I have a question.
Do you tip at coffee shops?
I personally do not actually frequent coffee shops very often, as I do not drink coffee. I drink plain black tea, and it’s hard for me to stomach paying like $4.00 for a tea bag in a cup of hot water.
So I go to them rarely, but when I do go to coffee shops, as I did this morning, I always feel a little funny and unsure about what the tipping expectations are these days.
As we all know, tipping is uh, offered to us everywhere now it seems, even places where tipping never used to be a thing. Which makes it rather confusing!
Ivan and I have both worked in the service industry in the past, so we are no strangers to working for tips. We are very good tippers at restaurants and bars.
But, when we worked for tips, we were both making well (WELL) below minimum wage.
I find it gets very fuzzy nowadays, because tips are now requested in many places where the workers are not making $2.33/hr (or even close). So then it’s like, ok, wait- am I still supposed to tip, if the worker is making like $15-20+/hr? 🤔
I get the idea of tipping if someone goes above and beyond, but are we supposed to be tipping any time anyone provides us a service?
Let’s take my situation today. I ordered a plain black tea at the counter, from a rather unfriendly guy. Didn’t even smile. He rang up my tea, I swiped my card, and then someone else was going to plop a tea bag in a cup of water. He didn’t even say thank you… Does that interaction warrant a tip?
I guess I don’t know what everyone else does. Tipping 15-20% for that feels kind of bizarre, tbh. He’s getting paid….? And he literally just handed me a tea bag.
But if I don’t tip at a coffee shop, I always feel kind of guilty or cheap or something! Even though if I go to McDonald’s and order a similar black tea, where the worker does the exact same thing, I would never tip, nor am I asked to. The only difference is- the McDonald’s worker is actually making way less than the coffee shop worker! (I have 2 kids that work at McDonald’s. I know what they make. I’ve seen the Starbucks hiring ads. Trust me, the people at Starbucks are making WAY more.)
Anyway, this makes me uncomfortable every time I go to a coffee shop. Every time, I order an incredibly simple black tea, from someone who I know is not making $2.33 like a bartender may be, and yet I feel like I’m “supposed” to tip the same as I would to a server or bartender? Is that right?! Or am I imagining that pressure?
Help me out! What is the right answer here??
I have googled this and it seems a common consensus is that if you’re standing up when you order, a tip would not be required. If you are provided with table service, while you’re seated, then yes, you would tip (obviously).
I’m just curious what all you other frequent coffee shop goers do. I get that it’s not that much extra money, it’s a nice gesture, etc. I’m also not saying there’s never a reason to tip someone even if they make a decent hourly wage/well above minimum wage.
But I guess I also don’t see the sense in just giving away money unnecessarily every time, either?? Like I don’t tip the girl at Target, or the McDonald’s worker, or the guy who came to fix my fireplace, or the bank teller, or the grocery store bagger, etc, even though they also all provided me a service and make varying hourly wages.
Very interested to know what others do at coffee shops, or what your tipping policies are in general! I feel like if I had either an especially big or complex order at a coffee shop, yes, I can totally see tipping something. But for a single coffee or tea? Yay or nay?
*I guess this question is mostly for Americans, because from what I know, the rest of the world does not have this rather obnoxious tipping culture…. 😩
Daily Gratitude:
I am grateful for my slippers.
GRATEFUL KAE 
I don’t go to coffee shops often, but when I go to my local Starbucks I order a latte and sometimes a breakfast sandwich. I tip $2. I think that is about 20% of the order. Employees in California make at least minimum wage, there is no sub minimum tipping wage like some states have. If I were ordering something that required no work (like a tea bag in water, a plain coffee, etc.) I might not tip. I do it because it makes me feel good to do it, and because I remember what it was like to work for those wages, and that tips meant a lot to me when I got them.
I think the standing up/sitting down distinction is good, even though I don’t follow it. My local Starbucks always gives very friendly service, vs. what you encountered. Which is problematic and apt to bring out a rant from me about tipping culture and how employees basically have to suck up to people in order to make a living, how it started with ex-slaves working for no wages, only tips, how women have to put up with so much sexual harassment bullshit in these industries in order to make a living, all of it. I hate the practice, and I wish we could just be DONE WITH IT.
I know, I’m complicated, going both ways. I tip/I hate the whole thing.
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I had to get over feeling uncomfortable when I press the “no tip” button. Like you said it is pervasive, it’s everywhere, and in places you would least expect it. I also felt guilty because the server/worker is staring at you and waiting to finish the transaction and I didn’t want to be “that” person who doesn’t tip. But I’ve gotten to the point where “no” no longer makes me uncomfortable. My rule of thumb is if I am sitting and a server brings me a menu, takes my order, fills my water glass, clears the table, etc. Yes, they get a tip. If I am at a counter and have to order and take my food/drink to my table. Nope, no tip. Their job is to take the order. Their job is to make/prepare the item. They should all be making at least minimum wage and they aren’t providing any extra service, so they don’t need a tip. One of my issues with tips is the stories I hear about servers having to pool their tips or owners/managers taking a share of the tips. That is a big no for me, especially owners and managers. I’m giving the tip to the individual who performed the service and not to share between everyone so it’s fair for everyone. That just encourages poor service in my opinion. The good server will stop performing well because they are tired of watching their tips go to worthless servers, and the worthless servers don’t care because they know they are going to get a share of the tips no matter how bad they do. I wish they would pay everyone a decent wage and get rid of tips totally.
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I think it’s part of culture norm. In the US, when you sit down in a restaurant, no matter the quality of services, you have to tip. In Asia, nowhere needs tipping in restaurants. For personal services, I tip when I feel they went beyond average such as massage, manicure, etc.
So, not sure I can help in this front. If you feel unfair to tip someone when it’s not merit, then maybe don’t go to those places? at least that’s what I’d do.
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I don’t frequent coffee shops that often, but if I do go, I usually don’t tip because I literally interact with the person for less than a minute and then three other people probably touch the cup before they had me the drink. I don’t think that warrants a tip. If I am sitting down and I am served, then yes, but not if I order at the counter. Sorry, but coffee (or tea) out are expensive enough these days.
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Well, I have a slightly different perspective than a lot of people here, because I do work for tips. So my rule of thumb is- when in doubt, tip. BUT. I do question the tip jar EVERYWHERE now. Like at Chipotle. I mean… I don’t know how much the workers make. It doesn’t seem like a tipping situation (following the rule, I’m not sitting down.) But I usually just put a dollar or two in the tip jar.
At Starbucks- I also usually just get a tea. I think if you just go in every once in a while and get a tea, you don’t have to tip. However, I go to the same Starbucks all the time, and I’m there several times a week. The baristas greet me personally and often get my order ready while I’m still waiting in line, because they remember me. I always put a dollar in the tip jar (that’s if I’m just getting my tea, which is less than $4. If I’m getting a drink for my daughter as well, I’ll put in more.) I think if it’s a place you frequent regularly, it’s nice to be on good terms.
(One last thing- you might infer from this post that I use cash more than most people. Yes I do! Because I get a lot of cash tips, I’m frequently spending cash instead of using a card.)
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I don’t usually tip at coffee shops – but I very rarely go there. I never get anything more complicated than black coffee or tea.
I do find those payment screens that automatically go to tip options extremely obnoxious. I suspect that the people who work there find them obnoxious, too. That said, if I had a favorite local coffee shop, or bakery, or sandwich place, or ice cream shop that I went to frequently – I would totally tip (especially if they knew my order and would get it all nice and ready! @jennystancampiano – your Starbucks sounds amazing). If it’s one of my kid’s friends who are serving ice cream – yep, would tip.
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Ha. this. Those screens I hate.
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I rarely tip at coffee shops. I will tip if I get a free drink due to accumulating points, but otherwise I don’t. I mostly order from the ap and it doesn’t really prompt me to tip or I don’t notice it. I tip generously at restaurants but when we are both standing, I don’t feel like I NEED to tip the person. Perhaps this makes me cheap, but oh well… the cost of my drink at SBUX is so ridiculous that to tip on top of that is just a bridge too far.
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The WORST example of “tip everywhere” was when I bought a t-shirt at a concert… and the person who handed me the shirt expected a tip– she watched the screen when I was paying with my card and rolled her eyes when I hit “no tip”
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I do tip at my local coffee shop. I don’t go that often and I just feel guilty about not. Plus, I WANT THIS TINY PLACE TO SURVIVE. Also, now it’s an auto option, so I usually tap 10% tip (we get 5, 10, 15, 20% options at most places).
I actually went out for a tea this morning and…yup…I tipped 10%.
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I never tip at coffee shops. Gone are the day that happens. Bars and restaurants where I am getting waited on hand and foot by someone working their butt off, yes, I tip and tip generously if they’ve given good service.
These days, like you said, the whole idea of tipping has gotten way out of hand.
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People will probably have strong opinions about this. I do not tip at coffee shops. I just don’t and I think it’s ridiculous to pay extra for someone making you your coffee or tea.
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I wish the US were more like Europe where waiters and cafe staff earn a decent wage so it’s not put on customers. It was glorious to not have to tip in France.
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I am generally a generous tipper, always 20% and usually more (restaurants, massage, hair, nails, whatever) but I don’t usually tip at Starbucks. (Though now rethinking that). It’s just SOOOO $$$$ and I’m usually just doing mobile order and picking it up. I usually do tip at, say, an ice cream store where I’m ordering at the counter. I’m not sure why I don’t tip at Sbux (but I think it’s because I am slightly horrified to be paying ~$8 for a beverage).
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I will sometimes tip and sometimes not for stuff like coffee. I have never experienced any reaction from the workers, though sometimes at a place where I order at the counter and they call out names, I’ve noticed if I tip they usually bring it to me, but not always that either, and in fact the most recent time I didn’t even hear my name called and my food sat a little longer than it should have! So I wouldn’t have guilt about not tipping. The worker probably appreciates the tip but doesn’t expect it in those cases. I play for weddings and we always appreciate a tip but we don’t expect it, so it’s just like, a nice bonus.
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Well, as you have already assumed the tipping culture in Germany is a bit different. It is suggested to tip 10% in restaurants if your are happy with the service. I have been places and didnt tip because it was a disaster. We are usually good tippers so the take out delivery guy always gets his 10 %.
At the coffee shop it depends. If I pay cash I usually dump some change in the jar. When paying by card, nope. Every once in a while I dump spare change that annoyed me when I play with card. Other than that no.
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This is a fascinating conversation! I usually tip because of the GUILT and worried that people in line behind me will think I’m a terrible person, lololol. I go to Starbucks a lot but I use the app and it doesn’t prompt for a tip so that’s good at least. But like others have said, it can depend on the type of service I’m getting. Of course I always tip at restaurants and such, but when I’m just getting a coffee or an ice cream, it feels kinda silly tbh.
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If I have to stand in line to order it and then go pick it up I usually don’t tip. However I do think my finger is so used to hitting the tip button that I have done it on accident a few times and that is okay. I am more likely to do it if I’m at a Mom and Pop BBQ joint than if I’m at Chipotle though, don’t ask me why.
They tip in Canada, and when I was in the UK I was told that they sometimes just leave the change, so if your pint is 2.50 (as if!) you maybe would leave the 0.50 as a tip.
I know it’s controversial but I actually like the restaurants who build the service charge into the price and pay people more.
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That’s interesting! Our chain coffee shops don’t let you tip, but most independent places will have the options on the card. But I try to tip – 10% is standard here – because those are full-on jobs, and I feel like if I have the money to go out for tea/lunch, I have the money to tip. Often it’s students, young people, and a small team and I’m hoping it helps them a bit.
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