Chronology of a lightning-fast coffee order

I think we may have a contender here for most efficiently (and also somewhat strangely) fulfilled online coffee order ever. Here’s the story as it unfolded with time stamps (EST) for dramatic effect.

1. Tues., 2/21, 10:26 a.m.

I decide I want to bring some of the Velton’s Yemen I recently enjoyed a pound of to a Home-Barista get-together I’m attending on Sat. in Baltimore, MD. However, I’ve missed the roaster’s published weekly deadline of Mon. noon for order placement. I brazenly forge ahead anyway and email Velton Ross directly asking if he might somehow be able to accommodate me.

2. Tues., 2/21, 12:11 p.m.

Velton emails back giving me the green light, which in itself is unexpectedly generous. I place an order immediately through ROASTe.

3. Tues., 2/21, 12:54 p.m.

I email ROASTe via their website to give them a heads up about my especially time-sensitive order.

4. Tues., 2/21, 2:07 p.m.

Velton emails again saying he still hasn’t seen the order come through and that USPS is due anytime to pick up his outgoing orders.

5. Tues., 2/21, 2:18 p.m.

Velton emails a third time saying all is well now because ROASTe’s Scott Lush has personally stepped in and expedited the order forwarding process. Boom! The stars have aligned.

6. Weds., 2/22, 10:33 a.m.

Scott emails me to advise that it looks like there might be a shipping problem since the order shows as delivered 2/21 to Everett, WA (where it originated). That’s one bizarre USPS scanning error, I hope to myself, suddenly unsure this crazy last-minute order will work out.

7. Thurs., 2/23 1:20 p.m.

The coffee arrives at my doorstep in Baltimore two days post-roast and less than 48 hours after it was shipped.

How’s that for amazing service? My sincere thanks to Velton and Scott for going above and beyond to make me happy. I truly appreciate it! And so will the espresso nuts I’ll be hanging out with this weekend.