You probably know what to expect when you visit your local Starbucks — a strong cup of coffee, a barista who spells your name wrong, and slightly overpriced parfaits in the display case. America's favorite coffee chain is pretty standard on a day-to-day basis. But every once in awhile, something extraordinary happens. From adorable proposals to obscene sex acts to celebrity sightings, Starbucks has seen it all.
1. An act of kindness inspires an 11-hour pay-it-forward chain.
A Florida woman at a Starbucks drive-through paid for her iced coffee at 7 a.m. and requested to pay for the caramel macchiato the stranger behind her had ordered. That recipient of that first act of kindness decided to pay it forward, and so did the next person. Eventually, employees began keeping a tally outside the drive-through window.
"It makes your day better, I think," Lexie Kane, a customer who participated in the pay-it-forward chain, told the Tampa Bay Times.
The chain continued all day until the 379th customer declined to partake around 6 p.m.
2. One man tries to masturbate in every Starbucks in New York City.
First, you read that right. Second, ew. And third, there are 283 Starbucks in New York City. That makes for one hefty goal.
If that's not creepy enough, the man — known as Mister PeePee — also planned on photographing his, um, results. He announced his plans on a podcast and kept an account of his exploits on Twitter.
In a now-deleted tweet, he wrote, "Today's Starbucks visit is rated as a 4 Boner. Spacious, clean, excellent coffee, strong wifi, no interruptions & 1 hot chick."
If you're in New York City, may we suggest never using a Starbucks bathroom again? Or if you must, scrub your hands with hot water before you leave.
3. Someone proposes at the original Starbucks location in Seattle.
Kenna Rusk was working at the original Starbucks location in Seattle six years ago when Ethan Knapp walked in to fill out a job application. They started dating. Then last November, the pair returned to where they first met.
"When we got to the original Starbucks, I half-joked something sappy like 'If it wasn't for this Starbucks we probably wouldn't have met,' then I said I wanted to be sure we got a picture out front before we left," Rusk told BuzzFeed News.
Halfway through their photo session outside, Knapp got down on one knee and proposed, bringing their relationship in an adorable full circle. Then, she posted a photo of her beautiful new ring on Instagram... with her trusty Starbucks iced coffee in the background.
The couple tied the knot two weeks ago, and the initial photos are totally breathtaking.
No Starbucks in sight thus far, but we wouldn't put it past this couple to incorporate their favorite coffee chain somehow. Cake pops instead of cake, anyone?
4. A man slips his number to a cute barista...then things get freaky.
In the early 2000s, Scott Tayloe marched up to a cute Starbucks barista in Florida, Josh Holder, and gave him his number. "Call me sometime," he said. But the call never came. Unbeknownst to Scott, Josh was in a relationship.
A few years later in 2004, Josh was meeting a friend for drinks at a bar. His friend had met another guy at a party that she thought would be perfect for him. It turned out to be Scott. Josh remembered — he even had his phone number still stored away. They spoke on the phone daily for the next week, then met for their first real date. Seven years later, Scott slid a note under Josh's door: "Starbucks Boy, will you marry me today?"
Today, they live together in Los Angeles with their son, Hayden. Mop up your tears now.
5. A woman gives birth in the bathroom.
In a move that should secure both mother and baby free coffee for life, a woman gave birth in the bathroom of a Starbucks in Colorado. She must have the highest pain tolerance ever, because she reportedly walked out of the store carrying her baby and was heading down the street when the paramedics arrived. The happy new family was taken to a hospital and both were in good condition.
6. A couple writes and exchanges coffee-themed vows.
"I want to macchiato an honest woman out of you," Jordan Senz promised DeAnna Dodson. The Wisconsin couple scaled down their original wedding plans for financial reasons, choosing instead to simply sign papers in the presence of a reverend on New Year's Eve.
Reverend Donnie Onley offered to perform the wedding either at his house or in a public place. The couple chose Starbucks, since they'd be there to get their morning coffee anyway. It was intended to be a quiet affair. But when someone at the store noticed what was going on, the local paper was called and reporters showed up to capture the moment.
After the couple said "I do" and sealed their vows with a kiss, Senz got one more pun in: "I promise to love you a latte."
7. A man orders a $54.75 drink — and gets it for free.
Andrew Chifari really loves his coffee. Last May, he set out to order the world's largest Starbucks drink ever, which turned out to include 60 shots of espresso plus mocha, white mocha, caramel, hazelnut, and protein powder in a 128-ounce glass. The whopper would have cost him $54.75, but because he's a Starbucks Gold member, he scored it for free. Go big or go home, right?
8. Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal meet for coffee.
'Twas the red cup seen round the world: Taylor Swift clutching a red Starbucks cup in one hand, her other arm slung over Jake Gyllenhaal's shoulder. One paparazzi snap later, and the two were an official item.
Taylor's love of Starbucks is so well-documented by the paps — she's rarely seen in public without a cup in hand — that even her own mother mistook her "Blank Space" lyric "got a long list of ex-lovers" for "Starbucks lovers."
9. Seniors burst into a Zumba flash mob.
Can you imagine a more unassuming location for a surprise flash mob? A group of dancers in their 60s, 70s, and 80s took their local Starbucks by storm to perform a Zumba routine. We dare you not to smile.
10. A couple pulls off an actual steampunk-themed wedding.
A wedding at Starbucks is already pretty quirky. But one couple upped the ante by throwing a steampunk-themed wedding. (Steampunk, for the uninitiated, is a subculture that fuses the aesthetics of the 19th century with sci-fi, fantasy, and industrial-powered technology.) The scene was caught on camera by a surprised customer. For more details, check out the bride's epic Pinterest board, which documents her dream feathered top hat, crazy intricate corset, and a Victorian Gothic-style Nerf gun. We're not sure exactly what this all has to do with Starbucks, but we'll take it!
11. A manager goes ballistic—and the whole moment goes viral.
When customer Ruby Chen didn't promptly provide her name for the barista to write on her cup, a nearby manager named Melissa got upset. She took to Facebook to describe the incident.
melissa started to shout at me saying hey helloooo with very bad attitude. The only thing I said to her is "sry I don't hear you but you don't have to yell." And till now, I haven't figured out which word aggravated her. Then She took the scanner away as I was trying to pay then told me to leave and never go back. I was trying to ask other employees who I can speak to. She thought I am leaving with the straw on my hand (I picked it up before everything happened), she said I am stealing the straw.
When the video went viral, Starbucks apologized, gave Chen a $100 gift card, and fired Melissa.
12. A couple announces their pregnancy in a precious way.
http://i.imgur.com/3MY8cbel.jpg
Reddit user Upstream15 put a personalized twist on four Starbucks cups for an unforgettable pregnancy announcement. Too cute, you guys. Too cute.
