Go Slow

A curious, creeping change is coming in America. The first time I noticed it was at breakfast time in my hotel. The coffee was cold. Coffee is a big deal in Breakfast Time America. On a previous trip there was on one occasion no coffee at all and you would have thought someone had died. This time, though, was different. The lady who manages the breakfast-bar came out. She nodded and uh-huhed at the cold coffee situation and then insisted that she'd just changed it. Her colleague came and backed her up. Nevertheless, everyone agreed that the coffee was cold. I was fine, I was drinking the robust version which did seem to be hot and in plentiful supply. The milder version was the problem and then the decaff ran out. The serving lady uh-huhed again and walked away to get more from the kitchen at a speed that I can only describe as reluctant. After a few minutes, more decaff arrived. A little later, the other coffees were replaced. I'd never seen such reluctant service. It reminded me of a tired UK cafe on a bad day in the 70s.

It happened again. I ordered coffee in a museum coffee bar. The server scowled at me strangely but delivered me my coffee, took my money and conspicuously didn't say thank you. As I sat down a couple complained about the coffee refills on the side. The husband only spoke Spanish. The woman spoke good English. The server explained in patronising tones that her coffee was cold because she'd put creamer in last. She should have put creamer in first. She also had a colleague and her colleague also backed her up. For a time. As the lady explained that the second coffee poured using the correct procedure was also cold, the server started on a long explanation about how the coffee pot was fresh. At this point the husband was flipping the serving handle. No coffee was coming out. The second server discovered that she understood Spanish and started to chat with the couple. After a few moments she turned to the first lady, spat 'refill the damned coffee' and stalked away.

The coffee makers of the world have transformed many miserable days for me and so I place them on a special pedestal. It's sad to see service fading in this way. I suspect, but cannot prove, that it's a consequence of the war by the elites on underclasses of all kinds.