Bigger Not Better

While the transformation that has taken place at the Factory is amazing, I find myself missing the old days, especially at Honest Coffee Roasters.  It's more than tripled in size since the early days when I first became a regular, seven or eight years ago.  

Bigger not better, because Honest has the intimacy that made it special.  It feels impersonal.  The baristas turn over regularly, which leads me to believe it's likely not the best place to work any more.  It's a far cry from the days when Jacob Stillman was the manager.  He was such a kind hearted and earnest person, much like Troy at Burger Up, and everyone who worked at Honest followed his lead in how they treated each other and customers, especially regulars.  

In those days, I had a conversation with the barista while he or she made my coffee.  Anthony, Nick, Brad, Whitney, and many others.  Often times, I took the seat at the bar on the corner and watched them make coffee as I wrote in this space, read the New York Times online, or did a little work.  Honest was cozy, familiar, almost quaint.  Certainly, the space was quirky, with the giant drafting table and the roaster jammed into the shop.  Getting a seat meant it was a good day but that was two, if not three, renovations ago.  

The coffee is okay, although not nearly as good as it was in the early days.  Then, the baristas cared about making good coffee.  Now, it's more of an assembly line.  Take the order, make the coffee, call the name, all without making eye contact or engaging the customer in conversation.  That's Honest Coffee Roasters these days.  Bigger not better.