Grieving daughter kept ordering a small coffee but Starbucks repeatedly gave her a large — two years later, she thanked them for the mistake
Even weeks and months after losing a loved one, the grief lingers. There are some days when you can’t keep going, and simple things like coffee, a prayer, or a friend help you push through. For one Facebook user, Amanda Olson, who goes by @amandakolson71, days were no different after her father's demise. In her post on August 26, 2026, she mentioned that a Starbucks coffee became her fuel. Her regular order was a small iced coffee, but the outlet made one error repeatedly, and two years later, she had to thank them publicly.
It all began the day after Olson’s dad died. She needed a quick coffee and asked for a small. The beverage had been part of her family for a long time, and it was her way of navigating life without her father. However, the employee accidentally gave her a venti (a large). It instantly took her back to how her dad would order the latter, while she stuck to the smaller portion because she would take hours to finish. So when the barista handed her what would have been her late parent’s order, she couldn’t help but chuckle, thinking of it as the man trying to help “even in the afterlife.” That simple error felt like he knew she “was going to need a lot more than a small to get through that day.”
At the time, it felt like a simple mistake. However, as time passed, it continued. Even though it was a year later, at a completely different outlet, she still received a venti instead of a small. Yet another year later, she was in the area of the hospital where her dad died. She went to that Starbucks, and yet again, a large was handed to her. It no longer felt random; it felt personal, it felt intentional. And these are the little things that bring healing during grief. Olson thanked Starbucks and said that they “unknowingly have played a hand in helping me keep this running joke with my dad, even in his absence. He would absolutely love this.” The reassuring error made her feel her dad was with her, as if he was offering his support.
Commenters, especially those who had faced grief themselves, also agreed. @MentalElf wrote, “I’m glad that the little things like this keep happening. He's still with you.” @anastasia.verstakova remarked, “A dad who will always be around, and a daughter who will see him through all the hints.” @jennifer.hortonclarke commented, “I love bold signs like that.” Healing works in such unexpected ways. A memory, a joke, a note, a dish, can suddenly become a bittersweet possession that keeps you going. In another instance, a woman found out that her dad had passed away and was battling her own grief.
One message broke through her despair. Her stepsister sent her a picture of the urn containing her father’s ashes and said, “He says sorry he had dirt-bag tendencies.” The intended pun made her laugh out loud. It was the last thing she expected, but she knew if the man were here, he would have referred to his ashes in the urn as “dirtbag tendencies.” That simple line became a form of support.
You can follow Amanda Olson (@amandakolson71) on Facebook for more content on grief and healing.