Being a regular at a local coffee shop is something I hold with pride. There are plenty of big chain stores I could spend all my money on, but they probably wouldn’t notice. At the end of their day, I am just a drive thru order number. A name remembered only long enough to print onto a sticker and hand it out the window. 

Here’s a secret about me- I have an individuality complex. I want to be unique, different, and most importantly, memorable. Going to a chain coffee shop where the baristas all look like they hate their jobs and don’t care about me doesn’t spark joy. I would much rather go into a cafe where I am greeted with a warm smile and the barista at least pretends to remember who I am. Although, my frequency at my hometown and college local coffee shops have made it so I know the baristas aren’t pretending. They really do recognize me.

When you go into the same place on an almost daily basis and order the same things, the workers catch on. Rather than being just another order, you become a character in their lives. A face they can attach to a specific drink (for me, that being lavender iced oat milk latte). Sure, these people don’t really know me, but their recognition of my go-to order makes me smile. It feels so nice to be remembered. 

And if we’re going to get economical here, by visiting the same local coffee shop every day, I am supporting a small business. I would argue that I am the main source of income on both lavender and oat milk in my hometown. And that is something to be proud of. 

Next time you visit a local coffee shop and think to yourself “it probably would have been quicker and cheaper to just run through *insert drive thru chain here,*” I want you to consider the vibes. That sounds stupid, but hear me out: wouldn’t you rather spend a little more time and money supporting a business that considers you a regular? Don’t you want to be more than just a number?

It’s a small difference in the grand scheme of things. Albeit a broke grad student, I would rather invest in my small town and my own satisfaction. Individuality complex or not, shopping locally will bring you joy. At the end of the day, it’s the joy in the little things that make this life worth living.