the state of Colorado. Another testament to the SBUX marketing and placement genius (or monopoly), the store is located at the nexuus of the city, in between all the news stations and the traffic from 1-25 and Broadway into Downtown Denver. I have never been there when there is not a line, never-and the limited chairs and patio should have a sign-up sheet for a waiting list.

Despite the famed barista snobbery, I have never once had bad customer service at this particular location. The cashiers and baristas are slammed but cran out that low quality espresso like they are in Texas pumping for black gold. They are a fine-tuned machine catering to the fake elite of Denver while still making time to say hello and act like they give a crap about you while being splattered with hot water and smelling like milk. I give them mad props for great service, timing and skill.

*DISCLAIMER: I must explain here that I am not a huge fan of corporate coffee. I hate seeing people pay premium price for subpar product. But I also believe that SBUX is a gateway drug, leading consumers to create a coffee habit and then realize that they want more and better and hey, what's that indie shop there on the corner? Anyways, I still find myself at SBUX with people who don't know where else to go in Denver, and who are afraid to navigate the rest of the city to find a place to meet. But sometimes, Avee and I will randomly hit up this SBUX out of cafffine desperation on our way out of town to the lesser known parts of suburbia. END NOTE.*

It is on such occassion that Avee and I find ourself standing in line behind a REALLY TALL GUY wearing bedazzled jeans and a button-up shirt with printed wings on the back. The buzz of the shop was the usual organized chaos, but we knew that we were having a brush with local celebrity. Chris Anderson (Denver Center/Power forward, aka our beloved tatooed mohawk-wearing Birdman) did not have to order, the barista knew what he wanted and most likey didn't charge him. It was game day, so we didn't really want to ruin his vibe, but Avee had to meet him. She tapped him on the shouler, or um, mid-back and said, "Excuse me Chris, I'm a big fan. Can I shake your hand?" Birdman turns around, looks down and smiles and says of course. A venti (20oz) is a huge drink, but it looks tiny in the hands of a man who dribbles balls for a living. Anyways, of course Avee wasn't done. "Oh uh, one more thing, sir." He turns back around. "What's your drink?" He smiles. "Triple caramel macchiatto." The barista smiles. "Have a great day!" And he smiles back.

After he left we asked the barista if he comes there often. "Yeah," she nods, unphased. "He's cool," she says, as she continues to stir a drink and put whip cream on another. Her customer service unwavering, she turns back to the drink and places it up on the counter for the next customer. "Have a great day!" She smiles to the customer. Just another day with the Denver-elite, or not.

-Elly Mint