Westside Story – Coffee Artist

Story & Photos – Joseph Boyle

If you spend as much time at Starbucks as I do, you will begin to meet a lot of interesting and creative people. A few months back I walked up to the counter in the Towne Center Starbucks and noticed a brand new barista. Her name is Krista Schrader. It was not planned. It just happened.

As she began to wait on me, I asked if she knew Howard Schultz, the owner of Starbucks. She quickly got serious and said, “I have heard of Mr. Howard Schultz, but I have not met him.” I replied with great confidence, volume and gusto, “I am Howard Schultz”. The other baristas, knowing that I was really Joe Boyle, not Howard Schultz, chose to join in on the fun. They did not tell her my true identity. They all said, “Yes, every time Mr. Schultz is in Lakewood, he visits our store.” Needless to say, Krista was very careful with my beverage order; I could tell. She acted like making my cappuccino could be a career move for her.

A few days later, one of Krista’s barista friends tipped her off that I was not the real Mr. Schultz. Krista was such a good sport.

I soon learned that not only can she take a joke, she can return a joke. To this day, Krista calls me Howard Schultz. The name on my coffee cup reads, “Howard Schultz”. When she greets me as Howard Schultz, other customers look up hoping the get a glimpse of the real Howard Schultz. When they look at me standing 5’ 7” and change, they all think Howard Schultz is much shorter in person than on TV.

As we got to know each other I learned that Krista has a strong interest in art. She is learning both the art of making coffee and the art of painting with water colors. Additionally, she works with digital photography.

The Towne Center Starbucks is scheduled to close around January for a light remodel. After it reopens, look for some of Krista’s art on the Starbucks Community Art wall. I have included a couple of her pieces hoping to tempt you into watching for her first art show.

The word art is a tiny word, but it encompasses a big variety of different forms of expression. Even if two or more artists work with the same media such as water colors, their end products are typically quite different. It then boils down to individual taste. You buy and display what you like; what pleases or connects with you. Check out Krista’s work to see her work might please you.

I think Krista’s work is very vibrant and interesting. It draws me in. Krista, you have youth on your side, so keep up the good work. Painting and photography might turn out to be your future.