Mr Coffee Man knows what he wants/He wants a coffee and he wants it right now
I have, as I have previously outlined, a coffee place I always go to. At least once a day, sometimes twice, with my top visit count in one day currently standing at five.
And lately I’ve been thinking a bit about tips*. If you have some spare money, but not much (let’s say $10 a week that you basically piss away on stupid things like mints, an extra biscuit at morning tea you don’t really need, etc), is it better to
a) give that money to charity or
b) leave a small, regular or large, irregular tip for the staff of a coffee place you frequent daily?
Now, I’m a big believer in giving to charity – I make a regular contribution to (at last count) four organisations I’ve thought carefully about, and I almost never say no when some one comes to the door collecting, providing it’s a cause I philosophically support.
But lately I’ve been wondering if the poor long-suffering coffee-slaves who work for a pittance at the local café, aren’t somewhat deserving of my support too? I like their work. They’re cheery and friendly. I enjoy their coffee. I’m not a giver of the automatic tip, but if I have a spare buck here and there I will give a tip (and a reasonable one if I get really good service).
One might reasonably argue that the “barista” in my coffee place doesn’t really need a new pair of shoes, and that’s what I’m facilitating by giving her a tip. But would it be different if she was using the money to improve her intake of vegetables? And on the other hand, one can’t necessarily control where charitable donations go either.
I’m aware that there is something vaguely unethical about this train of thought – some one with gainful employment is clearly much better off than some one living in systemic poverty. But is wishing a better quality of life for some one who works in the service industry a bad wish, or just a misplaced one?
I guess the question isn’t so much about whether you give a tip, it’s a question of whether or not leaving a tip is a contribution to a better society – and if so, what kind of contribution?
* I have worked in hospitality. I got very good tips…mostly about ironing my uniform….. ka-chow!
And lately I’ve been thinking a bit about tips*. If you have some spare money, but not much (let’s say $10 a week that you basically piss away on stupid things like mints, an extra biscuit at morning tea you don’t really need, etc), is it better to
a) give that money to charity or
b) leave a small, regular or large, irregular tip for the staff of a coffee place you frequent daily?
Now, I’m a big believer in giving to charity – I make a regular contribution to (at last count) four organisations I’ve thought carefully about, and I almost never say no when some one comes to the door collecting, providing it’s a cause I philosophically support.
But lately I’ve been wondering if the poor long-suffering coffee-slaves who work for a pittance at the local café, aren’t somewhat deserving of my support too? I like their work. They’re cheery and friendly. I enjoy their coffee. I’m not a giver of the automatic tip, but if I have a spare buck here and there I will give a tip (and a reasonable one if I get really good service).
One might reasonably argue that the “barista” in my coffee place doesn’t really need a new pair of shoes, and that’s what I’m facilitating by giving her a tip. But would it be different if she was using the money to improve her intake of vegetables? And on the other hand, one can’t necessarily control where charitable donations go either.
I’m aware that there is something vaguely unethical about this train of thought – some one with gainful employment is clearly much better off than some one living in systemic poverty. But is wishing a better quality of life for some one who works in the service industry a bad wish, or just a misplaced one?
I guess the question isn’t so much about whether you give a tip, it’s a question of whether or not leaving a tip is a contribution to a better society – and if so, what kind of contribution?
* I have worked in hospitality. I got very good tips…mostly about ironing my uniform….. ka-chow!
posted by gigglewick at
6:19 pm
7 Comments:
I never thought about this. I have a regular coffee place that the whole office gets coffee from everyday and I don't think we ever leave tips...
Hmmm, are you in the U.S.?
I'm a tipper from way back. If I go to a restaurant and I don't tip, it's a statement that the service was shit. But some say I'm a bit too generous.
With coffee places I suppose I'd more 'round up'. Like if you coffee is $2.80, which it is) I'll leave $3. More than likely - from my experience working in coffee bars - the tips are just paying for either beer at the end of a shift or bus fare home, so a charity is probably a better place for your money in terms of service to society. That said, I think leaving a tip is saying I not only appreciate the coffee, but the smile and the joke that came with it.
So, tip if your coffee person is friendly and nice and makes you feel good. Don't if he's a surly ass that doesn't even look up from the machine.
Phew. Long comment for something so simple.
And oh, I should so proofread.
I must say I haven't even thought of it. I was always under the impression that tipping was an american culture, where the wait staff didn't really have a decent salary and so made most of their income from tips.
I'm not a tipper. From ignorance rather than choice. I always talk to the baristas at my local coffee haunt. And even though I go in there maybe twice a week, they know that I usually like hazelnut flavours in my hot chocolate or mint/caramel in my coffee. Sometimes I do leave change in the jar. But its usually when my coin bit is too full to take change.
What chesty said. Do it if you think they deserve something but not if you only feel obligated to.
I wrote a long comment on Saturday but Blogger ate it.
I get my coffee from a Michel's franchise, and there is no tip jar. But if I knew that Donna would be getting the tip herself I'd be happy to leave one - she's everything one needs in a barista. She knows my coffee, calls me love, gives me a double-shot for free, notices when I'm a little off-colour and tells me not to bother with skim milk in my flat white as it'll taste like shite.
Yoffi,
Welcome! and nope.
CL,
I'm a tipper too - but mostly on occasions when I expect better service because it's a "special occasion" event.
Phishez,
I wouldn't argue that wait staff here have the best wages ever. But I think your logic is one lots of people use.
Chai,
Exactly right.
Actonb,
yes, it's sometimes hard to tell isn't it? I once had a $50 note pressed into my hand by a woman with the drunken whisper that "That's just for you! If you need more to put in the tip jar to share with the others, tell me now and I'll give you another $20!". I was somewhat taken aback by this.
PS your barista is right about skim milk.
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