Coffee & Tipping

I wouldn't worry about tipping at starbucks. I have a friend that works there and it surprised me what a deal it was to work there. Makes like 10 bucks an hour, gets a free pound of coffee a week on top of getting great benefits. I only tip local places after finding that out. From whatever change is left to a dollar or two.

umm...10 bucks an hour is probably including the tips...when I was a barista I started at $7 and hour salary and eventually got up tp $11. The tips usually averaged out to around $2 to $2.50 an hour.

I don't really see how that's such a "sweet deal." most coffee places have short shifts (6 hours) and many employees to make sure if someone is sick that everything is covered (there's a LOT more work involved in baristaing than you'd think) so it's difficult to get as many hours as one might need. Do what robin said, throw in a buck or just all the change from your coffee. I remember some regulars would throw in 30-50 cents a days and on fridays or saturdays they'd throw in a buck...I think that's acceptable too.

I was refering to Starbucks and Starbucks only. Tis true you have to get a lot of hours and I believe he may have started at 8 an hour without tips. I also believe he told me in order to qualify for the insurance he had to always work over 30 or 32 hours. So I guess there are those that dont work over 30 or 32 hours? Still thats good starting wage for that line of work.
I call it a "deal" because I worked fast food in my days and got nothing close to that. Minimum wage and no benefits and no tips. It's not a bad deal for that line of work is what I am saying. Not only that, Starbucks has taken away the art of making a good latte or Capp. They use autoespresso machines that measures everything and does it all except the milk. So to work at the bucks, you need to learn and know less and less. I have never had a good latte or Capp from Starbucks......sans the Pike Place starbucks.

OK, Richard, you're right - maybe not at fast food places - I was just talking about the coffee places.

Why not? I'd think pouring a cup of coffee is easier/less labor intensive than frying up a bunch of burgers.

And why not tip at movie theaters? Don't the minimum wage earners scooping the popcorn and pouring the sodas need the same consideration?

I guess I just don't understand the distinction. Is it because they just don't think to set out a tip jar?

Is that all it takes?

Well then, I'll just slap a tip jar down on my desk, since I work hard and provide a valuable service, as well.

Whoa!...Starbucks is not even a competitor...or are they?...Talk about your cheap shot...

Taco Bell Slams Starbucks

What I find interesting is that when I bartend at Derby City Espresso and I open a beer for someone I 'almost always' get a buck tip for using a bottle opener and pouring the beer into a glass. However when I make someone a smoothie or a double mocha or something requiring actual effort and competence I only receive a tip about 50% of the time.

There is a common meme that says you don't need to tip barristas like you would a bartender. I think it in part comes from the assembly line style of many coffee shops where you order the drink from one person & pay for it before you receive it, while another person makes the drink and then you have to get up and get it yourself. This leads to a detachment between barrista and consumer.

I wouldn't worry about tipping at starbucks. I have a friend that works there and it surprised me what a deal it was to work there. Makes like 10 bucks an hour, gets a free pound of coffee a week on top of getting great benefits. I only tip local places after finding that out. From whatever change is left to a dollar or two.

Do they import non locals to work here?

This is slightly off topic, but not completely since we've veered into Taco Bell, Plehns, and McDonalds territory already.
How about barber tipping? I never tipped a barber until a few years ago when I read that you should, but not the owner. I asked my current (excellent) barber straight out and he said "I don't care." He's an owner, so I don't tip, but feel guilty (probly from past sins).

I wouldn't worry about tipping at starbucks. I have a friend that works there and it surprised me what a deal it was to work there. Makes like 10 bucks an hour, gets a free pound of coffee a week on top of getting great benefits. I only tip local places after finding that out. From whatever change is left to a dollar or two.

Do they import non locals to work here?

I am glad somebody said something! Why are we punishing the people who work for a corporation? Do you think REALLY that corporate employees work less hard than employees who work for a local establishment? Are better? More deserving? Who actively (and I say this as a generalization) and deliberately sought employment from local establishments only? Really?
And since tipping is a reflection of the service, not simply the owner's home address, what makes it okay for you to not tip, when you are buying the corporate product?

And since when is $10 an hour liveable? And, yes, $10 is found easily in FF restaurant entry pay.

Since I am painting targets on my head, responding to a similar post on a previous thread, as someone who has worked both coffee and libations bars, yes they are apples and oranges, BUT BOTH are equally challenging in both ways. BOTH deserve a tip based on the consideration of the service, each relative in their own scale.

This is slightly off topic, but not completely since we've veered into Taco Bell, Plehns, and McDonalds territory already.
How about barber tipping? I never tipped a barber until a few years ago when I read that you should, but not the owner. I asked my current (excellent) barber straight out and he said "I don't care." He's an owner, so I don't tip, but feel guilty (probly from past sins).

I suppose this should probably go in the general all about Louisville forum, but I'll bite. I always tip 20% for a haircut, plus a once a year holiday tip equal to the cost of the cut (I've been going to the same person for over 2 years now).

This is slightly off topic, but not completely since we've veered into Taco Bell, Plehns, and McDonalds territory already.
How about barber tipping? I never tipped a barber until a few years ago when I read that you should, but not the owner. I asked my current (excellent) barber straight out and he said "I don't care." He's an owner, so I don't tip, but feel guilty (probly from past sins).

I suppose this should probably go in the general all about Louisville forum, but I'll bite. I always tip 20% for a haircut, plus a once a year holiday tip equal to the cost of the cut (I've been going to the same person for over 2 years now).

I've always tipped my barber, and before I lived here I had a female stylist, she was the manager of the salon, and I tipped her, and the shampoo girls.

I've always tipped my barber, and before I lived here I had a female stylist, she was the manager of the salon, and I tipped her, and the shampoo girls.

Yeah, I've always wondered about that one. I have a female stlyist too. Sometimes she washes my hair, sometimes someone else does. I've always wondered if I should tip the other person. . .

Wow, this is so not-food related.

Whoa!...Starbucks is not even a competitor...or are they?...Talk about your cheap shot...

Taco Bell Slams Starbucks

I see nothing to support your post. They (the Bell) are trying to sell some more of their lame ass tacos. I am not a champion of chains, but PULEEZE, keep the chain bashing for real. Can you say grasping for straws in air?

I think it's a pretty cheap shot to encourage people not to tip...this isn't chain bashing, it's about people trying to make a living. I think this commercial really pushes the boundaries of taste and sets a pretty lousy example.

Well personally I am not a coffee drinker, but I think the lack of a tip line on the credit card slip would be a huge hinderance. even if you only tipping a buck. But as someone else mentioned is there really much difference in a barista and a bartender, according to wikipedia not alot, see below

Barista

In English jargon, the term "barista" refers to one who has acquired some level of expertise in the preparation of espresso-based coffee drinks. Within certain circles, its meaning is expanding to include what might be called a "coffee sommelier"; a professional who is highly skilled in coffee preparation with a comprehensive understanding of coffee; coffee blends, espresso, quality, coffee varieties, roast degree, espresso equipment and maintenance, latte art, etc. Stephen Morrissey of Ireland is the current World Barista Champion.

The word barista (plural: baristi [masculine or mixed sex] or bariste [feminine]) is of Italian origin. In Italy, a barista is a "bartender," who typically works behind a counter, serving both hot (such as espresso) and cold alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.



so its my feeling, if you tip your bartender, tip your barista.

And since when is $10 an hour liveable?

I dont care to enter the coffee tip debate but that sentence caught my eye. After looking at the census website using the factfinder thing they have, I came up with about 25% of households with income of less than $24,999. So at 10 bucks x 2000 hours a year, it seems many of us have to make $10 an hour liveable.
BTW...I tip for coffee as I would for a beer.

And since when is $10 an hour liveable?

I dont care to enter the coffee tip debate but that sentence caught my eye. After looking at the census website using the factfinder thing they have, I came up with about 25% of households with income of less than $24,999. So at 10 bucks x 2000 hours a year, it seems many of us have to make $10 an hour liveable.
BTW...I tip for coffee as I would for a beer.

25% <25k/year? Sad state of affairs. No wonder tips are such a hot subject.
If one assumes that a body gets 40hrs week (an assumption addressed above by a former SB employee), they would take home around 14k after deductions. I don't know if the fact that many people do make ends meet with what they are blessed, makes it living wage. But I do believe that our assumption of a person's wage, or their employer's corporate status, should not be a factor when it comes to figuring tips for a service.

Anybody have experience tipping in Europe? I believe, as one poster has mentioned in a previous thread, that the frame of perspective is quite different in some countries there.

John, Nice ending!

Reagan- careful, you're opening up an entirely different can of worms there...in Europe servers are paid proper wages, and gratuity is added to the cost of food, tipping is for a truly exceptional job, and a much smaller percentage. It's another debate that gets tossed up here every 3 months or so.