"Stays hot longer that way"

"Excuse me, sir. Could you help me out a little today?"

"No, not today," I said, my standard response.

"Thank you, sir."

I walked on by.

And turned back after 10 yards. "You know, I'm going to Starbucks. You want anything from Starbucks?"

"A cup of coffee'd be nice," he said.

I realized after I had his coffee in hand that I didn't ask him what he took in it. A bit sheepish, I walked back out and handed it to him. "Not sure what you take in your coffee, so it's just black," I said.

"Oh, that's how I take it," he said. "Stays hot longer that way."

"Yeah," I said. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

And I walked away, wondering what I had put in my drink to make me feel this cold.