That barista in Medellin who remembered my order after 3 months

I was back in Medellin after bouncing around South America for a while, and I walked into this little cafe in El Poblado I used to go to. The barista, a guy named Carlos, just looked up and said "the usual, black coffee with a splash of oat milk?" It had been something like 3 months since I was last there. I was honestly blown out because I barely remembered his name, let alone what he drinks. It made me realize how much I miss building those little everyday connections when I'm constantly moving. Do you guys ever find a spot that feels like home and go back there multiple times on your travels? Or do you always try new places to keep things fresh?

3 comments

3 Comments

betht321mo ago

Honestly, people get way too worked up over baristas remembering orders. It's coffee, not some deep life epiphany. He probably just sees a hundred faces a day and yours stuck out for five seconds. Maybe he recognized your jacket or something.

caleb_gibson1mo ago

Carlos sounds like a memory wizard or maybe he just has a spreadsheet behind the counter with everyone's orders. Three months later though, that's wild. I'd probably walk in and he'd be like "black coffee with oat milk" and I'd have to pretend I remembered him too, meanwhile my brain is just making confused dial-up noises trying to place his face. That little cafe in El Poblado probably has a secret loyalty brain implant or something lmao.

margaret991mo ago

Oh man, that dial-up noise comment got me. I used to go to this little coffee shop near my old apartment and the barista remembered my order after six months. I walked in and she goes "medium roast, splash of almond milk, right?" and I just stood there like a deer in headlights because I barely recognized her face. It's both impressive and kind of creepy, honestly. Your mileage may vary but I think those guys just have superhuman people memory, it's a gift some folks are born with.