Tipping for a cup of coffee

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.

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!

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)

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Perhaps he just feels that tips are a trap.

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

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

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.

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.