I saw the following notice in a cafe:
"Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."

Perhaps I should have asked him or her:
"Excuse me. Please can you tell me whether I would prefer my
drink in a ceramic mug? According to the notice, you should know
that."

Paul Epstein

On Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 3:58:07 PM UTC-4, Paul Epstein wrote:

> I saw the following notice in a cafe:
> "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
>
> Perhaps I should have asked him or her:
> "Excuse me. Please can you tell me whether I would prefer my
> drink in a ceramic mug? According to the notice, you should know
> that."

No, that would be the interpretation if the original had used
"whether." The placard is correctly worded, but the syntax
could be improved. "If you would prefer ..., ask the barista."

On 25-Aug-22 20:58, Paul Epstein wrote:
> I saw the following notice in a cafe:
> "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
>
> Perhaps I should have asked him or her:
> "Excuse me. Please can you tell me whether I would prefer my
> drink in a ceramic mug? According to the notice, you should know
> that."

Whilst I followed a van bearing the words:

"Mould Solutions"

Why would you want to produce that? And is there a market for it?

--
Sam Plusnet

On Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 2:37:19 PM UTC-6, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 25-Aug-22 20:58, Paul Epstein wrote:
> > I saw the following notice in a cafe:
> > "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
> >
> > Perhaps I should have asked him or her:
> > "Excuse me. Please can you tell me whether I would prefer my
> > drink in a ceramic mug? According to the notice, you should know
> > that."
> Whilst I followed a van bearing the words:
>
> "Mould Solutions"
>
> Why would you want to produce that? And is there a market for it?

Antibiotic, but some people are allergic to it.

--
Jerry Friedman

Den 25.08.2022 kl. 21.58 skrev Paul Epstein:

> I saw the following notice in a cafe:
> "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."

Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?

--
Bertel

* Paul Epstein <69e4e95b-dda9-4223-99ac-d4632651f1e7n@googlegroups.com> :
Wrote on Thu, 25 Aug 2022 12:58:04 -0700 (PDT):

> I saw the following notice in a cafe: "Ask the barista if you would
> prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
>
> Perhaps I should have asked him or her:
> "Excuse me. Please can you tell me whether I would prefer my
> drink in a ceramic mug? According to the notice, you should know
> that."

Clearly the instructions are for the barista who is expected to ask you
"Would you prefer your drink in a ceramic mug?"

If he forgets, you should remind him to ask you

On 26/08/22 15:10, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> Den 25.08.2022 kl. 21.58 skrev Paul Epstein:
>
>> I saw the following notice in a cafe:
>> "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
>
> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?

That's normal here, and presumably also where Paul lives.

--
Peter Moylan Newcastle, NSW http://www.pmoylan.org

On 25 Aug 2022 at 20:36:23, "Peter T. Daniels" <grammatim@verizon.net> wrote:
> On Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 3:58:07 PM UTC-4, Paul Epstein wrote:
>
>> I saw the following notice in a cafe:
>> "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
>>
>> Perhaps I should have asked him or her:
>> "Excuse me. Please can you tell me whether I would prefer my
>> drink in a ceramic mug? According to the notice, you should know
>> that."
>
> No, that would be the interpretation if the original had used
> "whether." The placard is correctly worded, but the syntax
> could be improved. "If you would prefer ..., ask the barista."

Perhaps the first word should be "Tell".

Den 26.08.2022 kl. 07.28 skrev Bob Martin:

>>> "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."

> Perhaps the first word should be "Tell".

Or the sentence could be rearranged:

If you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug,
ask the barista.

One might prefer "tell", but maybe they don't have ceramic mugs?

--
Bertel

Den 26.08.2022 kl. 07.17 skrev Peter Moylan:

>> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?

> That's normal here, and presumably also where Paul lives.

Thanks. I'm probably influenced from Danish, where "drik" is any fluid
one can drink, but a "drink" contains alcohol.

--
Bertel

On Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 10:10:39 PM UTC-7, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> Den 25.08.2022 kl. 21.58 skrev Paul Epstein:
>
> > I saw the following notice in a cafe:
> > "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?
>
By itself, it's just coffee. But when you're given a choice among tea, herb tea,
real and instant coffee, soft drinks, beer, wine, whisk(e)y etc., then it's a drink.

bill

On 26/08/22 15:45, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> Den 26.08.2022 kl. 07.17 skrev Peter Moylan:
>
>>> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?
>
>> That's normal here, and presumably also where Paul lives.
>
> Thanks. I'm probably influenced from Danish, where "drik" is any
> fluid one can drink, but a "drink" contains alcohol.

I wondered about that. There are some situations where "a drink"
probably means an alcoholic drink in English[1], but only some. The
default is that "drink" means anything you can drink. Except possibly soup.

[1] The example that immediately springs to my mind is "God, I need a
drink, alcoholic of course, after the heavy lectures involving quantum
mechanics." This is a mnemonic that has been discussed before in AUE.

--
Peter Moylan Newcastle, NSW http://www.pmoylan.org

On 26/08/2022 6:10 am, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> Den 25.08.2022 kl. 21.58 skrev Paul Epstein:
>
>> I saw the following notice in a cafe:
>> "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
>
> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?

The rumour that British Rail sells coffee by the slice turns out
to be ill-founded.

--
Richard Heathfield
Email: rjh at cpax dot org dot uk
"Usenet is a strange place" - dmr 29 July 1999
Sig line 4 vacant - apply within

On Friday, August 26, 2022 at 7:01:08 AM UTC+1, Peter Moylan wrote:
> On 26/08/22 15:45, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> > Den 26.08.2022 kl. 07.17 skrev Peter Moylan:
> >
> >>> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?
> >
> >> That's normal here, and presumably also where Paul lives.
> >
> > Thanks. I'm probably influenced from Danish, where "drik" is any
> > fluid one can drink, but a "drink" contains alcohol.
> I wondered about that. There are some situations where "a drink"
> probably means an alcoholic drink in English[1], but only some. The
> default is that "drink" means anything you can drink. Except possibly soup.
>
> [1] The example that immediately springs to my mind is "God, I need a
> drink, alcoholic of course, after the heavy lectures involving quantum
> mechanics." This is a mnemonic that has been discussed before in AUE.
> --

I remember a time when I was with a group of students at the bar.
Everyone chose a soft drink except for one guy and he said: "Why isn't anybody drinking?"
This use of "drinking" to mean "drinking something alcoholic" is absolutely typical.

Paul Epstein

Le 26/08/2022 à 08:06, Richard Heathfield a écrit :
> On 26/08/2022 6:10 am, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
>>
>> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?
>
> The rumour that British Rail sells coffee by the slice turns out to be
> ill-founded.

It's probably a mix-up with tea. "Come and eat your tea!"

On 2022-08-26 07:06:09 +0000, Richard Heathfield said:

> On 26/08/2022 6:10 am, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
>> Den 25.08.2022 kl. 21.58 skrev Paul Epstein:
>>
>>> I saw the following notice in a cafe:
>>> "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
>>
>> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?
>
> The rumour that British Rail sells coffee by the slice turns out to be
> ill-founded.

I didn't think British Rail still existed after Mrs Thatcher shared it
out with her rich buddies.

However, any coffee that's been sitting around unsold and undrunk since
1997 has probably solidified to the point where it can be sliced.

--
Athel -- French and British, living mainly in England until 1987.

Richard Heathfield:
> The rumour that British Rail [sold] coffee by the slice turns out
> to be ill-founded.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (in 1842, regarding the Great Western Railway's
refreshment room at Swindon):

"I assure you that Mr. Player was wrong in supposing that I thought
you purchased inferior coffee. I thought I said to him that
I was surprised you should buy such poor roasted corn. I did
not believe you had such a thing as coffee in the place."

--
Mark Brader "Finally no number of additional epicycles can
Toronto hide the fact that We've Got a Problem Here."
msb@vex.net -- from a science book club promotion

On 8/25/2022 5:03 PM, Jerry Friedman wrote:
> Sam Plusnet wrote:
>> Paul Epstein wrote:

>>> I saw the following notice in a cafe: "Ask the barista if you
>>> would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."

>>> Perhaps I should have asked him or her: "Excuse me. Please can
>>> you tell me whether I would prefer my drink in a ceramic mug?
>>> According to the notice, you should know that."
>> Whilst I followed a van bearing the words:

>> "Mould Solutions"

>> Why would you want to produce that? And is there a market for it?

> Antibiotic, but some people are allergic to it.

Or kombucha. Or beer, arguably. WP says "Not all fungi form molds.
Some fungi form mushrooms; others grow as single cells and are called
microfungi (for example yeasts)", but that's barmy.

On Friday, August 26, 2022 at 1:10:39 AM UTC-4, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> Den 25.08.2022 kl. 21.58 skrev Paul Epstein:

> > I saw the following notice in a cafe:
> > "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
>
> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?

Why not?

"The X Café specializes in coffee drinks of all kinds."

Those would be anything but plain black coffee, but if they're
offering you a real cup instead of a paper one, why wouldn't
the word be generalized to every hot beverage served?.

I've always found it odd that the feminine form "barista"
is not gender-specific.

On Friday, August 26, 2022 at 1:28:16 AM UTC-4, Bob Martin wrote:
> On 25 Aug 2022 at 20:36:23, "Peter T. Daniels" <gram...@verizon.net> wrote:
> > On Thursday, August 25, 2022 at 3:58:07 PM UTC-4, Paul Epstein wrote:

> >> I saw the following notice in a cafe:
> >> "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
> >> Perhaps I should have asked him or her:
> >> "Excuse me. Please can you tell me whether I would prefer my
> >> drink in a ceramic mug? According to the notice, you should know
> >> that."
> > No, that would be the interpretation if the original had used
> > "whether." The placard is correctly worded, but the syntax
> > could be improved. "If you would prefer ..., ask the barista."
>
> Perhaps the first word should be "Tell".

A bit impolite. Your barista isn't an enslaved person!

On Friday, August 26, 2022 at 1:42:54 AM UTC-4, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> Den 26.08.2022 kl. 07.28 skrev Bob Martin:

> >>> "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
> > Perhaps the first word should be "Tell".
> Or the sentence could be rearranged:
>
> If you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug,
> ask the barista.

That's what I said, in the bit you deleted.

> One might prefer "tell", but maybe they don't have ceramic mugs?

If they didn't have them, why would they put up a sign letting you
know you can ask for them? They're not in the business of frustrating
their customers.

On Friday, August 26, 2022 at 2:01:08 AM UTC-4, Peter Moylan wrote:
> On 26/08/22 15:45, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> > Den 26.08.2022 kl. 07.17 skrev Peter Moylan:

> >>> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?
> >> That's normal here, and presumably also where Paul lives.
> > Thanks. I'm probably influenced from Danish, where "drik" is any
> > fluid one can drink, but a "drink" contains alcohol.
>
> I wondered about that. There are some situations where "a drink"
> probably means an alcoholic drink in English[1], but only some. The
> default is that "drink" means anything you can drink. Except possibly soup.

In which case, you may have to ask for an eat?

> [1] The example that immediately springs to my mind is "God, I need a
> drink, alcoholic of course, after the heavy lectures involving quantum
> mechanics." This is a mnemonic that has been discussed before in AUE.

Le vendredi 26 août 2022 à 14:08:21 UTC+2, Peter T. Daniels a écrit :
> On Friday, August 26, 2022 at 1:10:39 AM UTC-4, Bertel Lund Hansen wrote:
> > Den 25.08.2022 kl. 21.58 skrev Paul Epstein:
>
> > > I saw the following notice in a cafe:
> > > "Ask the barista if you would prefer your drink in a ceramic mug."
> >
> > Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?
> Why not?
>
> "The X Café specializes in coffee drinks of all kinds."
>
> Those would be anything but plain black coffee, but if they're
> offering you a real cup instead of a paper one, why wouldn't
> the word be generalized to every hot beverage served?.
>
> I've always found it odd that the feminine form "barista"
> is not gender-specific.

? Italian nouns ended in -ista are epicene.

On Fri, 26 Aug 2022 07:45:21 +0200, Bertel Lund Hansen
<gadekryds@lundhansen.dk> wrote:

>Den 26.08.2022 kl. 07.17 skrev Peter Moylan:
>
>>> Is it normal to refer to coffee as a drink?
>
>> That's normal here, and presumably also where Paul lives.
>
>Thanks. I'm probably influenced from Danish, where "drik" is any fluid
>one can drink, but a "drink" contains alcohol.

In a sit-down restaurant in the US, the normal procedure is that the
person who will take your dinner order first asks what you will have
to drink. That's done immediately after you are seated and as you are
given the menu.

The question of what you will have to drink allows the ordering of
water, coffee, a soft drink, or an alcoholic drink.

--

Tony Cooper - Orlando Florida

I read and post to this group as a form of entertainment.

Den 26.08.2022 kl. 16.05 skrev Tony Cooper:

> In a sit-down restaurant in the US, the normal procedure is that the
> person who will take your dinner order first asks what you will have
> to drink. That's done immediately after you are seated and as you are
> given the menu.

It's the same in Denmark. It has the advantage that the customers often
have finished their drink before the food is served, so they have to
order new drinks.

--
Bertel