Most people assume coffee shops are casual enough that the rules are optional. But there’s a person waiting behind you in line, a barista trying to do their job, and an owner whose livelihood depends on turning those tables. Monica Earley is back with a Protocol Conversation that covers the full arc — from knowing your order before you reach the counter to what you actually owe the space if you plan to stay. The rules are simple. Most people just haven’t thought them through.