Tipping for a cup of coffee

Maybe this topic has been covered somewhere here? I am one of those sneered at customers who doesn't tip for ordering and being served a cup of coffee. Tip cups appear at coffee "shops" but not at the bodega. Same drink, same service. Can't see the connect as to why I'm expected to tip at the shop and not at the deli counter. Yet I get the full palpable attitude for not tipping.

I don't tip either. I don't care if someone give me a look. Tipping for such a service is a generational thing. Twenty years ago, nobody tipped for being served a cup of coffee and there were no such things as tip jars.

The oddest place I've ever seen a tip jar is at the Fed Ex/UPS/Lotto ticket store near my office.

Don't be so sensitive. Does the cup have your name on it? If it's one of those generational coffee orders like
"a grande extra hot soy with extra foam, split shot with a half squirt of sugar-free vanilla and a half squirt of sugar-free cinnamon, a half packet of splenda, oh and put that in a venti cup and fill up the "room" with extra whipped cream with carmel and chocolate sauce drizzled on top", then by God they deserve a tip!

modsquad wrote: Don't be so sensitive. Does the cup have your name on it? If it's one of those generational coffee orders like
"a grande extra hot soy with extra foam, split shot with a half squirt of sugar-free vanilla and a half squirt of sugar-free cinnamon, a half packet of splenda, oh and put that in a venti cup and fill up the "room" with extra whipped cream with carmel and chocolate sauce drizzled on top", then by God they deserve a tip!

Well said!

I don't tip generally speaking either... I drink coffee that comes out of a pot or spigot. Not those highly labor-intensive things. When i do tip, it's less than a quarter.

What really grinds my gears is when a coffee costs a ridiculous amount -- not just 'a lot' , that's an entirely different topic... but when a coffee costs $2.05 REALLY!?

I think if the price was $2.50 or $2.75 i'd notice the price less. But at $2.05 -- you are forcing me to either search for a nickel or get back a huge amount of change. Then, because I have a bad taste in my mouth before my first sip, I ain't gonna put any of that in the tip jar. (Even though the 'barista' had nothing to do with the price)

Oh yeah, and one place in particular I go to with this dumb price tends to run out of quarters.... so my 95c change is in the form of 9 dimes and a nickel (if I'm lucky)

By the way, this place is Greg's Coffee on 24th St in Manhattan.... to add to the annoyance, this $2.05 price tag on a medium coffee was the result of a recent price increase. Formerly it was $2 even. A perfect price. So, maybe the 'baristas' did have a say over the price... they're still not getting my change!

(Well a perfect price if it wasn't so much money!)

espresso drinks are an art. they take skill & knowledge to make, honestly. if you'd tip a bartender for a drink then you should tip a barista who can make an excellent foamy cappuccino. what i don't know is if i should tip for loose leaf teas... generally speaking i hate tipping because it complicates things. i'd prefer a dining fee (if it existed) or a delivery charge and so we can all call it a damn day, already...

I posted here originally to tackle coffee. Simple coffee. Either dispensed into a cup or over ice. I do not agree with Gtrain that a coffee shop tip and a bar tip are similar. I tip in a bar on even a simple bottle of beer because the bar staff have to not only attend to me but also to keep decorum in an atmosphere where alcohol tends to do funny things to people. Obviously if someone in a coffee shop goes out of their way a tip is considered. But, the original post came from the experience of going in for a cup of coffee. Hell, I saw a tip cup at a hardware store checkout counter once!

i will tip for a low-labor order if i'm planning to sit in the shop for a while to use my laptop or something. otherwise, i'm with you.

I can't believe how uncomfortable the idea of being shamed to give an undeserved tip weighs on peoples minds.
The funny thing is that you think that since there is no tip jar on the counter at the bodega that tips are not appreciated. I have 2 regular delis I go to almost every week day. I never tip at all except around this time of year and then I give out 20s to anybody I've dealt with. That is greatly appreciated and it is well deserved. Anybody who knows about working that kind of a job would do the same.
Regarding the hardware tip jar: If I asked any advice that I benefit from financially during the year then the counter guy gets cash.

modsquad wrote: I can't believe how uncomfortable the idea of being shamed to give an undeserved tip weighs on peoples minds.
The funny thing is that you think that since there is no tip jar on the counter at the bodega that tips are not appreciated. I have 2 regular delis I go to almost every week day. I never tip at all except around this time of year and then I give out 20s to anybody I've dealt with. That is greatly appreciated and it is well deserved. Anybody who knows about working that kind of a job would do the same.
Regarding the hardware tip jar: If I asked any advice that I benefit from financially during the year then the counter guy gets cash.

Man, I wish I had 20's to distribute. I never said I think tips aren't appreciated.

exactly13 wrote:

Man, I wish I had 20's to distribute. I never said I think tips aren't appreciated.

Who knows maybe I'll slip you one for not spitting in my latte this year!

It' s not about the service, or what you get, it's about where you are and what's expected at the venue.

At bars you tip. I always drink draft beer and tip a dollar to the person who poured it. Heck, if my friend orders a bottle of beer, I tip a dollar for flinging the cap off a bottle of something.

At delis, you don't tip. Even if the guy makes you a kickass pastrami sandwich that took way longer than it would to fill your glass with a brew.

At bodegas getting coffee, you don't tip.

At coffee shops, it's optional, and it IS a generational thing and I'm pretty sure that, in 10 years, it will be something expected, just like going to a restaurant. So this opinion is bound to be dated. But for now, it's optional if you're just getting a drip coffee, and should be done for "generational" drink orders.

Do not turn tipping into some principle invoking occurrence. If you want to tip then give the guy a buck, if not then take your coffee and be done. The deli guy or barista is not assaulting you or your principles with his tip cup.

If you do not want to tip because the guy did a good job then tell him he did a good job or even better tell the owner of the place that you had positive experience.

Remember that its a person doing his/her job, just like you do (presumably).

I’m all for tipping. But I’m not a big fan of tip jars. Tip jars are designed to pressure customers to tip, regardless of whether it’s called for. We're all aware of what tipping is and we can decide who and how much to tip for any job, big or small. I can tip the bus driver if I want to. We don't need a stupid jar to remind us that tipping exists in this world.

Does your waiter or waitress stick a jar on the table? No, because they know and you know that tipping is expected. Hair stylists don’t use jars. Valets don’t carry jars. If you’re somewhere and you see a tip jar is out, then it’s likely that this is a situation in which tipping isn't universally agreed upon. Therefore the jar is there to influence customers. After all, if you want to tip someone for doing a job well done, are you not going to give them a tip if you don’t see a jar? “Great work! I’d love to give you a tip, but there’s no jar, sorry.”

You can put a tip jar anywhere, and no matter how absurd it is, someone will put money in it. Not necessarily out of appreciation for service, but out of guilt. Or to flaunt their cash. You could put a tip jar by an ATM and someone will put money in it. I swear.

It's like those bathroom attendants in clubs you're supposed to give a dollar to for putting soap in your hands. I'd happily give the guy two dollars every time just for him not to be there. There even used to be tip jars for the baggers at C Town. Oh, here’s a buck for putting chicken and bleach in the same bag. Cheers for that. Frankly, I’m probably more likely to tip if I don’t see an obnoxious gimme jar.

Until this post, I had never heard of people tipping when buying a coffee.

I tip at bars and I tip at restaurants because I understood that their pay was based on getting tips -- some servers make less than minimum wage because they are expected to get tips. I have never heard of a barista getting less than minimum wage because they are to get tipped.

At a restaurant I tip because they take the time to come see my table, see if I need anything, etc. At a bar I tip because they have to be on their toes and serving people as they come up to the bar. At a coffee shop people wait in line patiently - the costumer comes to them and waits for the drink before the next person is served. The whole way of doing things is different -- imagine if people just walked up to the counter and started ordering from where-ever like at a bar..

That said, I don't tip the guy who makes my fries at McDonalds -- this is no different. They get paid an amount that does not take tips in account and I go to them and wait in their line to get served. They just stand and wait for me.

I'm with sweet tea on this. I tip if I'm planning on sitting around for a while, but never if I'm getting a cup to go.

I'll tip if I'm inside a diner and order coffee or if I'm at a place like Cousin Johns where they add the milk themselves instead of just handing me a black coffee to mend myself. Although, I must say I've been holding back tips at places that don'y acknowledge with a "thank you".

Subject: ..

i think that there's a distinct pressure to tip at a coffee shop because the people that work there are often overqualified and feel like they should be rewarded for performing menial tasks, because let's face it, they're better than that. So let's give out tips for poor job choices.

If you care enough about whether or not someone leaves you a tip of a dollar or two, you're in the wrong business. Tips are NEVER required.

Subject: Re: ..

BrooklynBoyyee wrote: i think that there's a distinct pressure to tip at a coffee shop because the people that work there are often overqualified and feel like they should be rewarded for performing menial tasks, because let's face it, they're better than that. So let's give out tips for poor job choices.

If you care enough about whether or not someone leaves you a tip of a dollar or two, you're in the wrong business. Tips are NEVER required.

Wow! I thought I was the asshole around here.

Perhaps he just feels that tips are a trap.

jeffrey wrote: Perhaps he just feels that tips are a trap.

Sort of like welfare? I can see that now. Watching that jar fill up all day with undeserved change and the occasional folding money would be quite seductive and entrapping at the same time.
Better they should go without.

I was going for more of an Admiral Ackbar vibe, actually

I need to catch up on Betamax library.

Oh my GOD what a bunch of whiny cheapskates. Quit bitchin' and make your own damn coffee at home!

Subject: Re: ..

BrooklynBoyyee wrote: Tips are NEVER required.

Except for parties of 6 or more.

Hah, ^ that one made me chuckle.

In terms of an actual response (rare for me, I know), I usually give a minimum of 50 cents for a basic coffee, a buck if they're someone I see often, is really friendly or is preparing an espresso drink.

More around the holidays though, especially for familiar friendly faces.

http://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/01/garden/coffee-bar-tipping-the-jury-is-still-out.html

Danny Hellman wrote: Oh my GOD what a bunch of whiny cheapskates. Quit bitchin' and make your own damn coffee at home!

Ah Danny Hellman. The answer to a question nobody asked.

Julius Orange wrote:
Ah Danny Hellman. The answer to a question nobody asked.

Uh, thanks, nice koan. Here's the question I'm asking: why broadcast to the world your reluctance to part with a few pennies? I know nobody asked me, but if you ask me, it's shameful.