Current mood:	Caffeinated
Entry tags:	baristas: not sga-related, if only he ordered decaffeinated, no questions will be answered, punching customers in the dick

Coffeewank!
This is an example of the wailing and gnashing of teeth that can ensue when you take coffee too seriously. Or, depending on which side you take, what happens when you don't take it seriously enough.

Jeff Simmermon of the And I Am Not Lying blog wanted an iced triple espresso from Murky Coffee in DC. He's informed that it's against Murky's policy to serve iced espresso, and when he orders the espresso and a cup of ice, he's told that "What you’re about to do … that’s really, really Not Okay." Simmermon takes exception to the barista's attitude, posts about it on his blog, and also shows the tip he left at Murky. The comments explode, some taking sides with Simmermon, others with the barista; the blog post ends up linked on BoingBoing; and the owner of Murky responds with a highly unambiguous "Fuck you, Jeff Simmermon".

Insert joke here about everyone needing to lay off the caffeine.

ETA—Dear Mod What Added Tags To This Entry: I luff you. ♥!

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This is just an educated guess, mind

caffeine_fairy
2008-07-16 10:38 am UTC (link)

No questions will be answered about the $5 Hot Chocolate

Why is it $5?
Really $5?
US or Canadian?
If I didn't have the milk in it, would it still be $5?
If I didn't have the chocolate in it, would it still be $5?
If I bring my own mug, will it still be $5?
I come here all the time, I can have it for $4, right?
I'm a new customer, I can have it for $4, right?
How about $4.50?
$4.99?
Why isn't it the same price as Starbucks hot chocolate?
Why isn't it the same price as Costa Coffee hot chocolate?
If I buy it for my friend is it still $5?
What about if we share it between us?
What about if I'm a student?
A pensioner?
A dog owner?
What if I don't like hot chocolate?
What if I'm lactose intolerant?
What if I get it with half milk and half cream?
What about if I stand here and whine about it being $5 whilst a huge queue builds up behind me?
and so on.

I'm guesisng the Classic Cappuncino rule is because flavoured syrup costs more and they were sick of people asking for "a Classic Cappucino with half a shot of syrup" and then complaining about havign to pay for the syrup...
etc.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: This is just an educated guess, mind caffeine_fairy 2008-07-16 10:41 am UTC (link)
	And clearly, I need more caffeine before attempting to type... (Reply to this)(Parent)

	Re: This is just an educated guess, mind chibikaijuu 2008-07-16 08:07 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, the Classic Cappuccino thing bothers me a lot less than NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOT CHOCOLATE, since it's very likely something like that (or the fact that a properly made cappuccino does not actually have much room for syrup, as it is a shot of espresso topped with a bunch of foam). (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: This is just an educated guess, mind caffeine_fairy 2008-07-17 10:11 am UTC (link)
	The first rule of the $5 hot chocolate is, YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT THE FIVE DOLLAR HOT CHOCOLATE. I dunno, maybe it's a cultural thing, but if I go into a shop and they have rules I don't like, I just go to another shop - I don't expect them to break the rules just for me. But TBH I found US service a bit over the top, to the point of even being a bit creepy. (Reply to this)(Parent)

Re: This is just an educated guess, mind

dez_chan
2008-07-17 05:35 am UTC (link)

Yeah all of those questions are annoying, but chances are any question you're asked in the course of your day in the customer service industry (especially in food service) are going to be annoying. It's part of the job. Either suck it up and learn to answer questions (yes even questions you're constantly asked), make a pamphlet about your products (that no one will read), or get a different job. Putting up a sign that says you don't answer questions is not helpful because people will still ask questions. It's what they do; they assume it doesn't mean THEM.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: This is just an educated guess, mind

caffeine_fairy
2008-07-17 10:05 am UTC (link)

Well, no. It's the guy's own shop and he can make any rules he wishes. If the customer doesn't like the rules, he can go to another shop. Since the shop is still in business, presumably the rule doens't bother that many people. That's the free market for you - the shop is under no obligation to accept the customer's business, any more than the customer is under any obligation to shop at that particular shop.

My, this descended into srs biznis quickly, didn' it?

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: This is just an educated guess, mind dez_chan 2008-07-17 05:16 pm UTC (link)
	I'm not saying he can't do these things, just that they're not terribly smart as a marketing decision. I know, too serious. I feel like one of us should call the other one a COFFEE HOR! or something. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: This is just an educated guess, mind caffeine_fairy 2008-07-17 06:22 pm UTC (link)
	YOU BISCOTTI STEALING WENCH! (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: This is just an educated guess, mind dez_chan 2008-07-18 04:17 am UTC (link)
	BAH! BISCOTTI IS FOR PLEBES! *alternatively: BISCOTTI IS FOR BOURGEOIS WANKERS WHO DON'T KNOW CROUTONS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE SWEET! (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: This is just an educated guess, mind caffeine_fairy 2008-07-18 04:04 pm UTC (link)
	YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE TOOTH-BREAKY LOVE THAT IS BISCOTTI! HERETIC! (Reply to this)(Parent)

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