Barista Venting

[Robstar]

Re: Barista Venting

I know Ive ranted it before, but Im going to do it again.

ARGHHHH at restaurants and their views on coffee. Today I went to a certain place and enjoyed some seafood at a certain restaurant, well established with Dimattinas supplying them.

So I decided to ask for a latte, word for word I asked "Could I please order a latte with a double ristretto as the base, I just like it like that. ", I wasnt rude, I didnt over-complicate it and that was that. The girl looked at me with a very puzzled look, she went over to the desk that was only two meters away from our table and one of the guys said "what? a double ristretto, haha what is that? some sort of fancy syrup?".

Then she went over to the man behind the machine and I just sat their, watching from the corner of my eyes.. the guy was laughing as well! Like a wtf is that kind of laugh, I saw him run off somewhere, then an older man in a suit started talking to him. Then I suppose something came to a conclusion, because he started to make my coffee.

My gf was just sitting there, looking at me, saying "I think you scared them or something with your ristretto request" and I was sitting there getting quite angry that it was such a laughable request.. and so I finally got my latte, with the smugest remark EVER. From the guy who made the coffee, "Enjoy your double ristrettoooo siirrrr!" and I just politely smiled, said thank you and looked at it. Honestly, it had no setting of microfoam at the top, it was just.. milk and coffee, absolutely zero texture and holy crap, lave latte! It tasted like the sun took a holiday in my mouth, I instantly, had my tongue burned. Which is the worst feeling.

The worst part, is all the waiters were looking at me, watching me drink it. I felt so.. blah.

[fatboy_1999]

Re: Barista Venting

The worst part, is all the waiters were looking at me, watching me drink it. I felt so.. blah.

Hell, WHY did you drink it?
I would have immediately responded to the smug &^%$@ when it hit the table "Never mind, its obvious you havent got a clue about good coffee" and not even touched it.
Still would have paid for it, just not touched it.
You drinking it, validates the crap coffee culture.

[Robstar]

Re: Barista Venting

I probably shouldve elaborated more on that detail! They were watching me as I initially drank it, which led to me burning my tongue and then led to me returning it. I still paid for it though, but I sent it back. I dont think there is anyway I could stomach it considering the amount of good coffee I consume a day; bad coffee = gag reflex.

[fatboy_1999]

Re: Barista Venting

I probably shouldve elaborated more on that detail! They were watching me as I initially drank it, which led to me burning my tongue and then led to me returning it. I still paid for it though, but I sent it back. I dont think there is anyway I could stomach it considering the amount of good coffee I consume a day; bad coffee = gag reflex.

Fair enough.
Ive really given up the coffee after a meal at restaurants these days. If at all possible, we go home and have a good one, else, I just go without.

[hamm]

Re: Barista Venting

My friends and I went out to a really spanky restaurant here in Perth that was all accolades and pizzazz. At the end of 7 courses of great wine and food and all that, the coffee had my friend and I laughing

atrocious, completely. I have never had a worse coffee, and I used to drink Miss Mauds regularly.. =P

so yeah I couldnt agree more with the idea of going somewhere that has had so much love and effort poured over the food and wine, and receiving the absolute bottom of the proverbial barrel for coffee..

Having said that, this IS Perth... the take it or leave it capital of oz

[TC]

Re: Barista Venting

[split] [link=http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1255085378/0#0][splithere][/link][splithere_end]

[TC]

Re: Barista Venting

Hi all,

I think the original thread had been taken pretty well off topic, so a whole heap of posts have been split away.

We resume normal service in this thread

2mcm

[scoota_gal]

Re: Barista Venting

Ah...goodo, 2mcm...as I have a bit of a vent for today...it goes something like this... ;D

Dont keep staring at the barista because your drink hasnt arrived...your constant staring is no better than actually being nagged and to help you understand why your drink is not at your table yet...here goes the answer...

Typically when the shop is full and youve ordered not just one drink but several, this is what happens...

A) The order is taken by staff and then it is transcribed by hand onto a small yellow pad beside the coffee machine. Typically, there is already several of these transcriptions on the yellow pad and hence...your drink is not on the table!

B) The barista, of which we only supply one due to it being a small town and the rest of the team are currently employed in making you your sandwich/foccacia/wrap and hence...your drink is not on the table!

C) The barista sees your order of two milkshakes, both different flavours for your two children. As we do not locate our shop freezer at the front of the shop due to lack of space, there is a short walk required by the barista to the freezer to get the icecream for your milkshakes and as the flavouring is kept in the coolroom, a brief stop is required there and then a return to the milkshake machine at the front of the shop and because you have ordered two different flavours there will be some delay as there is only one machine and hence...your drink is not on the table!

D) The barista has two milkshakes and as we are generous in how we serve them, you have to make two trips as you get the milkshake in a glass and the rest of the contents in the container that goes under the machine, it takes twice as long to deliver and as the barista stands there whilst you point out which kid gets which flavour and hence...your drink is not on the table!

E) I have to go to the back coolroom again because you wanted skim milk in your coffee and yes, Ive run out because Ive been making so many and the small bar fridge at my feet can only hold so much milk and hence....your drink is not on the table!

F) Your tea is not on the table because...you ordered it well after everyone else at the table and a bunch of others turned up in the meantime, who ordered before you and rightly so should get their orders before you and you jumped the queue by accosting me when I went over to serve the other drinks out at the table and thinking Id do you a favour because you know my first name doesnt always work a charm and hence...your drink is not on the the table!

Ah...its been a long week and I could go the whole alphabet at this rate...anyone want more?? ;D

[Thundergod]

Re: Barista Venting

I for one am looking forward to them.

[WSullivan]

Re: Barista Venting

It tasted like the sun took a holiday in my mouth

;D ;D ;D ;D, i have NEVER got a good coffee from a restaurant, and we are quite the restaurant goers, imagine great dinner followed by superb coffee..........snap! i woke up!

[Dennis]

Re: Barista Venting


Customers who tell you how to run your business.

I cant wait for the day they open their own shop! ;D

[ozscott]

Re: Barista Venting

Hey Dennis, what about if you get a little machine on the side just for bubbycinos but full automatic....

Cheers

PS. Sorry mate - im not trying to tell you how to run your business ;D

[Dennis]

Re: Barista Venting

Hey Dennis, what about if you get a little machine on the side just for bubbycinos but full automatic....

Maybe I could convert a Faema 2 group Volumetric? ;D

[ozscott]

Re: Barista Venting

You are a bad man!!!

Cheers

[scoota_gal]

Re: Barista Venting

I for one am looking forward to them.

Well...needing no further encouragement... ;D

G) When you enter the shop and see that every table is full, except for the one that has just been vacated and hence is full of empty and often dirty dishes, dont head unerringly towards the table and not expect to be beaten there by a staff member who is usually the one who is also the barista and has seen you making your way to said table. As the barista clears the table for you, dont think that slipping in a quick coffee order is going to make it come any quicker. Rather quite the opposite as if you refer to A) above, you will understand and hence...your drink is not on the table!

H) For those of you unsure of why your drink has not yet made your table, nor has even a staff member, please read the sign above the counter that clearly states in large letters "Please order at the counter as there is no table service" and hence...your drink is not on the table!

I) So youre lactose intolerant and Im sorry about that and I certainly dont mind that you want soy milk in your coffee but sadly for you the previous soy milk drinker also has several kids who also want soy milkshakes and as the soy milk we stock comes only in 1 litre containers and Im down to the last drop, so Ill have to make the return to the coolroom as mentioned previously in point C) above to collect another soy milk carton and hence...your drink is not on the table!

J) Yes, the shop is full of customers and also every seat is taken, including the one you are currently sitting in. Meanwhile, there is a small gathering of people around the coffee machine and I can assure you that they are not having their own little "Coffee Machine Appreciation Gathering" at our shop today so guess what...the yellow pad is full and youre probably not the first on the list so hence...your drink is not on the table!

K) Youve just entered with five thousand mates off the bus that has taken you from your coastal home to the outback and you are five thousand and one who has just ordered a coffee, after you and your mates have just ordered several thousand sandwiches, rolls and foccacias and so the staff member who is still trying to fill your food order is yet to make it down to where the yellow pad is located to even transcribed said order down and hence...your drink is not on the table!

L) You have ordered a grilled foccacia and have chosen the number from the menu of which you would like. However, you have decided that you dont like some ingredients whilst others before you in the sandwich bar look tasty, so you instruct the sandwich maker and as you walk back to your booth, throw in an order for several drinks for yourself and your friends and meanwhile the sandwich maker is still madly trying to fit all your ingredients onto the foccacia which is about 10cms square and then they have to try to get it from the sandwich bar to the grill, get it on the grill and make sure the grill is at the right temp to actually cook the mile high pile of ingredients and is yet to transcribe your drink order and hence...your drink is not on the table!

M) The apparent gathering of "Coffee Machine Appreciators" has actually stripped the take away cups to empty and so the barista must make the journey out to where the takeaway cups are stored and of course as that is at the back of the shop as opposed to the front of the shop where the coffee machine and your table is and hence...your drink is not on the table!

N) A random customer is in dire need of a cupcake/serviette/new fork/new knife/new brain/another pie/more custard tarts/glass of water and hence...your drink is not on the table!

O) The barista is currently the only staff member on duty who can apparently take a cake order and as the orderer of the said cake wants to go through EVERY SINGLE edible icing decoration and take their time deciding on which one little Johnny would want and hence...your drink is not on the table!

Phew...I reckon Im more than halfway...at this rate Im pretty sure I can go the whole distance... ;D More later...