Alpha Consumer

Murky Etiquette and Murky Coffee

By Kimberly Palmer

Posted: July 15, 2008

It sounds like a cheesy sitcom scene: Man goes into coffee shop. He orders his favorite drink, a triple shot of espresso over ice. Barista declines; he says the drink goes against company policy because pouring espresso over ice ruins the quality of the coffee. Man gets angry. He leaves a tip with an expletive scrawled across it.

That's not even the end of the story. The owner of the coffee shop, Murky Coffee, then writes an open letter to the customer explaining why the barista behaved properly. (It did not enlighten me, though, as to why espresso and ice should not mix. Here is an excerpt: "OK, we don't do espresso over ice. Why? Number one, because we don't do it. Number two, because we don't do it.")

Vote: What do you think—who erred here?
a) If you're going to pay for froufrou coffee, you might as well drink it correctly.
b) If you're going to pay for froufrou coffee, you should be able to drink it however you #%*! well please.
c) If you can't say anything nice (to customers or store owners), start drinking tea.


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Its the owner's perogative

Just as there are steak houses which will refuse to cook their fare to well done, so may one who prepares fine coffee refuse to degrade it by submitting it to ice. I think its well over the top of silly, but it is (supposed to be) a free country,

and the guy owns his shop.

You don't like it, go away. Kindly show some class when you do.

I was in the biz for years and was often asked about the

"esthetics" of mixing stuff in with fine coffee. My reply

always was that once you've paid me for it, you can pee in

it for all I care.

Mike @ Sep 14, 2008 10:39:00 AM

to Murkeys:: Don't be a Jackass.. If it's not on the menue and your Co. doesn't want to provide the service, politely inform the customer, offer a perfunctory apology and the house blend at half off and you have the high road.

to the Patron :: Don't be a Jackass.. If it's not on the menue and you don't want the consolation prize/apology,, u can't always get what u want.. get real.. get outta my way,I wanna CuppaKoffee.

Carl of MI @ Sep 09, 2008 18:28:51 PM

Well,I've now read both sides of the story. I think the instigator is lucky that the shop owner didn't call the cops on him. Not only did the instigator act like a jerk (which he admits), he not so subtley threatened to burn the coffee shop down. If I were the owner of the shop, I'd have done more than write a retort. It's not clear why someone who misbehaved so badly at the coffeeshop would gloat about his behaviour TO THE WORLD. I think you'd have to examine his motive for doing so. Sorry, Jeff, this makes me want to try out the coffee at murky, not avoid it! Especially because I know I won't have to run into you while ordering my coffee.

mary of VA @ Jul 21, 2008 19:02:16 PM

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Alpha Consumer

Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Send your personal finance questions to her for expert money advice.


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