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Coffee shop owners and baristas Kat Möller and Luka Sanchez. Courtesy Photos / Insider
- Insider spoke to over 15 baristas to inquire about proper cafe etiquette.
- Be kind to your barista, but don’t expect them to indulge in idle chatter.
- If you are a teleworker, be neat and polite and buy more items if you stay a few hours.
- Check out Insider’s business page for more stories.
Being a barista can be a challenging job. You’re on your feet all day maneuvering equipment that is messy and potentially dangerous due to exposure to loud noises, hot liquids, and chemicals. In addition, they deal with customers, some of whom are picky and downright rude.
Do you want to make life easier for your barista? Below are some baristas recommended etiquette to keep in mind when getting your morning brew.
1. Curiosity is welcome, but keep moving
If you’re new to the scene, the millions and one option on the average espresso bar menu can be a little intimidating. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, said former Starbucks employee Laura LeMoon, 35.
Most baristas will be happy to help you choose a drink – just keep in mind that if there is a line outside, they may not have the time to explain each item.
2. Don’t ask for “service with a smile”
Baristas are known for their friendliness, but not every coffee shop requires their staff to enforce smiles and false courtesies. This may be a good thing considering that at least one study of the coffee industry has found that faking positive emotions is harmful to a barista’s physical and mental health.
If a barista is busy or just not in the mood to chat, respect their space requirements.
3. The customer is not always right
When it comes to coffee, it’s okay to be special, says Abby Seitz, 24, a former barista at a local Jerusalem cafe, but don’t be rude if the drink you get is different than what you expected.
“Don’t be surprised if your cappuccino doesn’t have the same thick layer of foam when you order your drink vegan,” said Seltz. “Soy and almond milk don’t foam as well as their dairy products.”
4. Be patient
“It really sucks to be stared at and told what to do while we make the drinks we were trained to make,” former Starbucks employee Lisa Marie Basile told Insider.
Whether you are waiting for the barista to perfect your drink or with a large group standing in front of you, it is rarely the barista’s fault when the line is slow. If you’re in a hurry, the best place to make your coffee is at home.
5. Make yourself comfortable – but don’t also comfortable
We all know that guy’s meme with his bare feet on the coffee table and his newspaper spread out a mile. Don’t be that guy, said Alyssa P., 39, a former barista in Pittsburgh, and avoid “taking seats when women want to chat with them and are otherwise loud and obnoxious”.
Remember, it is not your home. Leave your shoes on and keep your belongings close by. Also, don’t try to control the atmosphere. The barista can’t keep changing channels or turning the music up and down to suit everyone’s taste. Bring headphones if you have musical preferences and wear layers if the surroundings are too hot or too cold for you.
6. Be a respectful teleworker
© Luka Sanchez
Luka Sanchez is the owner of the Common Grounds Lounge Cafe in Jefferson Valley, New York. Luka Sanchez
Coffee shops expect people to linger over laptops, but not all locations are equally accommodating. Choose a place with plenty of seating and divide your table or move on if the space becomes crowded.
“Be attentive and make room for new customers,” said Luka Sanchez, 26, owner of Common Grounds lounge-cafe in Jefferson Valley, New York.
7. Be polite when you come as a group
Whether it’s an organized book club or a casual get-together with friends, coffee shops are great places for groups to meet. Just remember, “There’s a certain amount that is reasonable,” said Clinton Owner, 41, a former barista at Dino’s Cappuccinos in Yellow Springs, Ohio.
At Dino’s, Owner says, a group of more than five people began to dominate the atmosphere in a way that made the space unwelcome to other customers. Choose a room that is big enough for your whole group and others.
8. Spend money and don’t forget to tip
© Provided by Business Insider
Kat Möller is the owner of Kat’s Coffee in Thalpe, Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Kat Möller
Baristas are happy to accommodate you. That means your purchases help pay their wages. And when you’ve been there for a while, buy something else. According to Kat Möller, owner of Kat’s Coffee in Thalpe, Southern Province, Sri Lanka, “one item per hour would be desirable.”
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