Has a customer asked you a question or say something that was completely out of line? Let us know here. The most common questions and phrases will become an article for my blog.

~Jennifer

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Assertiveness training.....
Joe



Shellie Adams said:
There's been a lot of head-scratchers for me but I think it irks me the most when people change their order after they pay. Say they pay for a "regular" latte, I get ready to make their drink (or even half-way through) and they say..."Oh, can I get that Decaf?" or "Can you add vanilla?"; Sure, I'll do that for them but most of them become upset if their new addition costs extra. Or better yet, if I finish their drink and THEN they change their mind or say they left out a very important descriptor.
I would have said "I don't have to add ice and it will still be cold".



Ronette Reynolds said:
It almost seemed so out there to me that I actually sat back and thought about how I could actually do it! Haha.

Taiya Jarva said:
That one deserves a big old facepalm.


Ronette Reynolds said:
"Is there any way I can get an iced coffee without the ice melting?"

I had to think about that one for quite a while.
"Im just gonna do two shots of espresso in a 16 ounce cup " " Chuckle"
Oh I know what you mean!! We always have customers (often on pension day) order there coffee, we make it to the right temp and they bring it back and ask it to be microwaved.... I can't do it either, I can't stand when Staff do it to their own coffee either! I would always just offer to make them a fresh 'extra hot' coffee, I wonder though if it really does make a difference if you heat it that little more in the microwave.... I don't think I will ever need to try it though.



Lauren Nicholls said:
in any way shape or form said the -word- 'eXpresso' as opposed to espresso, is out of line to me, call me crass but if you drink espresso know that it doesn't have an 'x' in it PLEASE.

and don't encourage people to say 'expresso' by putting it all over advertising signs and menus spelt wrong. it drives me crazy.

more crazy... than the lady who asked me to make her a latte at normal temp but then put it in the microwave till it was super hot cos she liked how it tasted that way...morally i couldn't do it...so i waited until she found her seat on the other side of the cafe and then asked a workmate to make it and serve it for me.
Does break your heart just a little when you go to so much effort and are so proud of your art and they just chuck sugar in and stir it without even a glance... but then you have others who are very excited and even want to take pictures!



Daniel Gruska said:
Its not that bad and certainly doesn't warrant retaliation, but it really sucks when a customer looking at a perfectly poured three tiered tulip looks up and asks "Did you do that on purpose?"
Can I get Short/Tall/Grande/Venti Latte?
ugh... starbucks..
When they order in Starbuck, I joking/but seriously, ask that they pay me in Lira.
snuff it out with funny, and ask that they order coffee in ounces so its easier on everyone

!

Meir said:
Can I get Short/Tall/Grande/Venti Latte?
ugh... starbucks..
Yes and Yes, How can someone be so oblivious that dont look at there drink before they drink it. Or is it that they dont think recall how there latte has looked other places? Seems like the times when your most proud of your work, the people dont bat an eye. But then some customers are overly excited about it, which makes up for the ones that dont care. I had one lady that regardless if the art was awesome, or totally disastrous would make a big fuss about it. I miss her...

Alison McD said:
Does break your heart just a little when you go to so much effort and are so proud of your art and they just chuck sugar in and stir it without even a glance... but then you have others who are very excited and even want to take pictures!



Daniel Gruska said:
Its not that bad and certainly doesn't warrant retaliation, but it really sucks when a customer looking at a perfectly poured three tiered tulip looks up and asks "Did you do that on purpose?"
i BRIEFLY worked at a subpar gelato shop that carried Illy Coffee.
Even tho' i was an accomplished barista who'd managed coffee shops and trained staff, i was required to complete the Illy training.
The man running the training parroted the Starbucks line that "Macchiato means LAYERED, not MARKED"
huh?
This was the same man who told a room full of people that one shot was called: 'Solio' two: 'Dopio' and three: (my favorite) 'Trippio'

i peed myself right in the middle of training from laughing at him (to his face) so hard.





Mitch Buckner - Bella Caffe said:
I've had plenty of customers tell me how to make things. Its like "Well at least you know what to do because I sure havent been able to figure it out in the last 15 years!" I once had a customer tell me as I handed her a Latte "Uh..Lattes come with Whipped Cream" I also get alot of people asking for half cappuccino half hot chocolate (I assume they are used to buying their cappuccinos from gas stations) so I just make them a mocha & they love it. I've also had a ton (I mean a ton) of people say "Oh, I dont want a cappuccino because it has too much sugar in it...give me a vanilla latte instead" I love that one. Or just simply the people that order a cappuccino & then complain that its not sweet. I also once had someone argue all day with me about how to pronounce robusto (He said something like Rubostu) He doesnt even drink coffee, he just heard it on TV & insisted I didnt know what I was talking about. But the best was when the Caramel Macchiato got big I would have people just order a Macchiato & I would make them a Macchiato. Which of course they would then tell me was wrong. Oh yeah, and the people that order an espresso & then asks where the rest of it is. I always say "I cant compete with stupid nor can you fix stupid."
Can I have a 24 oz cappuccino?

Can I have an Iced Cappuccino?
-this is one of my favorites. i'm a snarky bastard, so i'll foam some milk up, make an iced latte and top it with a GENEROUS helping of microfoam and giggle to myself as i watch the look of utter disgust cross their faces.

i get pretty irritated anytime someone asks for a "Half-caf, half-decaf, nonfat, no foam, sugar free vanilla, white chocolate mocha with whipped cream"
This wasn't something that was cruel or anything, it just made me cringe:

I'll have a quad shot eXpresso to go. I served it, but it about killed me!


Daniel Gruska said:
it really sucks when a customer looking at a perfectly poured three tiered tulip looks up and asks "Did you do that on purpose?"

"Pardon me, stewardess. I speak jive!!"
Translation: "Did you intentionally make this look this lovely, or was this a happy accident?"

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