Writer Rachel McDonald had me from the first line:"'Large blonde whole bean dark roast vanilla latte.'"  It's ridiculous, sure, yet relatable and intriguing, still.  Because, come on, where does one learn to speak Coffee?  

The subject of the fictional piece "In Which the Coffee Runs Dry" begins every section stating her coffee preference for the day.  The barista (who is the same guy every encounter) then replies with the usual witty/quirky remark.  This norm fades soon enough, however, since the characters have their own separate lives and conflicts to be concerned with.  I appreciate that the descriptions compliment this idea by managing to add to the figurative distance.  It's like the narrator's thoughts make the rest of the world blur into the background.