In my constant quest to find delicious places owned by actual people I have found what I hope to be my regular work-coffee shop and the home of my new best friend.

I’ll keep this short. But still story-like.

I wanted an afternoon coffee. Found a place. Left the office.

Forgot my wallet.

I push through hoping this one-off Swedish coffee shop has apple pay, respectfully assuming it won’t.

But they did!

Asking the welcoming, friendly older barista man if they have electronic payment strikes up a convo about how weird it is. He tells me his house is fully analogue…I would love to see it. I bet he collects something really cool. He says something insightful about living in a capitalistic society and sends me on my way with my cappucino (had to google how to spell that, I’m a phony).

I’m no coffee snob but this place and Ciao, Gloria in Brooklyn just might make me one. All I can say is the espresso wasn’t sweet but was fruity and had such dimension to it. You’d know it if you tasted it. The cappucino’s were one size and it was perfect. The baked goods were unique and really caught my eye. No way I’ll be able to pass them up next time I go.

Now I’m curious about what makes this coffee particularly swedish but I am looking forward to going back and praying my new old fashioned barista friend is working. I’m sure he’d love to teach me about it.

OKAY SO IT’S BEEN 6 MINUTES SINCE I WROTE ALL THAT

and I’ve just found out they have a bunch of locations which - don’t get me wrong - is totally fine. I’m glad they’re popular. I just look stupid now saying it’s a one-off coffee shop above (could delete it but I won’t).

I just had this fantasy of my barista friend owning the shop and knowing everything. Just opening his little passion project on a random street in the financial district.

I’m sure something like that happened I just haven’t read their story. Just wanted to give you mine.