Gothamist: Ethics of Latte Shortcutting

Sten93377

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:59:31 -0500

My life's been pretty dull recently. Shrug. My mind is like a void. I haven't gotten anything done lately. I can't be bothered with anything recently.

Sten91102

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:45:21 -0500

retty much nothing seems worth thinking about. My life's been completely dull , not that it matters. I've just been staying at home waiting for something to happen.

Sten4818

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 01:32:41 -0500

I haven't been up to anything recently, but so it goes. Such is life. What can I say? Pretty much not much exciting going on to speak of. I haven't gotten much done lately, but I don't care.

em

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:38:36 -0500

Starbucks is garbage. I am a caffeine addict, and I go way out of my way to avoid the pox of that overpriced, super-trendy, small business-crushing empire of greed.

dude

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 00:08:43 -0500

Nick - Good subquestion. I'm sure all of these high and mighty non-milk-stealing snobs have never taking a handful of napkins from McD's during a road-trip, or loaded up on ketchup packages. Other things I like to do at Starbucks: Order a large coffee and put all of its hot contents into the trash so that it leaks from the garbage bag and/or burns an employee. Then, I drink 4 cups of just milk, wait for half an hour and then take a slimy dump on the seat of the toilet. Follow that up by comlaining to the staff, and I've ended a perfectly fine day. More fun things to do: Order the most complicated drink they have and spend the next 2 minutes "trying" to find your change. By that point, they've started making your $17 double-brownie mocha-frappa soy-pumpkin spice mint latte-roma. Declare you must have dropped your money and leave. Oh well!

politeness is my favorite tip.

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 17:46:15 -0500

i work at a cafe and i don't care if people want to use extra milk. i even prefer that people ask for extra room, so i don't waste coffee. most people don't use that much milk. what i do hate is when i go out of my way to make something special for someone or make a bunch of complicated drinks, and i can't even get a smile back for it. man, are people ever rude. sure, i like tips. i don't expect them for a cup of coffee or a muffin, but today some people ordered almost $60 worth of food/drinks, and didn't tip a dime. i tip a dollar to a bartender every time i get a drink, even if it's a beer in a bottle. i would give up all my tips, though, if i could have one shift where everyone says please and thank you, speaks in full sentences and no one makes ridiculous requests while twenty people wait behind them. they don't even have to smile.

Crwn Hts

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:01:54 -0500

"And stealing milk from ANY establishment is just plain lame." Fuck Starbucks, Fuck Milk, Fuck THE Establishment, Fuck the Lame. Rage Against the Machine. Anarchy, motherfucker..you don't know the streets!

nick

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 12:41:39 -0500

subquestion: what do you guys think about taking a few too many napkins when taking something home, and creating a napkin surplus?

Samantha T

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:48:17 -0500

"if they put the condiments out, the condiments are for use." For their intended use, not for any use. I can't believe people are so damn cheap that they'd steal milk from a Starbucks. The store is putting the condiments out with the understanding that you're using them for products you bought from them - I don't think that's an outrageous expectation from the establishment. I also don't think that extends to concocting your own latte when you only bought coffee. If you can't afford a latte, then tone down your tastes.

k

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:32:04 -0500

"breve latte", like "chai tea", is redundant. breve, chai, breve, chai, breve chai. whatever. truly a stupid debate. if they put the condiments out, the condiments are for use.

afeawfe

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 08:56:28 -0500

Seriously, thank god for Starbucks - many a time I would've pissed into a mason jar if it weren't for 500 of those stores on every block.

nick

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 02:25:32 -0500

HAHAH homeboy steals milk! that's low.

dude

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 23:32:48 -0500

meloyellow - Sorry for the typos - you were right. I think I must be drunk off of all of my free milk.

meloyellow

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 23:16:26 -0500

Dude maybe you meant "After I take all their milk..." instead of "After I take all their coffee..." And stealing milk from ANY establishment is just plain lame.

dude

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:30:55 -0500

I've actually brought my own personal thermos to Starbucks every morning and fill up with milk. I mean, milk is almost 2 bucks a quart now, so I save myself all that money everyday for cereal, coffee, etc. I also never tip Assbucks. After I take all of their coffee, I walk to Mud and get real coffee and leave a nice tip to people who earn it.

edEx

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 21:24:54 -0500

"I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job." —Mr. Pink These assbags make more than minumum wage plus health benefits. the tip cup should be against company policy. I mean for god sakes, Starbucks charges for WiFi... let them give their employees bonuses. The only people i tip, in this city, at the counter are Grey Dog employees. They're nice, the listen to the order and hey, "Karma's a boomerang."

nick

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:51:22 -0500

or an "espresso and free milk mashup" but re: the tipping comments... i'll always stick by what bill maher once said "i tip waiters at a restaurant because they are waiting on me. at a fast food restaurant, fuck you, i am waiting on you." people i do think deserve tips? shoe salespeople. but they usually work off commission, so it equals out.

Bryce

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:32:19 -0500

I'm surprised Gothamist hasn't tried to offer the ghetto latte as a "Starbucks hack".

Thriftyx4

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:32:06 -0500

I like to go thru the trash at Starbucks and fish out a used grande cup. Then I take it home and serve myself coffee in it.

Samantha T

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:01:52 -0500

I think it's a little shitty to misappropriate the cream/sugar because you want a fancy coffee but are too cheap to pay for it. I'm sure this makes the supplies run out more frequently for people who legitimately want just a little milk and sugar for their coffee. Moan about the markup all you wish, but it's always cheaper to make things yourself. Part of the point of going out to get something is for the convenience/experience - that's what you're paying for.

Shew

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:44:02 -0500

I have been doing this for close to two years...why should I pay starbucks two dollars extra to pour the same milk I could for FREE. Yes...I get my little iced triple in a venti glass ($2.36) and my starbucks has even gotten so used to it that they prefer to fill my glass at the station versus me emptying out the canisters! Why not be inventive! Also...save your cups, you can get a refill of iced coffee or hot coffee for $.52 at any starbucks with a cafe. I say, share the wealth or economical short cuts. Leave the tourists to their frappe-a-mocha-rasberry-latte-chinos to hold that company a float.

Tom

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:24:51 -0500

I bet they though raising their coffee prices to 1.99 to 2.05 would make people tip .95 cents instead of a penny. Instead, I used all my saved pennies and bought a roll of nickels. I win.

robin.g

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:17:53 -0500

Every place has a tip jar. Even Carvel. I buy ice cream and I am supposed to tip? And the only people ever working there are the owners.

101

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:05:57 -0500

Tipping obviously isn't required but if the barista made an extra effort for you a tip should at least be considered. I've heard countless stories of some UES old farts tipping $.01 and then acting like they bought the barista 2 drinks in return. What sucks is then you tip a barista you tip all of them. The tips accumulate and then are distributed amongst the baristas depending on how many hours they worked.

Questions & Answers

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 15:49:54 -0500

I didn't even know we were supposed to tip at Starbucks... oh well...

JerseyCityMafia

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 15:19:06 -0500

Ah Starbucks...the public bathrooms of New York.

hr

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 15:18:49 -0500

i don't tip the retard at mcdonalds for assembling my mcgriddle, I shant tip shaniqua for pouring me a coffee.

your mom

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 15:07:37 -0500

/* Starbucks, which is scamming people into paying way too much for coffee deserves it. */ you are a dumbass. starbucks isn't screwing anyone. if people are willing to pay ridiculous prices for their mega grande venti mochafrappalattachino, then that's their bidness. if you don't like their pricing structure, you don't have to order there. you can drink your ovaltine at home instead.

mags

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 15:05:17 -0500

I agree with "tipping point". I used to tip but once I received an annoyed look from a barista who expected more than a couple .25s for handing me a cup of black coffee, I stopped. The truth is that those people do get paid more than the minimum wage for making my coffee unlike, say, waiters, who often depend on tips and work very hard to deserve them.

lisa

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 15:03:33 -0500

If they don't want people ordering it then take it off the menu. If a barista charges me full price for this I'll put a fist through his face.

Toby

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:58:51 -0500

Well nobody gets hurt here. Starbucks, which is scamming people into paying way too much for coffee deserves it.

CoffeeCathy

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:56:50 -0500

The only way I "cheat" at Starbucks a little is by ordering my lattes "no foam" -- because I got tired of paying $4 for a cup of half air. Some baristas seem a little annoyed by the request -- or maybe I'm just paranoid. Whatever, now I no longer have to deal with the heaving disappointment when I grab my cup from the little table and its cruel lightness threatens to ruin my morning. It's the little things.

McStarnald's

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:54:09 -0500

Starbucks=McDonald's for yuppies

MissPinkKate

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:49:34 -0500

If Starbucks wants people to stop, then they should make their pricing make sense. Which I'm guessing they're going to do, very soon.

Matt

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:48:39 -0500

Is this post for real? Want cheaper coffee? Go somewhere (anywhere) else.

tipping point

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:33:33 -0500

i morally object to tipping a barista. why should i tip them for doing their job when they get paid hourly and do not depend on tips? should i have a tip jar on my desk at my office every time i do something my boss asks me to do? i hate the tip jar.

Kevin Walsh

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 14:15:33 -0500

Problem at Starbucks is they won't give you lemon for ice tea. I've heard the claim that they don't have a grocery license, hence no fruit. My theory is that they snobbishly don't want their tea sullied by citrus juice. www.forgotten-ny.com

kellyr

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:56:29 -0500

I call it Hobo Coffee. I like to get an Americano add some soy milk sprinkle with cocoa! Fightin' the system!