Starbucks is known for three things: coffee, ubiquity, and employees who occasionally misspell your name—even if it’s something simple. It’s such a common occurrence that countless articles, tweets, and tumblrs have been devoted to the various ways Michael, Jennifer and Brian have been written incorrectly on frappuccinos and venti lattes across the country.
Comedian Paul Gale has an answer as to why: they do it on purpose.
In the role of a Starbucks barista, Gale tells us that intentionally misspelling the 500-plus names he writes on cups every day is the best part of his job. When Jessica becomes ‘Gessika’ and Chris becomes ‘Khris,’ he beams because ‘now I’m inside your head.’
NSFW warning: language.