Showing Up and Still Not Knowing What You Want
Being unprepared at the counter is frequently cited as a top pet peeve by baristas in coffee industry discussions. Customers frequently walk up to the counter trying to place an order while on their phone. Let’s be real here. You’ve been standing in that line for minutes, maybe even longer during the morning rush. The unspoken social contract of the coffee shop requires arriving at the counter with a general idea about what you want, because baristas need to know your preferences to make sure you have exactly what you want.
Being on Your Phone During the Entire Transaction
Placing an order while still on a phone call creates a barrier that frustrates both staff and customers, as the barista cannot always tell if you are talking to them or to the person on the line, which increases the chance of mistakes. It also sends a message that you’re not present in the interaction. Real human eye contact and perhaps a smile and some small talk will make the ordering process more pleasant and less awkward for both you and the barista, and that email from a needy client or Instagram feed won’t change much in one minute. Honestly, we all know those texts can wait thirty seconds.
Vanishing After You Place Your Order
While a barista’s vocal cords are equipped to yell out drink orders across the loud environment of a coffee shop, it simply doesn’t help for a customer to wander far from the counter or disappear entirely when the drink will typically only take a couple minutes to prepare, and unclaimed drinks left out for a while will usually be given away or discarded. Some customers develop immediate amnesia as soon as they place an order, running away to the back of the shop or the bathroom without receiving any response, which can lead to the need to make a brand new drink as the shop doesn’t allow reheating drinks. Drinks don’t hold up well when they sit around, especially hot ones.
Ordering Insanely Complicated Drinks During Rush Hour
Two baristas interviewed said that customers ordering complicated drinks is a big pet peeve, with one former barista in downtown Indianapolis noting that people who order all sorts of amendments to their drinks where the beverage doesn’t even resemble the original drink are not ideal. Frappuccinos on any hot day when the sun shines are particularly challenging, as Frappuccino is a slow drink that can take a while to prepare and can often leave baristas soaking, and if you’re ordering something complicated, be ready to hear your name called and pick it up. Drinks that are supposed to be in plastic cups all layered up for Instagram or TikTok are incredibly irritating, especially since spending extra minutes on a drink just to get the perfect layering effect can feel like a waste of time for baristas, particularly when you’re instantly going to stir it up to drink it.
Not Leaving a Tip
Many people who haven’t worked in food service may not be aware that baristas make their living mostly through tips, as tips are a percentage of the total amount spent on an order, and in today’s world leaving a generous tip such as twenty percent is appreciated, meaning if you buy a cappuccino for five dollars, a twenty percent tip would be one dollar. It’s not just a kind gesture to a barista or a reward for exceptional service, as tips form the bulk of a barista’s income, and remembering to leave one keeps you from getting blacklisted at the coffee shop, with minimum wage or lower typically what service workers make. Here’s the thing though. Every component of a drink has to be perfect and it’s worth the dollar you throw in the jar, and that one dollar bill makes a huge difference to the barista.
Treating Baristas Like Coffee Robots Instead of Actual People
Some people will walk right past baristas like they’re invisible, according to Everyman Coffee owner Sam Penix, who explained that he just wants to be treated like a human and not a machine, noting that there’s no need to be ultra bubbly or saccharine or weird, and please and thank you are really nice but not expected, but just being a nice person who has manners is important. Just because baristas serve coffee doesn’t mean they’re doing some crappy counter work job that they hate, and many baristas take pride in being a service professional and providing to their community. Coffee shop industry surveys indicate that most customers consider good customer service important.
Leaving Your Mess Behind
Messy customers are a major pain, for example if they stick a muffin in their coffee cup and leave it out for a store worker to pick up. Leaving behind a messy table, spilled sugar, or half eaten snacks can be a major pet peeve for baristas, and while it’s part of their job to maintain the space, excessive messiness adds unnecessary stress especially during busy shifts, so trying to tidy up your area before leaving by disposing of napkins, taking dishes to the designated spot, and avoiding spilling milk or sugar at the condiment bar makes a big difference in creating a pleasant environment. Leave your space tidy by wiping off any crumbs, cleaning up any accidental spills or mug rings, and taking the extra trip to the counter, dish rack, garbage can or recycling bin before you leave. I know it sounds crazy, but think about it this way. Nobody likes cleaning up after other adults, especially when those adults should know better.
So next time you’re grabbing your morning brew, remember these simple courtesies. Your barista will appreciate it more than you know, and who knows, you might even get that extra foam heart in your latte. What behaviors do you think should make the list? Share your thoughts below.
