Would you report a gross independent coffee shop barista?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did at a local bakery. Handling money and then touching food without glove swapping. Violation of health code.

I emailed the owners and they were apologetic and thankful to know about it. I guess better to have a customer tell them than get a write-up from the health inspector on their record.

This is the correct approach. The employee's behavior, as OP described, was in violation of several policies and practices for safe food handling. The owners need to know and the employee needs to be retrained. The other option is to call the health department directly. I would reach out to the owners first.

[Anonymous]

I once worked at popular grocery store - we stocked produce with our bare hands, then went to register, then went back to produce... rinse, repeat, as the needs changed. Do you think we washed our hands every single time? Do you think employees wash their hands when moving stuff around, even in packages? Then you touch that stuff, and it goes home touching your cabinets. It's no big deal at all. Unless the barista was grabbing pastries with their bare hands or stirring your coffee with their fingers, I truly do not understand what your concern is OP. I'm dumbfounded. Could you explain? Are you missing a critical detail?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did she stir your drink with her finger? Who cares?

She held my cup and pushed down the top of my cup with the same bare unwashed hands which were handling money, a dirty screen, and some random stranger's used cup. And presumably even worse long prior to my arrival. It's nasty. She shouldn't be handling or recycling used cups, period.

[Anonymous]

Yes I found it common for them to wear gloves to keep their hands clean only, as in clean/mop then serve food without changing gloves

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I once worked at popular grocery store - we stocked produce with our bare hands, then went to register, then went back to produce... rinse, repeat, as the needs changed. Do you think we washed our hands every single time? Do you think employees wash their hands when moving stuff around, even in packages? Then you touch that stuff, and it goes home touching your cabinets. It's no big deal at all. Unless the barista was grabbing pastries with their bare hands or stirring your coffee with their fingers, I truly do not understand what your concern is OP. I'm dumbfounded. Could you explain? Are you missing a critical detail?

That's why we wash produce before we eat it. Not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did she stir your drink with her finger? Who cares?

She held my cup and pushed down the top of my cup with the same bare unwashed hands which were handling money, a dirty screen, and some random stranger's used cup. And presumably even worse long prior to my arrival. It's nasty. She shouldn't be handling or recycling used cups, period.

I can't imagine having the mental energy to pay attention to this kind of thing. It wouldn't phase me one bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did she stir your drink with her finger? Who cares?

She held my cup and pushed down the top of my cup with the same bare unwashed hands which were handling money, a dirty screen, and some random stranger's used cup. And presumably even worse long prior to my arrival. It's nasty. She shouldn't be handling or recycling used cups, period.

I can't imagine having the mental energy to pay attention to this kind of thing. It wouldn't phase me one bit.

+100. The OP must be so exhausted and exhausting. I feel sorry for someone who is this uptight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am guessing there is a lot of unsanitary behavior we never see, so when we do "catch" it in the moment is grosses us out.

I had an unsanitary experience at a well-known (not Subway) sandwich shop, pre-covid, and never returned to the location.

Up to my "turn" in line, I was watching sandwich maker. Just before my sandwich, they took a wet cloth from below the counter, cleaned up the counter, wrung out the dirty water, dipped the cloth in a container again, repeat.

Then, with the same gloves on, looked at me and asked me white or wheat and started to reach for a sandwich bun. Yuck! I said, hi and asked person to put on a new set of gloves please. They looked at me, like WTF, and walked away from the counter and did not return. Another staff member eventually shifted over from the hot sandwich area to make the cold sandwiches. When I explained what happened, they just shrugged their shoulders. Training might help, but then again some workers just do not care.

Gross.


People are morons. They don't understand basic concepts. That's why they're making subs I guess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did she stir your drink with her finger? Who cares?

She held my cup and pushed down the top of my cup with the same bare unwashed hands which were handling money, a dirty screen, and some random stranger's used cup. And presumably even worse long prior to my arrival. It's nasty. She shouldn't be handling or recycling used cups, period.

I can't imagine having the mental energy to pay attention to this kind of thing. It wouldn't phase me one bit.

+100. The OP must be so exhausted and exhausting. I feel sorry for someone who is this uptight.

It's not uptight. It's smart. Most people are dumb as doorposts and think basic hygiene is just too hard to do or worry about. They are the lower classes for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did she stir your drink with her finger? Who cares?

She held my cup and pushed down the top of my cup with the same bare unwashed hands which were handling money, a dirty screen, and some random stranger's used cup. And presumably even worse long prior to my arrival. It's nasty. She shouldn't be handling or recycling used cups, period.

You should just never eat out. Ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did she stir your drink with her finger? Who cares?

She held my cup and pushed down the top of my cup with the same bare unwashed hands which were handling money, a dirty screen, and some random stranger's used cup. And presumably even worse long prior to my arrival. It's nasty. She shouldn't be handling or recycling used cups, period.

Next time try Keurig, I hear they have the best cup of germaphobia coffee around. It’s best served ice cold to achieve the extra lonely taste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did she stir your drink with her finger? Who cares?

She held my cup and pushed down the top of my cup with the same bare unwashed hands which were handling money, a dirty screen, and some random stranger's used cup. And presumably even worse long prior to my arrival. It's nasty. She shouldn't be handling or recycling used cups, period.

What about the people who make those lids? Or package them? Can you imagine what’s on their hands??

[Anonymous]

These posts always amuse me. I worked in high end restaurants for 25 years. If it bothers you that someone handled your drink with unwashed hands you should absolutely never ever eat out anywhere. I guess ignorance is bliss.

[Anonymous]

I don’t get it. She isn’t handling your food. She is touching a cup and pouring a beverage in. What’s the problem?

It isn’t like she is taking money with bare hands then kneading bread dough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did she stir your drink with her finger? Who cares?

She held my cup and pushed down the top of my cup with the same bare unwashed hands which were handling money, a dirty screen, and some random stranger's used cup. And presumably even worse long prior to my arrival. It's nasty. She shouldn't be handling or recycling used cups, period.

I can't imagine having the mental energy to pay attention to this kind of thing. It wouldn't phase me one bit.

+100. The OP must be so exhausted and exhausting. I feel sorry for someone who is this uptight.

It's not uptight. It's smart. Most people are dumb as doorposts and think basic hygiene is just too hard to do or worry about. They are the lower classes for a reason.