Resonant Constellation

I was reading an article recently (on how best to use a press pot for making coffee, if it matters) in order to improve my coffee brewing method (so far, my coffee presses have been of hit or miss quality, with about one out of every three pots turning out amazing and the rest so-so), and a single phrase the author used stood out to me. Here’s the quote from the article:

…many people see the leap from instant to press pot coffee as one in the quantum variety – it’s almost too much to go for.

Now, this author is not alone in this mistake; plenty of people make it. I’m just left wondering why? If you understand the science, even at a very basic level, you would know that the word quantum implies something extremely, unimaginably small–so small, even, that it is not observable in the normal course of human existence. So how has the phrase, “Quantum Leap” entered the common lexicon meaning “Something Extremely Large”? This is entirely mystifying to me. Almost assuredly, no physicist nor indeed anybody with any direct experience with the subject would claim that quantum mechanics is anything but extremely tiny. This is similar to, though less understandable than the common usage of the term ‘Lightyear,’ to mean a large measure of time or progress.

I think some small amount (perhaps a quanta) of insight can be gained from this entry at Answers.com:

Q:
How big is a quantum leap?

A:
Extreamly big. The true fans would wish that a quantum leap movie will come out.

Yes, it is Extreamly big, as is my annoyance.