'She's one of those customers': Barista shares clever way of letting customers know they need to tip

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
May 4, 2023 3:00 PM EDT

To tip or not to tip, that is the question for this coffee shop regular. And according to her barista, who posted about the experience on r/pettyrevenge, leaving a tip makes a big difference in how you get your drink. 

Tipping is very normal in the US, and it seems like more businesses than ever are relying on tip money to get by. But one place that tips have traditionally always been expected is coffee shops. Especially if you go to the same place every day or a few times a week, you definitely want to tip the people who are making your drink. It's a kind thing to do, and your barista will be much more likely to put extra effort into your drink. 

Next, check out these people who shared their coworker's dumbest possible mistakes. 

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  • 01
    Font - r/pettyrevenge. Posted by u/dawnxblackheart Regular customer at cafe is rude and never tips... This isn't that long of a story. Essentially, there's a regular at the cafe I work at, who is always just generally unpleasant. She complains every time we raise the prices as if we, the baristas, are the ones raising the prices. She usually has us make one of our lattes in a size that we don't normally offer for lattes, and then tells us how to ring it up on our end.
    via u/dawnxblackheart
  • 02
    Font - Has us remake drinks saying they're wrong when at least one other person behind the counter can confirm we made the drink correctly the first time. It's never anything serious she's just...if you've worked in customer service you know what I mean when I say she's one of thoooose customers. Difficult. And for a long time we were always very nice and accommodating, humoring her and trying not to be jerks back. Until recently.
    via u/dawnxblackheart
  • 03
    Font - We're a small craft coffee chain so we always do cute latte art on the drinks and hand them out with the lids off so folks can see the art. But recently we've pretty much adopted the attitude of "okay you don't want to tip? fine no latte art for you." So any time this customer comes in, we make sure not to give her any latte art, and definitely make a point of doing our best job on anyone else's drink that ordered before her, so as she walks up to the counter she sees a very pretty latte
    via u/dawnxblackheart
  • 04
    Font - It's pretty petty I know, but you can't be a regular, expect constant be difficult and accommodations, then never tip.
    via u/dawnxblackheart
  • 05
    Font - benzethonium +2. If you can't refuse service, just do the minimum for her. "Sorry, that doesn't come in that size." "Soy? That will be 50 cents extra." No, we can't add an extra shot with an extra charge." Yes, we may have done it before, but corporate won't let us."
    via u/benzethonium
  • 06
    Font - ExpiredPilot When people ask me to "add some love" to their shots I do the same thing. "Boss says I can't." "There's cameras"
    via u/ExpiredPilot
  • 07
    Font - kiwimuz Next time she complains tell her to go elsewhere as she appears constantly unhappy in everything your coffee shop does. You don't need to put up with bad customers.
    via u/kiwimuz
  • 08
    Font - Ignorad It's never anything serious she's just... if you've worked in customer service you know what I mean when I say she's one of thoooose customers. Yep. There's no point in trying to please or placate the super demanding customers who are never happy. Only way to deal with them is to have strict boundaries and rules and never budge. Tell them to go elsewhere if they don't like it.
    via u/Ignorad
  • 09
    Font - Sir_Distic Refuse to accommodate her entitlement anymore. "We only offer it in these sizes. Yes I know that you used to get it in that size but since you don't tip we won't bend backwards for you."
    via u/Sir_Distic
  • 10
    Font - mogrifier4783 Would management frown on an elaborate "No Tip?" latte art?
    via u/mogrifier4783
  • 11
    Font - GhoeAguey Or a sign at cash "Tip for art"
    via u/GhoeAguey
  • 12
    Font - Lady Remy I swear I've had a customer exactly like this. She'd also ask for sizes we didn't have that Starbucks did, which was two blocks away. A 7 minute walk, lady! She'd watch me, hovering as close as she could, make her latte and one time said, "You haven't put the espresso in. You're doing it wrong." I was waiting to cue it when the milk was done so it would all be fresh. I,
    via u/LadyRemy
  • 13
    Font - having worked there for 6 years, explained, "Espresso dies after 10 seconds when it's not mixed right away. But if that's what you want." I pushed the button and she started saying no she'd have it the way I make it. Nah s Karen. You don't know how to make the drinks.
    via u/LadyRemy
  • 14
    Font - dawnxblackheart OP dude. want to come behind the counter and make it yourself? people like this drive me insane. oh
    via u/dawnxblackheart
  • 15

    The OP answered a few questions in the comments

    Font - Electrical-Island135. Question: where the f is the manager in all this? 22 Reply Share dawnxblackheart OP O she's here working with the rest of us, just as annoyed by her behavior.
    via u/Electrical-Island135

    It's unfortunate that the manager didn't step in to help! But at least the OP has a pretty good plan in place for the moment. 

  • 16
    Rectangle - SFW_Account_67 If I'm going to be a regular somewhere. I would tip every time.
    via u/SFW_Account_67
  • 17
    Font - 4Felines Poeple should be respectful. Why do we need to tip when purchasing counter purchases now, no matter where or what? It is not like a cocktail lounge. I waited tables, and I have worked at a counter it is signifanctly more work and less base pay waiting tables.
    via u/4Felines
  • 18
    Font - Appropriate-Dare3663 Love it. Find every petty way to ruin this bes day.
    via u/Appropriate-Dare3663
  • 19
    Font - sheeraggro +1. Give her caffeine free
    via u/sheeraggro
  • 20
    Human body - nhtzmc I don't understand the tipping culture in US.
    via u/nhtzmc

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coffee shop customers tipping coffee entitled
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