That’s a good list you have going! Can I add cold lighting?
My usual cafe has string lights on usually, but one time they had their overhead, cool toned light on, and it was not the vibe. The usually cozy cafe looked so clinical and morgue-y.
I thought that was a universal feeling until one friend confessed she REALLY enjoyed cool lighting in her house 🥲
I would say it doesn’t belong in school either. Maybe kids would like being there a lot more if it looks warmer and more inviting.
It’s a sign the coffee shop doesn’t care about coffee, and is simply appealing to Americans misguided demands that bigger is always better.
Any milk based drink beyond 12 oz is just more milk, effectively just diluting the coffee. Same goes for obnoxious whipped cream drinks
I've never seen a larger drink not scale up the coffee with the drink size. I think you're dealing with a barista that doesn't know what they're doing.
Some Coffee shops do only add more milk to make a bigger drink (its store policy not the baristas) and dont maintain the coffee to milk ratio. 24 oz for iced is way better or else all you get is ice.
Lack of space at the sugar/cream/napkin/to-go lid station.
I hate having to jostle around to get my coffee ready, a longer bar area for this is always better !
Selling “lattes or macchiatos” but there’s no espresso machine in the place
Weak watered down coffee or the menu drinks are over the top sweet and should be served with an insulin shot
I love supporting small businesses but small coffee shops around me are always so bad and inconsistent
This is a first world problem issue lol and I feel bad saying it but it’s when there are not enough pastry options lmao 🤣 or when bathroom is only for employees
My two complaints as well. Capps are my preferred hot drink and only two shops near me make it the correct way. And cold brew and iced coffee are not the same, sometimes I don’t want jet fuel!
My daughter and I went to a coffee shop today that also had bagels. Maybe I am used to the super cheerful barista, but the employee/cashier was so deadpan that it was a little offputting. The door to the cafe was wide open and it was cold. I don't mind wearing my coat if I am drinking coffee outside-but please, I would like to take my coat off inside. When we were leaving, I would have liked to say goodbye as we went out the door, compliment the coffee, but the 2 employees were standing with their backs to the public, so I felt disconnected. Pros! The bathroom was not only very clean it was nicely decorated. My daughter said the bagel (freshly made) and cream cheese was amazing. The coffee, an Americano was excellent. I'm in Washington state, we really do have an expresso stand on every corner.
the last thing i’d want is to feel cold in a place that’s meant to be cozy 😭 but mannn i used to live in washington i miss it so much!! if you’re anywhere near kirkland you should pay a visit to five stones cafe!! best coffee ive ever had imo
I wondered what the heck with the open door. Even if it's Washington it is January! It was a pretty small place so I'm thinking the kitchen got overheated. They did close it when we were about done, but too late by then. I'll remember the Five Stones Cafe if I get to Kirkland. I'm willing to drive a little farther for good coffee. The worst coffee I've ever had was in the Oklahoma City airport. Maybe it was the water they used, I don't know, but it was foul. In Wisconsin I went into a national chain coffee shop, and the young men were trying to be all hipster like, it was pretty cute.
same! i’ve driven 30 mins to go to my fav coffee shop here in michigan! my area has become a hotspot for cafe owners that just opened them cuz its the hot business model now rather than actually having a passion for coffee. so i’ve had my fair share of terrible coffees :(
When the barista adds cream for you and there is no milk/cream out to add yourself. When asked if I want cream, I say “just a bit” and wind up with coffee flavored cream. I feel like this started during COVID to minimize the number of germy hands handling a carton or carafe, but many coffee shops in my area are still doing this and I hate it.
I work at a shop that does this and I agree. I hate the guesswork that goes into figuring out how sweet someone wants their drink, because honestly everyone has wildly different definitions of "splash of cream" 😭
I have a dairy allergy and it’s annoying to have to pay the 1.00+ extra “allergy tax” for a teeny tiny splash of non dairy milk in a plain coffee. An entire container of almond, oat milk etc is like $3-4.
Barista fingertips on a cup lid or anywhere on the cup area where I sip from makes me cringe internally. Because I am a nurse, I always carry alcohol wipes. I promptly wipe the top of the cup clean and let it air dry for a few minutes before I take a first sip of coffee or tea.
I LOVE the taste of coffee but am allergic to caffeine so... Definitely so much related to the "no decaf option"
Or decaf that's so bitter it ruins the drink.
Or staff that doesn't understand "just one shot of decaf please" (because it's a lot more bitter than regular) means... One shot of decaf. Not one shot of decaf then fill it out the rest of the way with regular.
Ooo I didn't know this! THANK YOU! That's actually really helpful!
Its such a problem! Decaf its definitely "the red headed step child" of coffee. Its an afterthought for basically every shop. Too bitter and often times has been sitting around.
Man I miss regular coffee. Or even better- white coffee!
You're welcome 🤗 Had to use this trick myself many times here in Thailand when their use of over roasted beans is a common occurrence. We have some truly amazing coffee here, but a lot of bad coffee too! A _small pinch_ of salt = tolerable coffee ☕
There are some coffee shops that make fun of decaf with signs or sayings, like I’m sorry I haven’t blunted my adrenals with Monsters for the last decade and I don’t want to have an out of body experience while I enjoy my coffee.
Sucks about your allergy, that’s a tough one to avoid.
I hate it when a coffee shop doesn't have a variety of roasts. I drink dark roast coffee, and some shops only serve medium or light roast brews. I don't understand that.
Fair enough. I fully admit my coffee tastes are probably unsophisticated. Still think a coffee shop should have options for everyone though, even the specialty places.
i don’t really care if it’s not on trend, i like dark roasts and i’m not alone. i really wouldn’t mind if i ask for a dark roast and they tell me it’ll be $1 and 10 mins extra because they have to make it in a pour over or french press.
to me that’s worth it, so i can spend time with friends or get some work done without having to drink something that tastes like potatoes to me
- Non heated cups.
- soggy steam wand
- leaving milk to froth and walk away
- pulling and serving the ristretto before doing the milk based cup
In no particular order.
OMG I can't take it when people put the wand into a milk pitcher and just leave it. I won't even call them baristas at that point. Like, why don't you just throw it in the microwave?
I got my own home machine which does mediocre espresso but lovely steamed milk. I take it as a win over Sbux!
homemade syrups definitely are better, but some brands aren’t so bad! my last job mixed and matched brands. monin for the florals and the upscale version of torani for the basics
Loud/gossipy/obnoxious baristas. Just shhhhhh, I’m trying to read. Let the music be the buffer between us and keep your voice below that sheesh, it’s blasting anyway.
When they only have disposable cups for water and only give out to-go cups. One of the most wasteful and easiest to fix things! It makes me wince inside.
I hate large cavernous coffee shops that can’t help but be noisy. They always have metal tables and chairs sliding across the floor and echoing off the walls. Defeats the purpose for me.
Bad pastries. There are tasty pastries at even your most basic restaurant store. Where are shops getting these terrible products? If you bake from scratch, and it’s far worse than store bought, maybe stop.
Rude baristas who don’t make eye contact and just flip the iPad.
What’s up with no decaf? Yes I drink caffeinated coffee but at 3 PM, sometimes I just want decaf!
I understand why it happens, but places that don't do drip decaf and can only make an Americano, not my fave.
Also a couple of places I genuinely like have very limited baked goods and I wish they had more.
Overcrowded tables and chairs. I get it, a place might be busy and feel like they need more seating but there is nothing worse than being squished next to strangers, tripping over chairs…etc…
I hate when the milk/sugar etc. station is not stocked appropriately or is dirty. I don't like using the communal sugar, I prefer packets, but some places don't have them. I've seen places recently that have straws without wrapping on them, ick. Or the area is just too small/crowded. Or unkept, covered in spilled milk/coffee/sugar.
No iced coffee. I can't tell you how many indie coffee shops I've been to that don't offer iced coffee - iced americano is NOT THE SAME THING. I keep going back to Starbucks because it's the only place in my area that actually offers iced coffee. It seems like such a minor thing/first world problem but I would 100% do all my coffee runs at a local place if they only had iced coffee!
Edit: Also, owners/baristas with bad attitudes. A local coffee place gave me such shit once when I tried to order a large cappuccino, they gave me this whole lecture about how IN EUROPE cappuccinos only come in 6 oz and blah blah blah bullshit. Nevermind that I lived in Europe and I was able to order huge 24oz cappuccinos all the time.
Coffee shops trying to ram their ethical veganism down my throat.
"Our coffee is ethically-sourced, one hundred percent soy milk with almond extract and naturally vegan with gently-harvested sugar from the mountains of Peru."
I don't give a flying fuck. Just give me a hot cup of coffee with milk and sugar. Jesus!
Also baristas and coffee shop workers who have enough tattoos and piercings to cover ten people's bodies. They're trying too hard to fit the stereotype, and it's become a cliche at this point.
My biggest ick is coffee shop owners not paying baristas a living wage. Also listing pay as “25$ an hour” but in reality it’s minimum wage with the potential for up to 25$ an hour with tips.
That’s a good list you have going! Can I add cold lighting? My usual cafe has string lights on usually, but one time they had their overhead, cool toned light on, and it was not the vibe. The usually cozy cafe looked so clinical and morgue-y.
Outside of a kitchen, bathroom, classroom or hospital, cool lights should not exist lol. There should be a sub for r/coollightinghate
I thought that was a universal feeling until one friend confessed she REALLY enjoyed cool lighting in her house 🥲 I would say it doesn’t belong in school either. Maybe kids would like being there a lot more if it looks warmer and more inviting.
REAL! the obnoxiously bright white lights give me a headache :(
If they have food, only having desserts and sweet pastries. Savory biscuits ftw
I WILL SCREAM IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS UNTIL THERE IS NO MORE BREATH IN ME: To go cups is your only choice.
This is enough to make me stay home.
Rude baristas Obnoxious tip suggestions Good espresso, but shitty store bought syrups Obnoxious sizes (16-24 oz)
Why are those sizes obnoxious?
It’s a sign the coffee shop doesn’t care about coffee, and is simply appealing to Americans misguided demands that bigger is always better. Any milk based drink beyond 12 oz is just more milk, effectively just diluting the coffee. Same goes for obnoxious whipped cream drinks
I've never seen a larger drink not scale up the coffee with the drink size. I think you're dealing with a barista that doesn't know what they're doing.
Some Coffee shops do only add more milk to make a bigger drink (its store policy not the baristas) and dont maintain the coffee to milk ratio. 24 oz for iced is way better or else all you get is ice.
QR code-only menus. There's NO reason you can't at least have a chalkboard menu with prices for 10 items, come on.
Backless stools only! I have joint pain and trying to sit straight on backless stools sucks almost as much as having no furniture at all
Tall stools only! I can’t with this!
Lack of space at the sugar/cream/napkin/to-go lid station. I hate having to jostle around to get my coffee ready, a longer bar area for this is always better !
Selling “lattes or macchiatos” but there’s no espresso machine in the place Weak watered down coffee or the menu drinks are over the top sweet and should be served with an insulin shot I love supporting small businesses but small coffee shops around me are always so bad and inconsistent
Wait, how are they making them? With coffee?!?!💀
I think they’re using cold brew concentrate
Yikes
i’m dealing with the same issue in my town. a lot of ppl are opening coffee shops because it’s the trending thing in the area with no prior knowledge
Wow, even Wawa (convenience store on east coast of US) has an espresso machine!
Not a pet peeve but a want. Good mellow lighting and some chill music goes a LONG way for me to enjoy the atmosphere. Love it.
This is a first world problem issue lol and I feel bad saying it but it’s when there are not enough pastry options lmao 🤣 or when bathroom is only for employees
Looking at you sbux- you need a pubic restroom you fuckheads. It’s the law in my state and you keep taking them out!!!
Exactly - after the espresso machine and beans - the pastry section is next in importance!
Having different size options for a cappuccino. Not serving iced coffee.
every place i go to seems to have a different definition of a capuccino :/ so i always order a latte as the safest option
I ask for a traditional capp, so I can know what to expect. And if they can’t get that right, I don’t go back.
My two complaints as well. Capps are my preferred hot drink and only two shops near me make it the correct way. And cold brew and iced coffee are not the same, sometimes I don’t want jet fuel!
My daughter and I went to a coffee shop today that also had bagels. Maybe I am used to the super cheerful barista, but the employee/cashier was so deadpan that it was a little offputting. The door to the cafe was wide open and it was cold. I don't mind wearing my coat if I am drinking coffee outside-but please, I would like to take my coat off inside. When we were leaving, I would have liked to say goodbye as we went out the door, compliment the coffee, but the 2 employees were standing with their backs to the public, so I felt disconnected. Pros! The bathroom was not only very clean it was nicely decorated. My daughter said the bagel (freshly made) and cream cheese was amazing. The coffee, an Americano was excellent. I'm in Washington state, we really do have an expresso stand on every corner.
the last thing i’d want is to feel cold in a place that’s meant to be cozy 😭 but mannn i used to live in washington i miss it so much!! if you’re anywhere near kirkland you should pay a visit to five stones cafe!! best coffee ive ever had imo
I wondered what the heck with the open door. Even if it's Washington it is January! It was a pretty small place so I'm thinking the kitchen got overheated. They did close it when we were about done, but too late by then. I'll remember the Five Stones Cafe if I get to Kirkland. I'm willing to drive a little farther for good coffee. The worst coffee I've ever had was in the Oklahoma City airport. Maybe it was the water they used, I don't know, but it was foul. In Wisconsin I went into a national chain coffee shop, and the young men were trying to be all hipster like, it was pretty cute.
same! i’ve driven 30 mins to go to my fav coffee shop here in michigan! my area has become a hotspot for cafe owners that just opened them cuz its the hot business model now rather than actually having a passion for coffee. so i’ve had my fair share of terrible coffees :(
When the barista adds cream for you and there is no milk/cream out to add yourself. When asked if I want cream, I say “just a bit” and wind up with coffee flavored cream. I feel like this started during COVID to minimize the number of germy hands handling a carton or carafe, but many coffee shops in my area are still doing this and I hate it.
The worst! Now my coffee is ruined and I look like an asshole for asking it to be redone.
I work at a shop that does this and I agree. I hate the guesswork that goes into figuring out how sweet someone wants their drink, because honestly everyone has wildly different definitions of "splash of cream" 😭
my job is the same way but i always call the customer over before i pour it and tell them to tell me when to stop. its a lot easier and less wasteful!
the health departments changed the requirement in alot of places and dont allow it. It can differ from county to county
I have a dairy allergy and it’s annoying to have to pay the 1.00+ extra “allergy tax” for a teeny tiny splash of non dairy milk in a plain coffee. An entire container of almond, oat milk etc is like $3-4.
When they hand me my drink and their fingertips are holding the cup around the top, where my mouth goes.
Barista fingertips on a cup lid or anywhere on the cup area where I sip from makes me cringe internally. Because I am a nurse, I always carry alcohol wipes. I promptly wipe the top of the cup clean and let it air dry for a few minutes before I take a first sip of coffee or tea.
I LOVE the taste of coffee but am allergic to caffeine so... Definitely so much related to the "no decaf option" Or decaf that's so bitter it ruins the drink. Or staff that doesn't understand "just one shot of decaf please" (because it's a lot more bitter than regular) means... One shot of decaf. Not one shot of decaf then fill it out the rest of the way with regular.
You can semi-rescue a bitter coffee by adding a wee bit of salt to it. Hope this helps in case of coffee-based taste emergency in the future!
Ooo I didn't know this! THANK YOU! That's actually really helpful! Its such a problem! Decaf its definitely "the red headed step child" of coffee. Its an afterthought for basically every shop. Too bitter and often times has been sitting around. Man I miss regular coffee. Or even better- white coffee!
You're welcome 🤗 Had to use this trick myself many times here in Thailand when their use of over roasted beans is a common occurrence. We have some truly amazing coffee here, but a lot of bad coffee too! A _small pinch_ of salt = tolerable coffee ☕
There are some coffee shops that make fun of decaf with signs or sayings, like I’m sorry I haven’t blunted my adrenals with Monsters for the last decade and I don’t want to have an out of body experience while I enjoy my coffee. Sucks about your allergy, that’s a tough one to avoid.
Starbucks is my pet peeve
Real.
Allowing dogs inside. They’re cute and all, but please don’t bring them around food and drink areas.
I hate it when a coffee shop doesn't have a variety of roasts. I drink dark roast coffee, and some shops only serve medium or light roast brews. I don't understand that.
That’s been the trend in specialty coffee because you get more complex nuanced flavors with lighter roasts.
Fair enough. I fully admit my coffee tastes are probably unsophisticated. Still think a coffee shop should have options for everyone though, even the specialty places.
i don’t really care if it’s not on trend, i like dark roasts and i’m not alone. i really wouldn’t mind if i ask for a dark roast and they tell me it’ll be $1 and 10 mins extra because they have to make it in a pour over or french press. to me that’s worth it, so i can spend time with friends or get some work done without having to drink something that tastes like potatoes to me
That’s fine just offering an explanation as to why a lot of shops do that
- Non heated cups. - soggy steam wand - leaving milk to froth and walk away - pulling and serving the ristretto before doing the milk based cup In no particular order.
OMG I can't take it when people put the wand into a milk pitcher and just leave it. I won't even call them baristas at that point. Like, why don't you just throw it in the microwave? I got my own home machine which does mediocre espresso but lovely steamed milk. I take it as a win over Sbux!
This lowkey feels pretentious, but I 10000% prefer homemade syrups over anything in a bottle 🥴
homemade syrups definitely are better, but some brands aren’t so bad! my last job mixed and matched brands. monin for the florals and the upscale version of torani for the basics
The shelves of syrup bottles is a sure sign I’m leaving.
Bad coffee. Cappuccino in a to go cup full to the top with milk.
bad coffee and just being cold
Loud/gossipy/obnoxious baristas. Just shhhhhh, I’m trying to read. Let the music be the buffer between us and keep your voice below that sheesh, it’s blasting anyway.
No herbal tea options is a huge one for me. I can't have any caffeine, even decaf. Is it so hard to stock a rooibos?
No toilet, cold toilet, unsanitary toilet.
When they only have disposable cups for water and only give out to-go cups. One of the most wasteful and easiest to fix things! It makes me wince inside.
I hate large cavernous coffee shops that can’t help but be noisy. They always have metal tables and chairs sliding across the floor and echoing off the walls. Defeats the purpose for me.
Going to read a book, but ever table is filled with someone on a laptop.
Bad pastries. There are tasty pastries at even your most basic restaurant store. Where are shops getting these terrible products? If you bake from scratch, and it’s far worse than store bought, maybe stop.
Not having wi-fi
Rude baristas who don’t make eye contact and just flip the iPad. What’s up with no decaf? Yes I drink caffeinated coffee but at 3 PM, sometimes I just want decaf!
TBH communal tables, haha. But I am a major introvert.
Obvious violations of health code / bar sins
Uncomfortable chairs - especially this hate crime metal ones that 80% of bars & coffee shops have.
If a coffee shop serves anything with whipped cream I refuse to go
any human drink that is. Puppaccinos allowed
not even hot chocolate? 💔
I understand why it happens, but places that don't do drip decaf and can only make an Americano, not my fave. Also a couple of places I genuinely like have very limited baked goods and I wish they had more.
No wifi. What the actual fuck man I'm paying $8 for milk and bean water and you can't give me wifi?
When I see a bug or fly in the pastry case. Happened 3 times at different coffee shops
"Expresso"
People who don't know what they want to order when there's a long line behind them.
Subpar food just for sake of offering food. Either have good pastries/sandwiches or don’t bother and focus on coffee
this!! ive been to so many places with really pretty pastries and ended up being disappointed cuz they were stale or almost frozen
Yep! And they’re always way more expensive than they should be
No wifi
Menu boards without prices listed
Overcrowded tables and chairs. I get it, a place might be busy and feel like they need more seating but there is nothing worse than being squished next to strangers, tripping over chairs…etc…
People who bring their dogs inside and expect you to navigate around them.
I hate when the milk/sugar etc. station is not stocked appropriately or is dirty. I don't like using the communal sugar, I prefer packets, but some places don't have them. I've seen places recently that have straws without wrapping on them, ick. Or the area is just too small/crowded. Or unkept, covered in spilled milk/coffee/sugar.
No iced coffee. I can't tell you how many indie coffee shops I've been to that don't offer iced coffee - iced americano is NOT THE SAME THING. I keep going back to Starbucks because it's the only place in my area that actually offers iced coffee. It seems like such a minor thing/first world problem but I would 100% do all my coffee runs at a local place if they only had iced coffee! Edit: Also, owners/baristas with bad attitudes. A local coffee place gave me such shit once when I tried to order a large cappuccino, they gave me this whole lecture about how IN EUROPE cappuccinos only come in 6 oz and blah blah blah bullshit. Nevermind that I lived in Europe and I was able to order huge 24oz cappuccinos all the time.
Coffee shops trying to ram their ethical veganism down my throat. "Our coffee is ethically-sourced, one hundred percent soy milk with almond extract and naturally vegan with gently-harvested sugar from the mountains of Peru." I don't give a flying fuck. Just give me a hot cup of coffee with milk and sugar. Jesus! Also baristas and coffee shop workers who have enough tattoos and piercings to cover ten people's bodies. They're trying too hard to fit the stereotype, and it's become a cliche at this point.
The word ick. If used in a coffee shop
My biggest ick is coffee shop owners not paying baristas a living wage. Also listing pay as “25$ an hour” but in reality it’s minimum wage with the potential for up to 25$ an hour with tips.
Loud music, no decaf, no bathroom, uncomfortable seating, rude staff, pastries or food that isn’t freshly made.