Whether you hit your favorite coffee shop at least once a day or you only treat yourself to a fancy caffeinated beverage once in a while, we all spend a good amount of time in coffee shops.
Heck, some of us even consider them a beacon of hope when we're out in public and simply need a restroom. If that's you, hopefully you'll purchase at least a small beverage in return!
There are some things that you should absolutely never do in a coffee shop, and these 10 are at the very top of that list.
Have you ever done any of these things in a coffee shop? Are you, perhaps, a repeat offender? Next time you set foot in a coffee shop, make sure you're not making any of these huge mistakes!
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Thumbnail Photos: Flickr / Wojtek Zając // Wikimedia Commons / Christopher Michel
1. Order From A Secret Menu
There is no official secret menu that baristas at your favorite chains are required to learn. If you're a regular, sure, your favorite coffee slingers may know your order, but you can't go around ordering cotton candy this and unicorn that.
Instead, ask for the specific recipe or pumps of flavor that you want to add to a drink that is already on the menu. It will save time and frustration.
2. Try To Squeeze In Extra Free Refills
The folks behind the counter are working hard to give you the best service, and it's just not the right thing to do to cut corners by using the coffee cup from the day before.
If you want to save money, try bringing in a travel mug for your coffee. The discount is small, but the cents will add up over time, and you'll reduce waste at the same time!
3. Cheat Yourself Out Of What You Paid For
While it's not cool to try and cheat your way into free coffee, it's perfectly fair to expect to get your money's worth.
If you're getting an iced coffee, see if you can get your medium order in a large cup so that your $5 beverage isn't 60% ice. That way, you have a little extra room for milk, too.
4. Take Up More Room Than You Need
Like all public spaces, you shouldn't take up extra seats with your bags and belongings. Seating in coffee shops is often a hot commodity. Folks come to do homework or get to work on the next great American novel.
Be kind, and offer to share the empty seats at your table if it's a busy time.
5. Count On The Drive-Thru To Be Super-Fast
If you're trying to get a quick coffee when you're late to work in the middle of the morning rush, don't count on the drive-thru to be any faster than getting out of your car and ordering at the counter.
There are only so many folks inside available to help concoct your complicated orders, and the line will take as long as the line takes.
6. Make A Mess Of The Trash
Think about it this way: would you pour liquid into the garbage can in your own kitchen? If the answer is "no," then you can understand why you shouldn't do it at the coffee shop. If your answer is "yes," then I don't want to see what the rest of your house looks or smells like.
Simply ask for a bit of room in your cup if you plan on putting more than a dash of milk in your coffee. Don't dump coffee into the trash!
7. Make Ridiculous Demands
You're entitled to be picky about your coffee, as it is quite expensive these days. However, if you're asking for globs of caramel sauce added to the top of your frozen drink, or for overly-precise ratios between milk, espresso, foam, and flavor, you're just holding up the flow of the busy behind-the-scenes conveyor belt.
Picky is fine, but let's not go overboard.
8. Forget To Tip
If you've ever worked in the service industry, you know what a pain in the behind it can be. You may also know how much every tip counts. Don't be a cheapskate!
Leave a bit of tip in the jar, especially if your server went out of their way to try and make you smile.
9. Act Like You Are The Only One In A Rush
If you're already 10 minutes late for work, then you probably shouldn't have stopped in to grab a coffee in the first place. Don't make a scene and try to rush the barista who has seven different orders to fill before yours.
We're all just people trying to do our jobs, and that includes the men and women making your coffee!
10. Risk Your Health By Adding Too Much Sweetener
Now, I'm not your mother, but adding too much flavor, sugar, and artificial sweetener isn't great for your health. A little bit is totally fine, as we're all allowed to indulge, but remember not to go overboard.
If you think you're beating the system with artificial sweeteners, think again. Moderation is key.
Have you ever done any of these things in a coffee shop? Please SHARE with your family and friends on Facebook!
