Veritas Senior Member Joined: 9 Mar 2004 Posts: 13 Location: Milwaukee Expertise: Pro Barista
Posted Tue Aug 17, 2004, 9:44am Subject: Giving a barista constructive criticism
I saw a similar post in the Australia regional forum, and thought I'd bring it over here also. It's a very poignant question: how does one politely and affectively inform the barista that they created a real bad drink?
ljguitar Senior Member Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 2,450 Location: Cheyenne Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Expobar Pulsar Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly, Solis Drip: Bunn Roaster: iRoast2
Posted Tue Aug 17, 2004, 10:55am Subject: Re: Giving a barista constructive criticism
Hi Paul... This topic appeared on our boards too, and I sat here just staring in space thinking of ways to respond to this.
Thought #1 Q - How do you tell a musician he played a concert poorly? How do you tell a speaker his speach was off the mark for you? How do you tell a director his movie stunk? A - I don't. It may have been a bad day for any/all of them. I vote with my $$ and my feet. I may even give them a second chance...not a third. Not giving them business makes more sense to me than telling them anything.
Thought #2 When dining with a particular relative, we have met the managers of most restaurants due to her complaints. Though she thinks it's her 'right' (more like a duty) to complain, and she has never yelled at a manager in my presence, and she has been 'most polite', it is obvious when we walk into places she has been before, she is not welcomed by the staff (looks behind one's back are amazing communication devices). Our solution...we don't dine out with her anymore!
Thought #3 I don't find there are many places which can build coffee as good as mine (pride showing), so I rarely order coffee when we go out. If I do, it's drip or quad Americano-12oz total. I'll be home soon, and make my own thanks.
Thought #4 Why do I go to coffee houses anyway? I have had amazing coffee at three or four places in the past couple years. Intelligentsia in Chicago and Riley's Coffee in Farview Heights, IL. Zanzibars in DesMoines, IA and Coal Creek Coffee in Laramie, WY. Others have been passible, but I made sure I was with friends so the conversation was great (or the music). The first two are no nonsense coffee providers, and little else (Barry at Riley's does sell coffee paraphernalia). The latter two are places to gather, chat with friends, listen to musicians in the evenings and drink coffee. I tend toward the latter...
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