December 24th 1999, I was at the Anchorage airport (Alaska). The flights were not on schedule due to a heavy snow storm. My flight to Florida was delayed by at least 2 hours and I had nothing else to do after a brief business stint there. While I was wandering around, I saw a place that sells Caribou Coffee. Starbucks was not far away, but I had never tried Caribou’s before. Someone said that have the best espresso machines that exist. After zillions of (tasteless) and ineffective cups of coffee from the automatic coffee makers at the business place I was at I wanted to try something that was…well..different.
My friend Vince insisted that this place boasted the top espresso machines, so I ordered a medium espresso with cream, an item which appeared on the menu followed by this slogan: ‘The basic and the best.’ Tiny amounts of smooth espresso. When my food came I was amazed with the robust color the espresso had. The color of the food you are about to eat plays a key role in how much you are going to enjoy your meal. After just one sip I knew what it was my friend Vince was trying to tell me.
The richness of the coffee combined with the cream they had put in it really made it worthwhile ordering. As sips went on to cups I drifted off to memories of my childhood, when my father used to work for Bodum (manufacturers of the best coffee machines in the world!). He called me son as I sat next to him to watch him inspect coffee makers, do quality checks, implement procedures, and everything else that went with turning out these machines. The best coffee machines have to have an expression of your soul in themso when a customer makes coffee with these, he/ she knows that this is a machine that was meant to make good coffee, and good coffee is what keeps us going right?
Whilst all these thoughts there was an announcement for my departure flight and I gratefully handed back my empty coffee cup at the parlour and made my way to the check-in.
