What to tip your Barista?

[Leshaface]

As a barista, I depended greatly on tips! And appreciated it every single time someone tipped us...whether it be $.05 or $5...

I get that people have the option to tip (depending on the service, speed, and quality of your drink and your experience) but in reality, it really does help us out. Tips were what made it possible for me to gas my car up to get to school everyday. Tips allowed me to save up for Disney World for nearly 2 years! Tips determined if me and my DH would have a date night that week...

What i'm trying to say is for those that do tip, THANK YOU! For those who don't tip, it's fine too! I don't expect it, but it's greatly appreciated...

Two different stories on tipping:

There was a doctor who would come in once every two to three weeks that would buy his employees drinks...20-25 drinks he would order and expect it all to be done within ten minutes and would throw a fit if it was not done within the time frame 'he' wanted....never tipped once for the past 2 years I was at that particular store....I overheard him say to one of his 'doctor' friends, "They get a thanks from me, that's enough tip right there."

A customer who I became good friends with lost her job and was dying of cancer...she tipped us $5 everytime she came through...her drink was $3...she appreciated that we knew her name, knew how to make her drink just right, and conversed with her as a person, not as a customer..

 

[disneychrista]

Compare a barista's tips with that of a bartender, and a barista's wages pale in comparison.

As a bartender, I am doing more than just making a drink. I am also "entertaining" the customer...who may sit at my bar for hours at a time.

At Starbucks the barista simply makes my drink gives it to me and then I am on my way.

 

[hugApug]

As a bartender, I am doing more than just making a drink. I am also "entertaining" the customer...who may sit at my bar for hours at a time.

At Starbucks the barista simply makes my drink gives it to me and then I am on my way.

And, some barista's entertain for hours as well. That's why local non-chain coffee shop barista's tend to make more money in tips(based on my experience) because customer's hang around a lot. I am still good friends with a lot of my old customers...and that's not just because I made their drinks, but was a friendly part of their routine.

Some bartenders only have a quick interaction with patrons(busy bars, clubs) and some have interactions for hours. The same goes for barista's.

I think both bartender's and barista's deserve tips.

 

[Leshaface]

And, some barista's entertain for hours as well. That's why local non-chain coffee shop barista's tend to make more money in tips(based on my experience) because customer's hang around a lot. I am still good friends with a lot of my old customers...and that's not just because I made their drinks, but was a friendly part of their routine.

Some bartenders only have a quick interaction with patrons(busy bars, clubs) and some have interactions for hours. The same goes for barista's.

I think both bartender's and barista's deserve tips.

I definitely agree with this!

Bartenders have to deal with drunk, dumb people (most of the time, not all the time I hope) and Baristas have to deal with cranky, dumb people. We ALL deserve some tips!

 

[Planogirl]

At the Starbucks close to where I work, I get friendly conversation, samples and just generally great service. I normally throw a buck in the jar even though I usually just get a just over $2 tea. At other locations that just make the tea and send me on my way, I just throw whatever change in the jar. No big deal.

 

[LisaInNc]

I go to Starbucks about 3 times a week for a black iced coffee so it's just pouring coffee in a cup, no tricky drink.

I love the Baristas there. They are so friendly and we always chat a bit. I brought them small gifts at Christmas.

I tip occasionally. Usually a handful of change or 1.00 but I don't do it every time I go.

Lisa

 

[RachaelA]

I worked for Starbucks for 5 years up until last fall. Starbucks does take care of their employees, but when you compare what i was making as a shift manager at Starbucks to what a shift manager at McDonalds was making I was making at least 2 dollars less because Starbucks factors in that you will get tips.

Plus we are automatically taxes on 50 cents an hour worth of tips even if we don't get that much.

That being said I didn't care if people tipped or not because I knew our regulars would tip.

And yeah as a barista you do entertain as well. I have people sit by my bar for hours constantly watching me. Not all people don't just get their drink and leave. We had regulars that would hang out for my entire 8 hour shift.

 

[amylynne01]

I really disagree with tipping those who are already making minimum wage. You are doing a job, and as a barista, your job is to make coffee and drinks and to give good customer service. I don't feel the need to give you more money beyond your own wages because you did your job with a smile. The tip jar turns me off, and I rarely put anything in them. I am not a scrooge, but why is it expected to give tips everywhere?

That being said, I am a good tipper in the right situation. Servers at restaurants I frequent usually get 20-25% at any meal.

 

[lattemomof3]

I will usually put whatever change I get back in the tip jar, if I'm paying w/ a giftcard or debit card, I don't worry about it. I try to keep my coffee order fairly simple just because my dh says "the longer your coffee order the bigger jerk you are".

 

[fakereadhed]

Maybe I'm missing something, but if you work behind a counter in a coffee shop your job description is mainly serving coffee drinks ordered by customers. They aren't doing anything special or unexpected.

Now of I came in every Tues and ordered a specialty drink and I came in on Tues and it was waiting for me, that might merit a tip.

I just don't feel pressured by those tip jars.

 

[littlele]

I will usually put whatever change I get back in the tip jar, if I'm paying w/ a giftcard or debit card, I don't worry about it. I try to keep my coffee order fairly simple just because my dh says "the longer your coffee order the bigger jerk you are".

Ouch! Your hubby sounds like he's not too fond of ordering your drink just the way you like it. I guess I figure if I am about to shell out $5 for a drink, I would like it made my favorite way and frankly you should get your drink the way you want it too.

 

[crisi]

I was just making a point that both are food service, deal with making drinks, and memorizing many different mixes and practically no one hesitates when tipping a bartender. I don't quite get your analogy, as bartending and being a barista are pretty similar. (I've done both, and don't think that one position trumps the other).

And being a family practice doc and a cardiologist are pretty similar. They both require a lot of school, an understanding of anatomy and disease, the ability to do patient care, deal with death.

If you can do both, either do the one you like more (and if that is the one that pays less acknowledge you enjoy it more) or the one that pays more. Don't blame your customers that one job pays less than the other. Because you don't convince non tippers like me to tip when you make the entitlement whine.

 

[Kate and Pete]

I might get flamed for this, but - our culture is tip crazy! DH and I both tip waiters/waitresses/bartenders for great service, but to tip at essentially a fast food place? Tipping at Starbucks is like tipping at McDonald's. Should we tip them, too? When I go through the drive through I always order a diet coke. The very sweet girl who works the drive through in the morning knows my "drink" and often we chat as I pay. But it's never crossed my mind to tip her! Not all jobs are "tipped" positions - I think that treating them as they are is a bit much (do you tip at a bookstore when an employee helps you find or recommends a book to you?).

It's lovely that people DO tip - but don't feel like you must!

 

[disneychrista]

And, some barista's entertain for hours as well.

I have never seen this. While people may stay in the store for hours, they are not at a "bar" with a bartender checking on them, getting them new drinks, making conversation, etc. I have only seen casual chit-chat while they take my order & make my drink. I just don't see them same "service" from the baristas as I do with a bartender.

 

[disneyofcourse]

I just put 50-60 cents or whatever change I get.

 

[hugApug]

And being a family practice doc and a cardiologist are pretty similar. They both require a lot of school, an understanding of anatomy and disease, the ability to do patient care, deal with death.

If you can do both, either do the one you like more (and if that is the one that pays less acknowledge you enjoy it more) or the one that pays more. Don't blame your customers that one job pays less than the other. Because you don't convince non tippers like me to tip when you make the entitlement whine.

Thankfully, I don't work in either the bar or coffee industry anymore....so no whining here! Also, no need to flame cause I was only adding my point of view. Keep on non-tipping, a good barista will still be nice to you. Like I said before, tipping is nice and depends on the circumstance, but it never changed the way I treated a customer.

I have never seen this. While people may stay in the store for hours, they are not at a "bar" with a bartender checking on them, getting them new drinks, making conversation, etc. I have only seen casual chit-chat while they take my order & make my drink. I just don't see them same "service" from the baristas as I do with a bartender.

Maybe things are different where I live in the Bay Area, but a lot of local coffee shops are like bars. The one I worked at was the near the beach, and we served a lot of surfers, who enjoyed good coffee and company on our barstools, alongside my counter. So, case by case, I guess.

 

[Leshaface]

Thankfully, I don't work in either the bar or coffee industry anymore....so no whining here! Also, no need to flame cause I was only adding my point of view. Keep on non-tipping, a good barista will still be nice to you. Like I said before, tipping is nice and depends on the circumstance, but it never changed the way I treated a customer.

Maybe things are different where I live in the Bay Area, but a lot of local coffee shops are like bars. The one I worked at was the near the beach, and we served a lot of surfers, who enjoyed good coffee and company on our barstools, alongside my counter. So, case by case, I guess.

Actually down here on the Central Coast in Cali, Starbucks are actually starting to make their coffee shops in to a type of "bar" scene...

They've set up, what appears to look like, a bar where people come and sit down and watch the baristas work...the set up is actually pretty neat! I'm also hearing that they may be adding wine and local beers to some Starbucks! Baristas are now going to be trained in to Bartenders it looks like!

 

[stitchfan18]

I worked for awhile as a barista at a small local coffee shop, and usually made between $1.50-$2 an hour in tips. We had a drive thru at the store I worked at, and I think people appreciated how fast we were in the mornings. The tip jar inside the store was always a lot less than the one at the drive thru, but usually the in store customers were the type to get a small coffee and sit on their computers all day. I definitely didn't expect tips. I think the only people who tipped $1 or more were regulars we were very friendly with, or people with lots of drinks.

 

[The Princess]

I don't tip them but I do give them Christmas gifts

 

[ajk912]

In response to the bartender vs. barista debate, I tip bartenders because bartenders don't make minimum wage. I do (personally) think it's overkill to tip 20+% of the tab, or if you are only getting one beer a buck..for pouring drinks. To me, bartending is not on the same level as serving yet they have the same tip rate. I don't agree with it, but do as I should, because that is the industry standard.

Now..baristas..if there is a coffee company that doesn't pay minimum wage, then let me know, and I will be sure to tip if I patron that establishment. Otherwise, it's just a coffee. Even if I did the 190 degree whatever it still took you 4 minutes TOPS to make the coffee. You get paid by the hour, not by the client, so I don't understand why it would make a difference what kind of coffees you were preparing during that hour.