jay dryden dot net

Click the cup to hear what Agent Dale Cooper would have to say.

I stopped by one of the many Starbucks last Sunday afternoon. The tattooed biker barista behind the bar had a dozen or so pins affixed to the front of his black cap. Each pin had a depiction of a small coffee mug with the words “M.U.G. Award” at the bottom.

In an effort to kill some time before that so-refreshing-on-a-90-degree-day Frappuccino(tm) was ready, I asked the barista what a M.U.G. Award was. He reflected on his answer for a moment (perhaps to convince himself that I was not, in fact, a corporate spy or, even worse, a “secret shopper”), then replied “It’s what They give you instead of a raise.” Oh, sweet cynicism in the workplace, thy words are music to my ears!

When I returned home, a quick google search informed me that “M.U.G.” stands for “Moves of Uncommon Greatness,” and describes some type of above-and-beyond customer service required to receive the award. My barista’s obvious dissatisfaction with his job seemed a glorious contrast to the assortment of customer service awards displayed above the brim of his cap.

So far, google had taught me that a M.U.G. Award is just another Taiwanese-made, employer doled-out tchotchke to pat an employee on the back rather than giving him what he really wants — a little ka-ching. Then, I noticed that the google search had returned numerous resumes, one of which described the M.U.G. as a “prestigious award for recognition in excellent customer service.” This led me to wonder, are there prospective employers out there salivating at the possibility of hiring a multi-M.U.G.’ed barista?

Ahhhhhh. To quote Agent Dale Cooper, “There’s nothing like a great cup of black coffee.” I prefer mine from a cafetiere, black as midnight on a moonless night.

This pic was originally posted on cousin Mike’s blog. But, hey, since I took the picture, I figure I can post it here, too. If you enjoy coffee culture, then check out Mike’s article on home-roasted coffe beans.

And, yes, the mug is from Buffalo Grille, one of the best brea’fas’ places in Houston.