Ethics in the cafe: what’s the purpose of the condiment bar?
Exactly what’s the purpose of the condiment bar in a coffee shop? What’s the intended use? What should be a customer’s expectation?
Here’s a story about a cafe owner going berserk over a customer ordering a “double espresso poured over ice.” It turns out this is a way for people to save money / rip-off a cafe on the purchase of a latte. For example, by ordering espresso+ice and then filling up with “free” milk at the condiment bar, one can save a buck or two on the cost of the drink.
I’m so clueless … err, I mean ethical … I had no idea.
There’s a whole slew of interesting ethical questions here. But then I was shocked to realize that I might be one of them: I like a lot of milk/creamer in my coffee. Up to and including making it a full-on cafe au lait. I frequently pour out a half-inch or more of my coffee (even after I ask for “room”) to be able to put more milk in.
I had never thought twice about it. But sometimes I’d wonder why they never really give me “room” when I ask for “room”! Hmm. Am I violating some kind of implicit contract between the establishment and myself? If so, then what should I be ordering? “Cafe au lait” usually is not what I’m going for. What’s half-way betwen that and black coffee? Is a “latte” what I’m describing?
I’ve always intentionally avoided learning all of the froo-froo names of the various coffee drinks. “A man’s drink has a name which is a list of its ingredients”, you know. Maybe it’s time I start — for all I know, I’ve been drinking back-alley lattes for years.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
That’s so fascinating! A good read! I liked this response:
I’d personally be WAY too embarrassed to do this, now that I know it’s a thing. Simple solution? Make a funny sign @ the condiment bar to make them feel stupid: “You’re welcome for the free milk - cheap ass!” lol
July 15th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
OMG, yeah. I had no idea this was a thing, either. And on that site for Starbucks employees (the second link) they all know about this, and call it by different names.
August 4th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
As a small business owner, I sympathize with the concerns of the cafe owner who is losing money. My feelings about the sky high prices of glorified coffee, aside, it seems clear to me that using the condiment bar to bypass a legitimate purchase is theft. The condiments are provided as feebie add-ons, like packets of ketchup at a fast-food joint.
I am remembering my college days when those packets of ketchup and salsa were grabbed by the handfuls to fill my dorm refrigerator. And consequently, many fast-food establishments now limit the number of packets per customer.
If coffee shops have to start purchasing individual packets of cream to dole out from behind the counter (how sad for mother nature), I will blame those thieves who filled up with “free” milk!