Tipping debate (Part 2): How much should you tip for a cup of coffee?

I'm not sure how much more can be said about tipping -- this topic has prompted hundreds of reader comments in the past two years -- but people continue to weigh in on tipping versus not tipping. I know people get worked up about this matter, but keep your comments civil or they'll be deleted.
> Read the first batch of comments about tipping

Comments

[Jon]

However much you want. I, and every coffee type I've ever worked with, has seen tips as optional, but appreciated. That said, small is fine. I won't think you're a cheapskate if you drop in two pennies. Pennies and nickels add up. When I buy coffee, I usually just drop the extra change in the tip jar.

I just read through the previous comments, and I am so tired of people complaining about how expensive our drinks are. Im not sure if you guys realize this, but we (baristas) do not make the prices. The coffee you are getting is high quality, but then again you would realize that should you actual research starbucks instead of just complaining. If you don't like the prices go to tim hortons. Tips are appreciated but I don't change my service based on whether a customer tips or not. However, I make it a point to tip really good wherever I go because I know that those workers are working their butts off.

[Consumatron]

I don't usually buy anything but hot tea or drip coffee. I usually drop in the spare change from my purchase (I always get a small, so it's not jut a couple of pennies). The folks at the Caribou where I usually go allow me to get free refills on my cigarette breaks from work, so if I am not buying anything else, I will routinely drop in a dollar tip for a refill. (signifigantly less than a new cup of coffee would be anyway)

[Sheik]

A second debate on tipping?

Is it even possible for a website to "jump the shark?"

[HopkinsBella]

Yes.

[Lauren]

Yeah I think I'm just about over all of this tipping stuff.

If you tip me, great, if you don't tip me, fine, I won't change your service, I won't be nicer (or more rude) to you. A worker of the service industry I will continue to tip heavily everytime I go somewhere but that's me. Do what you will and get over it.

[Christy]

I tip in the form of repeat business and positve word of mouth advertising.

[Tony]

Wait, so the people who work there have the right to complain about people who don't tip (you have a choice where to work), but the customers are just supposed to "go somewhere else?" Hah!

Yeah, the drinks at Starbuck's are astronomically priced. I realize there is overhead, but you are getting a cup of milk for 4 dollars.

Further, the concept of tipping based on a percentage of the price is one of those quizzical things that makes no sense. If I go to establishment 1 and the server brings the food, with a smile, and does a great job... when I order a meal that costs 16 dollars, and I go to another establishment, same service, on an 8 dollar meal, why in the world should the worker at establishment 1 get double the tip!?!?!!? Nonsense!

[JustABarista]

On the prices, there is the process of "adding value" to the raw materials you are complaining about paying for. Milk may be three dollars a gallon at the store, but the barista has to pull the shot of esspresso, steam the milk, add syrup, mix, time it properly, clean the tables, fill the condiment bars, windex all the glass in the store, clean the bathrooms about 15 times a day (because some customers are pigs and can't figure out how to put a paper towel in to the trash or not splash water on the mirror or hit the toilet when they pee, etc), do dishes, take out trash, clean up after people who apprently don't know how to get more scone in their mouth than they do on the floor, sweep, clean the patio(I don't know why people can't put a ciggarette out in an ashtray that is right on the table but have to drop hundreds of butts on to the sidewalk in front of the store), clean drains,clean sinks, clean out refriderators, grind coffee, make preps, mop floors (don't get me started on "adults" that spill or knock over drinks), clean the glass on the pastry case because nobody was apprently taught not to leave finger prints on glass like I was when I was a kid, offer legendary service, remake drinks because it didn't live up to somebodies demand that their outrageously modified drink be perfect, fill up cold beverages, fill the pastry case, stock retail, stock beans, etc (the list really goes on). All of that is in the price of your drink.

Now on tipping, who gives a shit. Tip or don't. It's always nice, but I never expect it.

[416barista]

Why do people complain about the prices at Starbucks?? YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY ANYTHING THERE!!!

Do you walk into the Gap, buy a shirt and then bitch about how much it costs??

You want a cheap coffee, go to Tim Hortons but don't come into Starbucks, order a Venti Latte and a sandwich and get upset at the barista (who has no power to set prices) when they tell you its $10.

As for tipping, it's not required but it is appreciated. Tip or no tip, I'm gonna give you the same service.

If they are busy behind the counter and they're really getting after it and manage to give a smile and thanks, I give a tip. If all they do is fill a cup with drip - no tip. It depends on what the effort involved is; arbitrary, yes - but I won't tip for just anything.

[NamelessBarista]

I use tips as a gauge of my service.

I don't expect tips so when people do tip us, I am extremely grateful. I assume that if people tip then I must have done something right for them. I don't treat people differently based on how they tip because 1) There's no way to know if somebody is going to tip or not until after you're done helping them anyhow 2) I really don't remember who tips and who doesn't. If somebody tips, sweet, I must have done something good.

I dunno, that's how I look at it.

As far as your drinks being expensive....congrats, you're part of the free market economy! Yay!

If you don't wanna pay for it, go get coffee elsewhere. The consumer HAS A CHOICE as to where to get coffee.
Besides, at least think of the baristas you do like that do make your day better who can afford to get medicines and go to the doctors when they need to, and all the coffee growers that can feed their kids and don't lose their farms to microcredit scams, and the environmental good that comes from Starbucks sustainable development initiatives with all of our coffee growers. Your four bucks goes a long way.

"Why do people complain about the prices at Starbucks?? YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY ANYTHING THERE!!! "

True, but they feel they do. It's the very nature of our consumeristic society. A lot of people really think they have to go to starbucks to be "hip" or "cool" or to "keep up with the Jonses". It's pretty messed up though.

[Barista to the Stars]

Let me just clarify one thing: I have been both a barista and a waitress. Baristas are responsible for far more of the upkeep and maintenance of the store and preparation and maintenance of the food product than waitresses.

And we don't expect tips, we appreciate tips.

Barista to the Stars

[coffeeguy :)]

Aye tips are not seen as necessary if you receive poor service don't tip.

If the service is fast and friendly tip.

that simple. I've worked bottom rung jobs before and I always tip when the service is fast and friendly. :)

[Amy Alkon]

I think many or most of the employees at Starbucks are working their way through school or supplementing a low-paying entry-level job. I look back on my days as a starving writer in New York (at one point, I slept on a door on two milk crates because I couldn't afford a mattress), and it gives me pleasure to leave a nice tip. I usually get a regular coffee and maybe shortbread cookies or a pastry and I toss in 50 cents. And when I order something else -- a juice or something, I'll tip again. They appreciate my tips at Starbucks, but they're also appreciative of people (like me) who say hello and talk to them. So many people have so little understanding of how little it takes to make people feel good, and to create a sense of community. If it costs me 50 cents and a smile and a hello, I think I'm getting off cheap.

PS Ask Starbucks employees what they do when they aren't working there and you might learn some of them have some pretty interesting lives.

[JustABarista]

Amy,

Absolutely correct. Since one customer found out I like to cook, we've become recipe swapping partners. Plus, I've taught somebody the secret to life (well, cooking)is butter.

[Jason]

Tip or dont tip. We dont care. I'll tell you now that most of us dont even realize when you tip, or even expect one. It's just something that randomly happens and puts a smile on our faces when we do realize it happens. Starbucks really goes out of their way to create a great work experience for us, so getting a tip is just icing on the cake.

Also, we as baristas have no control over the prices. Yes, they do seem high but hwen you think about how much it costs to run a store, pay the employees, buy pastries and milk....You have to remember that just because it's coffee doesnt mean that its going to be exempt from the same markups that you'll experience at any restaurant/retail outlet that you go to. It may be more expensive than a gas station's coffee, but I bet good money you'll get a better quality coffee AND service at Starbucks.

This topic is sooooo ridiculous. I realize this is a forum for discussion, but this is a topic that many many people do get very emotional over and I hate that we'll once again probably turn someone off to the Starbucks experience because of a partner that doesnt remember that what they say, even on the internet, reflects on the whole company.

[Kirstin]

Tipping your "favorite" barista as one user mentioned above hardly seems worthwhile as the tips are pooled weekly. In the store where I'm a regular, I'll gladly throw my change or a dollar in the jar when I have it, since most of the baristas know me. I consider it a tip for the good service and the fact that they make me feel welcome. It is a good point to note that America doesn't foster a "tipping" culture like some overseas countries where you'll tip anyone for anything...combine that with the fact that starbucks won't even give you a receipt (and a chance to tip while paying with a card) under $25 and how dependent most people are on debit/credit cards...it's ridiculous for anyone to "expect" a tip. For the most part the baristas I've encountered are pleasant and courteous regardless of whether I tip or not (probably due to all the on-the-clock caffeine they have access too) and it seems like they have a pretty great job anyway: competitive starting pay, good working conditions, customers with great brand loyalty, and all the day-old pastries and coffee you can consume. Sure there's the occasional jerk customer, but who in a service job HASN'T had to deal with that? Beats most jobs I've worked at. For a barista to become irate or deny me service for not getting a tip is really unacceptable.

[barryd]

"America doesn't foster a "tipping" culture like some overseas countries where you'll tip anyone for anything."

That's not how it seems from the UK. Americans look like they tip for everything!

Personally I tip when either my regular drink gets remembered, or if the server is really really really cute. Hey I'm divorced and heading through a mid life crisis, cut me some slack :p

[canadianbarista]

Wow! There's a whole lot less irate customers on this thread. And by that I mean the folks who say "Your coffee is already 4$ and you want a tip on top of that?"

Yes baristas are busy, and they do more than just pour coffee. At the end of the night, in my store, there are only two people left to make sure the entire store is clean. But if you've been working at *$ a while, you are used to the hard work.

The tip jar is there because some people systematically tip every service person they meet and we need somewhere to put it. Stores are not really conducive to leaving tips at the table, since customers pay before they get their drink, but it still happens sometimes when I'm clearing tables that I'll find a tip there (usually at a table where people have picked up their trash before leaving).

Personally I have never noticed how much someone tips, and the service I give has never changed because of it. The only tipper I ever notice is this lady who comes in with her husband. Her change is always .44$ and she puts the 19 cents in, meanwhile clutching the quarter for dear life because god forbid it falls in the cup.

People always talk about $4 Starbucks Coffee. Well, let's clarify. I buy a grande or venti everyday it is...$1.60-$1.80. NOT 4 DOLLARS!

Please, don't belive the hype. Yes, if your fat behind comes in everyday and orders a triple, mocha, choca, latte..expect to pay a premium. But still, I don't ever remember seeing any coffee drink at the $4 range. Am I wrong?

Man, people are whiners. Go to McDonalds.

[James The Barista]

I think tipping is great, why not? If you buy a three dollar latte and there is a little bit of change put it in the tip jar. We Baristas deserve it because we work hard getting treated like crap by customers who think we really don't deserve anything but min. wage and green apron. (though, you never just get paid min. wage at starbucks) So tip? Sure, its awesome to show your barista some love.

[barista chica]

Kirstin, you should get a receipt - one prints with every credit/debit card or starbucks card purchase. you do not have to sign a slip unless it is over $25. wonder why they told you that?

[jokester]

canadianbarista, you should just start telling her you're out of quarters and give her nickels and dimes all the time - ha!

[Jerry]

I don't think anyone should give Tips to Barista or people just stand inside the coffee bar.....well, i mean counter service shouldn't expect tips. Unless they are giving table service like normal restaurant.

[James the Barista]

When it is slow at night I usually do table service.

[frenchpressed]

I currently work for the bucks but before that I used to go to a particular bucks in college and I always left the change from my purchase in the tip jar. After my last exam I stopped by to get one last drink and tipped the crew a twenty for all the good times. Fast forward two years later I go back to the bucks. walk in and a girl who had worked there back in the day shouts out my name and asks me if I want my usual, she remembers down to the extra foam! She even remembered my major and other things about me. And yes she remembered the twenty and thanked me! Do we deserve tips yes.

[KGS]

I cant really understand why this is a big topic, but anyhow, I dont care if anyone tips or not, because at our store in vancouver, we get tips every couple of months not every 2 weeks and its only about 25 to 30 bucks, so when i have put in something like 90 t0 180 houres for that preiod of one or two months, 25 dollars, i couldnt care less about.
Although i do not like peopl whose change come to 1 or 2 cents and they hang on to it and make a collection out of it in their purse or pocket, and it is because one day they come back and empty all their change on the counter and want to pay their order with pennies and dimes, However you tip or dont tip, i dont care, and if you think coffee is to expensive have a look at some other caffe's where your small latte is gonna ring you up 5 bucks instead of 3.

[discriminate much?]

PLEASE TIP ME ...I WORK AT SUBWAY I MAKE YOUR SANDWICH.. CLEAN THE STORE >>>PREP ALL THE MEATS... CUT YOUR VEGGIES... TOAST THE BREAD SLATHER ON THE OIL ...RING YOU OUT..COUNT MY TILL...DETAIL CLEAN THE BATHROOM..MOP AT NIGHT.. DATE DOT ALL THE PRODUCE AND MEATS AND CHEESES THAT I HAD TO STAND AROUND AND PREP BEFORE WE EVEN OPEN..TAKE TRASH OUT..PUT AWAY THE ORDERS ..AND PAPER ORDER TOO...STOCK THE GRAB AND GO AREA..BE FAST BE COURTEOUS BE FRIENDLY... CLEAN THE FRONT DOOR,SPIN IN THE CAFE AREA,RESTOCK THE STRAWS RESTOCK THE NAPKINS RESTOCK THE SODA DISPENSER..CHECK ON THE CO2 ..FILL ICE IN THE MACHINE TAKE APART AND SANITIZE THE MEAT SLICERS,CHEESE SLICERS, MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH BREAD..SAUCES...CLEAN TABLE BASES...PULLTRASH FROM BINS...CLEAN THE SANDWICH AREA...BIG MESS AT CLOSING..LOTS OF FOOD PARTICLES..REMAKE A SANDWICH THAT WASNT TO THEIR LIKING, PUT SOAP IN BATHROOMS, PAPER TOWELS TOLIET PAPER, SWEEP OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR , THE PATIO, DISPOSE OF TRASH, CIGS, CUPS, ETC..ETC..SO PLEASE TIP ME AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN SOLIDARITY THAT DO THIS EVERYDAY..WHETHER AT BURGER KING, SUBWAY, QUIZNOS,...SORRY WE CANT LEARN YOUR NAME AS WE ARE NOT AFFORDED THE OPPORTUNITY IN OUR JOB REQUIRMENTS PER STARBUCKS "STANDARDS" TO WRITE YOUR NAME ON THE SANDWICH AND CALL IT OUT WHEN WE ARE DONE...
.............BUT BROTHER, COULD YOU SPARE A DIME?... (PS WE MAKE MIN. WAGE) BOO HOO

[Tony]

Can someone who pushes the tip jar simply outline for some of us what the actual paycheck you get covers? I just want to know when what I pay for a drink does not cover what you do, ok?

[Tony]

KGS, I almost feel like it is more insulting to throw 8 cents in the tip jar than not tip. At least someone on the other side doesn't get that "oh thanks a lot mister" thought. Someone not tipping affords many thoughts as to why not (or simply does not afford a thought).

[nickname]

well all baristas would diagree with that.

if everyone who came through our stores dropped eight cents, we'd be laughing ourselves to the bank.

the paycheck covers what we do. starbucks' way of saying thank you for what we do.
the tips are the customer's way of saying the same thing.

relax.

lets just end this.
(last post in this thread EVER!)
(i promise)
:)

[416barista]

Just a question for my fellow partners.....how much do you make in tips an hour??

For me, tips aren't a big thing because we rarely hit the $1 mark!!

[J]

Last week my partners and I made about $3.20/hour in tips. Is this average? I'm honestly not sure. What I do know is that I took home a nice chunkof change at the end of the week, and I am incredibly appreciative of it.

I would love to say that I don't expect a tip, but sometimes I do. If you order a tea, drip coffee, or an RTD&E item (or even just a regular latte or mocha) I don't expect a tip at all. However, when you walk up and order 6 venti Blackberry Green Tea Frappuccinos or a "jackpot latte" (with so many customizations that every box is mulitply-marked, eg. a half calf quad grande in a venti cup 3 toffee nut 4 mocha soy extra hot no whip 173 degree latte, you damn well better drop something in the tip cup.

Maybe it's a bad attitude to have, but I keep it on the inside. I can say, atleast, that I don't treat a nontipping seven pump extra hot no water soy chai customer any different than a treat a tipping drip coffee drinker (etc.,)

My simple guideline for tupping, though - If you get something basic, don't worry about it. If you get something complicated or mulitple drinks, tip a little. It doesn't have to be much, but it's always appreciated.

[Valerie]

I work at a very tiny Starbucks, so tiny there is usually one closer: Me. I enjoy tips they, warm my heart and they tell me i'm doing a good job, it is definitly not expected but just more polite and nice. Like everyone else i do not rate my service on if you tip but i do think if I am nice enough and my service is good enough i might just get your left over change, and trust me it does add up I appreciate it greatly!
I understand that our prices are high I'm just as upset as the consumer because my paycheck does not reflect how hard I work. The prices are high but you are paying for the name and the quality. If you are not a passionate coffee enthusiast go elsewhere but if it is a high qualitiy tasteful brew you are looking for stick to us.

[lulu]

It's simple you smug a$$hole customers, if you don/t tip you are probably getting decafed or some nasty reheated milk.

[Jason]

"It's simple you smug a$$hole customers, if you don/t tip you are probably getting decafed or some nasty reheated milk."

There's always gotta be one asshole barista that says some fucked up stuff like this...Please realize that most of us arent like this, and the ones who are wont be with Starbucks long. Most of the partners on bar dont even realize when customers tip, since they're not at the register....Partners like this should use the Super Secret Green Apron Behavior and BE QUIET!

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

I find if we play techno music in the store it increases the number of tips. Maybbe its because I am wiggling my hot butt for the customers or something? They could put the dollars in my apron.

[lulu]

Jason it's obvious you have been drinking too much sbux koolaid, and no i am not a barista i just know lots of them. I am just a customer that hates to see some of the idiot behaviour of your average bux customer.Really maybe you should go to school and fill your mind with something other than sbux. Now lets all stop this silly thread.

discriminate........ I do tip at subway or anywhere else there is a tip jar... if the service warrents it even Starbucks. If I feel I didn't get good (doesn't even have to be great) service I usualy don't tip.
Also you could get to know the names of your customers.... you could just ask them for GP's

[Drinker]

So I guess there's a bright side to having to turn down panhandlers 6+ times on the way to work: I really don't stress about the Starbucks tipping either way. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't, but I never ever feel guilty or anxious about it.

What I learned from the panhandlers is that tipping is 100% irrational because it's 100% emotional. If you do it, it's because you want to help the stranger in front of you, probably because he's in front of you, and the other 6 billion people in the world, probably much much poorer, are not.

You tip becase you want to. That's it. Not because you're getting better service, or because that person is more deserving than all the other people in the world, but because you want to. And you want to for reasons having to do with proximity, attractiveness (in all senses of the word, not just pretty-ness), likeability, your mood at that moment.

And ultimately you want to tip for selfish reasons because you hope it will make you feel better after, without the money in your pocket, than you felt before, with the money there.

Trying to have a rational discussion about this is pointless because it is not about reason.

Not at Starbucks, at least. I mean, honestly. Better service? Academics can't even come up with conclusive proof generous tipping improves service in restaurants, where service is about 10X more complicated and tips 100X as big.

Anyway I've been dropping my change in a lot more over the last few years. Probably because my pay has gone up, and probably also for some reason involving my ego, truth be told. It's funny how once I started it was hard to stop.

[coffeeguy :)]

I tip at subway....

I don't have any idea why you wouldn't It's not like they don't cater to your needs more then a fast food place would.

[halfzware]

SOP is 0 tip for fast food. Server may earn tip if order includes multiple drinks and/or food. Server must be prompt. Server must not carry on conversation with coworkers at expense of speed. Server must apologize for delay, real or perceived.

Tip jars are tacky. Tipping for table service is not tacky. Tipping bratty HS teens at suburban malls will not happen. Tipping professional adults may, just may, happen.

SOP is 18%-22% for full table service. Shoddy or poor service will net 9%-11%, but this must be reserved for specific instances.

SOP is always a dollar for every alcoholic beverage, regardless of complexity. This standard is subject to change if bartender does not offer buyback after third drink, or on regular visits.

SOP is 12%-15% for a taxicab. This scale is elevated to 18%-25% for nighttime drives and/or drives to remote locales.

SOP is $1 for piece of luggage handled/$5-$10 per night of hotel housekeeping (lower figure for inattentive/late/incomplete service).

SOP is $1-$2 for valet at train station who actually handles your luggage. SOP is always $2-$3 for hotel staff who perform same.

SOP is $20 per piece of heavy furniture moved by movers/delivery, plus $1 per minute of concerted labor, to a maximum of $30 additional. Housemoving entails different rates, not addressed in this guide. This yields a tip of $45 to piano deliverers who are in/out w/in 25 minutes of hard work. Tip includes offer of cold beverage/food on hand, and may be upped further to a maximum of $75 depending on total number of involved workers.

[HopkinsBella]

Whoa. Someone actually made this an interesting enough topic to post in.

Regarding Starbucks, if I pay with cash for my coffee, I always always always reflexively put the change into the tip jar. I've tipped up to $5 before, even for small orders. No big deal. If I pay with debit card, or someone gives me a Starbucks card as a gift, I usually don't tip then.

Ranting WAY off topic, HALFZWARE, I have to disagree with tipping piano movers. Recently had a piano moved, myself, and the flat rate was $350, plus mileage. It was not a taxing move in the least--no stairs to maneuver in either location, piano is a concert upright not a grand piano. Check for the three guys for a half-hour move was around $400--piano glides out of one apartment, drives 12 miles, glides into new apartment. I moved pianos for stage crew during my college years in more precarious situations than that, and was paid way less. You don't have to tip your piano movers, unless you're making them do extraordinarily ridiculous things i.e. moving up or down several flights of stairs sans elevator, making parking of their delivery truck impossible, etc. I do always offer bottled water or other bottled drinks, as the guys are usually off to take care of someone else's piano next.

End rant.

[Carter]

Nice Guy Eddie: C'mon, throw in a buck!
Mr. Pink: Uh-uh, I don't tip.
Nice Guy Eddie: You don't tip?
Mr. Pink: I don't believe in it.
Nice Guy Eddie: You don't believe in tipping?
Mr. Blue: You know what these chicks make? They make shit.
Mr. Pink: Don't give me that. She don't make enough money, she can quit.
Nice Guy Eddie: I don't even know a fucking Jew who'd have the balls to say that. Let me get this straight: you never ever tip, huh?
Mr. Pink: I don't tip because society says I have to. Alright, I tip when somebody really deserves a tip. If they put forth an effort, I'll give them something extra. But I mean, this tipping automatically, that's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned they're just doing their job.
Mr. Blue: Hey, this girl was nice.
Mr. Pink: She was okay. But she wasn't anything special.
Mr. Blue: What's special? Take you in the back and suck your dick?
Nice Guy Eddie: I'd go over twelve percent for that.

Tipping is out of control. Everyone has their hand out waiting for something for nothing. I don't make their salary, i didn't take the job. Tipping for actual service is very appropriate but, it is rare that you will find an employee that actually goes beyond the absolute minimum. Sounds jaded - I'll be Jaded in Seattle then.

[AL]

Tip if you got great service or ordered something that will take forever to make while a whole line of people is glaring at you.
And yeah no barista has any say in the price.
But it terms of how expensive it is to run a store, does anyone know how much a store makes per day?

[Cafe Girl]

I am a manager at a national coffee retail chain (not Starbucks) and we have a corporate policy of not allowing tip jars. We are allowed to accept tips from customers if they are offered, but we are never ever allowed to solicit them. We have a kind of set speech when a customer asks about the tip jar ("We aren't allowed to have one, but we are allowed to accept tips in hand") and for the most part noone tips. When a server goes *out of their way* to fulfill a customers needs beyond basic quality counter service, while at the same time juggling our other customers the server rarely recieves a tip. Tipping is not required obviously, but it is the hallmark of someone who knows how to treat the people who serve them regardless of whether there is a tip jar or not! I can't stress that last sentence enough.
There is a level of basic high quality service that is expected and deserved for the prices our cafe's charge for drinks & pastries. When a server goes above and beyond that, while seamlessly serving all the other customers, that deserves extra recognition of some kind. Anyone who was raised with an ounce of class or manners will tip accordingly. When my servers are not tipped in those circumstances I feel bad for them, but reinforce that this is the level of service we enthusiastically provide to *all* customers. Quietly, I also feel sorry for the customer who obviously has more time & money than manners to understand that they have failed to live up to their role in the social contract that binds the service industry to it's customers. Their inaction is just another tiny step towards the decline of a civilized society. And noone seems to care.....

[Drinker]

Thank you cafe girl for proving my point.

Listen to all of cafe girl's manipulative language about tipping. It is:

-"the hallmark of someone who knows how to treat the people who serve them"

-for "anyone who was raised with an ounce of class or manners"

-Neccesary to stop "the decline of a civilized society"

This is an obvious ploy to extract money from the customer by playing with their emotions. And extremely common.

Listen, cafe girl, you absolutely DO deserve a big tip.

Yes you do.

You know what else you deserve? Your favorite dish, at least once a month.

An attractive and loyal mate.

Affordable health care.

Your own home.

Your own car.

Clean water.

Vaccinations.

An early supply of the anti-aging pill that will be invented in 50 years.

A chance to play with the incredibly fun electronics that will be invented in 100 years.

At least a tiny sliver of all the value your hard work will create for the billions of humans who will be born after you die.

You deserve this, and so do all of us.

And if we deserve it, our parents collectively deserve even more, since they had it much rougher and basically created all of the nice technologies we have today.

And if we and our parents deserve, then our grandparents, deserve more than our parents and WAY MORE than us, since they collectively had the roughest time of all and made the biggest sacrifices.

And if we, our parents and our grandparents are highly deserving, then the billions of non-Americans around the world living in third world squalor surely deserve better than what they have, and deserve way, way, way more than cafe girl or myself.

Tipping is the custom by which some of the absolute richest people the earth has EVER KNOWN fling change -- change that could *utterly transform lives* in the third world -- at some of their fellow richest people ever on earth.

And you, cafe girl, have the absolute GALL to call this practice the linchpin of "civilized society" and the "social contract," the definition of "class" and treating people well.

The linchpin of civilized society is to humbly give to those who need it most, a process that is distinctly unlikely when the priveledged few are busy manipulating one anothers egos in the service of their own greed.

[Barista to the Stars]

Wow, someone needs to switch to decaf.

[Brian]

Excuse me... I am so sick and tired of hearing ppl on here say "Do you tip at McDonalds??" Well, if there was a tip jar sitting out on the counter, there is a 99 percent likelihood that I probably would! And I hope that the rest of you would, too.

It's all about manners, and being polite and considerate. If there is a tip jar, tip. If there isn't, don't. If you know that most ppl tip a valet guy, then tip him. If you think that a certain service isn't worth a tip, then don't tip. It's america (as I said before in a previous post on here) and its your right to tip or not to tip.

End of story.

Thanks.

That is all.

-B

1: I don't care whether a customer tips or not. It's at their discretion. If they believe that wat we do is worth tipping, then they will tip. If not, they won't. I won't treat you any differently if you don't.

2: Coffee at Starbucks is not outrageously priced...at least in my market. Compared to other coffee shops in my market, we run 10-20 cents cheaper by the cup, for coffee. Compared to McDonalds, or other fast food...we are more expensive. But, you get what you pay for. And, if you can't tell the difference, you'd be better off with your McDonald's coffee.

3: For those of you who think you're coffee experts who are upset when you come in for a French Vanilla Cappucino and it's foamy, I know right away you're used to getting your cappucinos from a machine. If you don't know the difference between a cappucino and a latte, or the difference between a handcrafted beverage using honest-to-goodness milk instead of hot water added to powder, then you won't tip either. I'm OK with that too.

4: For those with such animosity toward Starbucks, I'm fine with your attitude. What I don't understand is why, if you feel that way, do you choose to purchase beverages at Starbucks? If you're so against all things Starbucks, why do you go?

Can I just ask what this argument is about? It's a customers choice to tip or not to tip. So are you guys arguing that other customers shouldn't be tipping us, or are you just trying to defend why you don't tip us? And as for those of you who think we just "stand" behind the coffee counter? Please come and put on a green apron and lets see how you do. Maybe you'll drop this arguement and get onto things that actually matter in this world.

[Ree Ree]

I am a regular Starbucks drinker - daily I order my Venti NF WM for $4.30 and I generally tip a dollar. Not because I have to or because the service is spectacular. This is a place that I come to every single morning Monday - Friday for the last 2 years (before this there was another location) a few employees remember me or I should say my drink (not my name) and one nice girl that works evenings and cleans the bathroom well she knows me and jokes with me and my husband every time I see her. I like it when she's working.
I wonder if the employees are happy cause they all look so serious and rarely get a smile, just pumping out coffees like robots. I think I put a tip in, hoping to make someone smile -most of the time it's not noticed cause they are so busy. Maybe they smile at the end of the day and I think it's worth it.

Surprised at all the comments and debates, just think it's a nice thing to do and for a regular like me I want the staff to feel appreciated.

as has been stated before, baristas are more akin to bartenders than mcdonald's employees. (barista isn't italian for bartender for nothing.) you always tip a bartender...

[JeffInMaine]

OK, so I frequent a small Starbucks in the town where I live -- a double espresso, every day, $1.87 (*not* overpriced, in my book). I usually try to have an extra buck to pitch into the tip jar. Why? First, I know too many folks who work in the service industry -- tips just seem to be the right thing to do. The $.13 change I usually get just seems too little -- if I get something else that leaves me with $.50 or more, then that's what goes in.

The folks who work there treat me nicely; some know my name, but that's not required. They don't seem to mind if I'm in there in my sweaty bike commuter egar. If it's lax in there, we usually share a laugh over something; if it's busy, I get out of the way in a hurry. On the flip side, if it's busy, I can often catch the barista's eye and they have my drink made for me before I reach the register.

Every so often, a barista pitches me a freebie -- nice, but not expected. Much like what I expect the tip thing is all about on the other side of the counter.

They know I'm going to be back, even when the local retail thing goes flat (it's a seasonal business hereabouts). I like the espresso, and like the folks that work there. And I tip, because of all the above...

Jeff

LMAO

VENTI non fat white mocha....why even bother with the nonfat? DO you know how much of the fat just comes from the white mocha syrup?

[jafc]

Mocha syrup (per shot) -

Amt Per Serving

Calories 25
Fat Calories 0
Total Fat (g) 0.5
Saturated Fat (g) 0
Trans Fat (g) 0
Cholesterol (mg) 0
Sodium (mg) 0
Total Carbohydrates (g) 6
Fiber (g) 0
Sugars (g) 4
Protein (g) 1
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0%
Iron 4%

Maybe the poster drinks non-fat milk to reduce cholesterol intake... It's not always about calories. Is there a sugar-free version of the mocha syrup?

[Hector]

Freakin get over it! I can buy a cafe latte at Riviera on 17th ave in Miami for $1.00 yet I go to the Starbucks in Coconut Grove on my way to work every third day and pay $3.42 plus a $1.00 tip just because the girls are DAMN good looking. Anyone paying $3.42 for a Latte grande can afford to leave a damn tip or maybe you shouldn't be buying aty Starbucks. Think about it people, I'm sure the employees at Starbucks don't make what you make $ or have the benefits you have at work, if you can afford to gulp your $4.00 coffee leave a damn tip!

[Barista sUz]

I don't think tips are that big of a deal.
I find it rather OBNOXIOUS when people try to steal from our tip jar. Yeah. It happens. Those dollars aren't yours for the taking buddy. It seriously trips me out how often we'll tell people the price, and then they go roaming in our tip jar for 18 cents. It sucks that we're not allowed to make a sign saying "tips".

However, my bf and I are Baristas, he worked at a local coffee shop that got TONS more tips than I do [$20 a night as opposed to my 20-some$, a WEEK] and we both know how it feels so we generally tip at least $2 when we get a cup of coffee. Same goes for restaurants, we tend to over tip.

ALTHOUGH tipping is NICE if you're a repeat customer. Don't need to tip ALL the time, but an ocassionally 5 cents or whatever is at least telling me, "Hey, you made my day. Keep being FAAAAANTASTIC :D"

[Barista sUz]

People should tip. I don't care if it's a dime. But just tip. It's the thought that counts. If you pay a $1.60 for your coffee, go ahead, don't be afraid; put that $0.40 in the tip jar. It's just gonna fall out in your car seat anyway...
But seriously, you should tip. But no pennies. You can keep those. Apply those to your kids' college funds. Be nice, tip. It's called courtesy.

"Mocha syrup (per shot) -

Amt Per Serving

Calories 25
Fat Calories 0
Total Fat (g) 0.5
Saturated Fat (g) 0
Trans Fat (g) 0
Cholesterol (mg) 0
Sodium (mg) 0
Total Carbohydrates (g) 6
Fiber (g) 0
Sugars (g) 4
Protein (g) 1
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0%
Iron 4%

Maybe the poster drinks non-fat milk to reduce cholesterol intake... It's not always about calories. Is there a sugar-free version of the mocha syrup?"

Um.....WHITE MOCHA...not nasty ass mocha

[MNBarista]

Hmmm...I work at Caribou Coffee and we split the tips every few hours only between the people currently working. Sometimes I take over $20 home on an 8 hour shift. And trust me, we stand on our feet for hours running around, hurrying, and stressing out for customers, and we get absolutely NO breaks (except when you get a free moment to quickly use the restroom).

I do notice when people tip, and I am greatly appreciative. I am a college student who now has a worn out back and shoulders from making mochas and blended drinks. Tipping is always greatly appreciated, and when I notice someone tip I make a point to make eye contact and say "thankyou."

Also, acknowledging the employees as more than mere robots (making eye contact, letting them know you heard them say "thank you have a good day.") is just as good as tips. There's nothing more irritating than hand crafting and putting work into a drink, setting it on the bar, yelling out the drink, then making a point to nod your head and say "thank you so much, have a great weekend." and being completely ignored.

P.S. To those who think we get such great benefits because we get free drinks and bakery...ick! The last thing I want to drink when Im stressed, sweating, and busy is the exact same drinks I am making. And the free old bakery/pasteries? Yuck, do you know whats in those?

You guys get to eat the leftover pastries? At the Sbux where I work, we aren't allowed to...

Which system is more common?

[Barista sUz]

Our SM doesn't mind if we do. As long as we mark them out.
I think one of the other stores here donates them.

Even though we're not s'pposed to... :D

[Mikie]

I never tip Starbucks baristas. Because you do not go anywhere. The barista does not walk all across the way to deliver your coffee. In an Restaurant yes. Because the person has to grab your food and come back many times. An barista is just standing in front of you. It's bad enough that the barista does not think of customers when making drinks. How many times do I have to tell the barista not to fill my Venti drink all the way to the top? When this happens. The extra liquid collects under the lid and spills on your shirt! Then half the time I ask for light ice and its like no one lisens.. If I get awesoe service. I will let the manager know and offer an discount to fix their car since I am an Mechanic. Tips no way...

[stuffed]

well, mike, you're the typical starbucks/american asshole. why don't you make you own coffee if they're such a pain in the ass?

[coffee2go]

I don't expect tips from anyone but they are extremely appreciated. Even if they come out to only $1.00/hr each week, they helped me through hard times. I've used them for things such as diapers, baby formula, gas, or maybe just a nice dinner out with my wife. I think the bottom line is that most baristas don't expect a tip. No one has to come online to call us lazy and uneducated because they resent other people tipping us. If you don't like the people, the drinks, and the prices, do yourself a favor and don't come.

I go to this 24 hr starbucks in Reno. There's this crazy ass dude that brings in a portable tv and playstation 2. I'm pretty sure he's homeless. But he sits there all night and plays Madden, drinking coffee and getting 50c refills. I think I'll tip him next time cause he's entertaining.

I could care less if you tip, honestly, but kindly treat me like a human being. Kindness and friendliness go way further than a tip in my books. Nothing wrecks your day faster than being treated like you are beneath notice.

barista "Hi, how are you today?"
customer "grande brewed"
barista "okay, would you like medium or bold? room for cream? can I get you anything to eat today? all right, that will be $2 please."
customer puts $2 on the counter, ignoring barista's outstretched hand
barista "thanks, have a good afternoon!"
customer walks away
barista feels like shit

[DenverCindy]

I haven't been tipping, but thanks to this discussion I will, even if its only change. I definitely appreciate the baristas in the Starbucks I go to. They all know my name, they made an attempt to tag my favorite drink but I switch around too much (*grin*), they always swap jokes with me and occasionally give me a free coffee and they notice if I haven't come in for a day or so. I think they are definitely worth it; they start my day with a smile.

I honestly don't care if people tip or not. I think it is better to get a friendly customer then some extra money. Although the extra money is not bad either, but I HATE when peopl feel entitled to treat us like crap because they spent some money for their drink and maybe even tiped us. If our service is bad DON'T TIP, don't treat us like animals.
As far as the prices, it depends on what you compare it to... for example a large cup of coffee is $1.94, where at Dunkin Donuts it is 2.25. Also I like a lot of cream and sugar in my coffee so i get a medium in a large cup. then i saved an extra 10 cents. As opposed to Dunkin Donuts where they fill up 1/4 of the cup with cream and sugar and charge you for the size of the cup, not the ammount of coffee. now when you start getting fancy espresso drinks it starts to add up. as with a small coffee shop or another chain (dunkin donuts, honey dew donuts, etc)
also i do not get any of the profit from the drinks, all i get is my normal pay check if i sell 1 small coffee for 1.63, or if i sell $500.00 worth of drinks.
just another opinion from a barista. making $8/hr

[Mark]

I have been an employee at another coffee chain and i believe counterpeople should not be tipped. Youre job is to serve customers and be polite as possibile. thats what your paycheck is for. and if youre doing an exceptionally above and beyond your requrements job youre manager will 9 times out of 10 give you a raise

[Jacqueline]

This is a load of crap! How much the drinks cost has no effect on how much baristas at Starbucks make! Most make about $8/hour. $1280/month if they work 40 hours per week. WAY UNDER THE POVERTY LEVEL! And that's for a full-time barista. Nearly all are part-time.

Tips go directly into the employees' pockets, whereas the amount they make per hour equals about two Venti espresso beverages.

Many stores make upwards of $500 per hour. And pay each barista only about $8. Wow.

Tips add up. If one requests a highly modified beverage, the poster who said they should tip is spot on. If a customer is disrespectful, requests a complicated drink, and doesn't tip, I'm pretty sure that they will remember who those customers are.

And I hope those customers like decaf.

[Michael]

Tipping? At Starbucks? You've got to be kidding me. The servious is so hideously poor. The other day in the Starbucks at my office building, there were six employees and only four customers (including me) and yet it still took me nearly ten minutes to get a cup of drip coffee.

[jon]

I drove through dunkin donuts....the drive-thru girl took my change and threw it in her tip cup without asking...almost being sneaky about it when i wasnt paying attention....what a skeeza.

[Have it the "Howard" way]

WHO GETS STARBUCKS TIPS?
Shift Managers & Baristas (why shifts who are management, I dunno!!??)

IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO TIP. It is mearly a suggestion. Sadly, Shift Managers doing less of the Barista-ing but have more hours sadly take home most of the tips. So, I never tip.

STARBUCKS DOES NOT PAY THEIR BARISTAS A GREAT WAGE. In most places, it is not even a living wage. Without their tips (totaling a $2-$3 an hour increase in an average market; $4 in wealthier markets) Baristas wouldn't take home more than $100 a week. Most of us are not full time. Heck, we're lucky to be half-time.

TIP DISBURSEMENT should be revampped Corporate-wide. Store Managers have the capability to track this. Tips should only be given to the Baristas. Why should shifts get tips when they are 1)full time, and 2)management?

During busy times, most shifts are not even working the bar -- they are merely deploying.

So, from a Barista standpoint, that five-cent change you drop in our jar helps us. That buys my kids' lunch each week and I thank you.

[Have it the "Howard" way]

QUOTE: ["Youre job is to serve customers and be polite as possibile. thats what your paycheck is for. and if youre doing an exceptionally above and beyond your requrements job youre manager will 9 times out of 10 give you a raise"]

Ahhh... in a perfect world, but NOT in Starbucks world, trust me.

[Melody]

"STARBUCKS DOES NOT PAY THEIR BARISTAS A GREAT WAGE. In most places, it is not even a living wage. Without their tips (totaling a $2-$3 an hour increase in an average market; $4 in wealthier markets) Baristas wouldn't take home more than $100 a week. Most of us are not full time. Heck, we're lucky to be half-time."

^ In response to above:
From what I gather (as a customer reading this site) most stores do not average tips in such a high range of $2 to $3 an hour. Whatever store you're at, you're lucky, imho.

[Giant Corporation]

Starbucks is like the McDonalds of Coffee shops. I wouldn't tip at a Starbucks, for this reason. Steer clear, support local business, get better coffee and service (not to mention work environment), and an exponentially better environment.