The Wrong Coffee Order
They got the coffee order wrong once. Now it comes laminated.
- Severity
- Annoying
- Date
- July 12, 2026
- Community reaction
- Underreaction
Submitted by a reader, laminated order card attached. We gave it back.
The Incident — My roommate offered to pick up coffee and asked for my order. I gave it twice, the second time at their request. What returned was a different drink: hot where iced was specified, oat where nothing was specified, and a size I have never ordered in my life. They described it as "close."
The Response — The order now exists as a card. Fourteen-point type, printed on cardstock, laminated at the shop that does restaurant menus. It lists the drink, the size, the temperature, and the modifications — the card says NONE — above a signature line, which is decorative but has weight. When my roommate offers to get coffee, I hand them the card the way one hands over a passport. They accept it the same way.
The Escalation — A second card exists in my coat, in case the first is lost. A third is taped inside the mug cabinet. They discovered the third card in April. Neither of us has mentioned it.
Current Friendship Status — Tense but functional. Eleven consecutive weeks of correct orders. They now ask for the card before offering.