Would you report a gross independent coffee shop barista?

[Anonymous]

The Starbucks barista this morning handed me my cup of coffee and her nails were so dirty and disgusting. I wish that was a health code violation because chipped and especially dirty fingernails grosses me out.

[Anonymous]

Death penalty for the barista

[Anonymous]

I don't see anything explicitly wrong with this but I don't love it when the cashier and food handler are the same person - though in this case it's not like I'd throw away the cup of coffee or a pastry that they got me with tongs.

But the bigger point for me is this is a huge part of why I don't frequent independent places. They always try to cheap out on the help and that's how you end up with one person running around doing multiple tasks. It's far less common for Sbux or Pret to do that. I know people will argue that I'm missing out but eh whatever coffee is coffee.

[Anonymous]

How did we ever survive our 100,000 + years as cavemen

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did we ever survive our 100,000 + years as cavemen

Not everyone did. Some die. Others spend hours get sick on the toilet. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:You can report her use of bare hands to grab the ice. That probsbly does violate health guidelines, but not the rest or your complaint. They should have an ice scooper.

Read it and weep.

https://time.com/4918626/money-germs-microbes-dirty/

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20140422/paper-money-carries-bacteria

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19897981/bacteria-on-money/

A quote from the Time article:

In a 2017 study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers swabbed $1 bills from a bank in New York City to see what was living on paper currency. They found hundreds of species of microorganisms. The most abundant were ones that cause acne, as well as plenty of harmless skin bacteria. They also identified vaginal bacteria, microbes from mouths, DNA from pets and viruses. Cash is also often streaked with drugs. In a study of 10 one-dollar bills from cities across the country, nearly 80% of them had traces of cocaine.

Yuck, yuck, yuck.

It’s really okay. I promise. Bacteria exists everywhere. It’s on your skin. You literally can’t escape it.

+1000

I find it mind boggling that people are so terrified of bacteria. Touching cash then eating a snack will not make you ill. Mentally, you may find it "gross" but the only illness in this resides in the brain. It's not a viable concern. There are bacteria and cooties everywhere, all the time, and exposure in small amounts (like on cash) may even be good for you.

Exactly! Yes, cash is dirty. You know what else is dirty? Nature, where we evolved. If this were a big public health risk we’d hear about it! Also, I’ve worked in restaurants and this is isn’t even a blip on the radar of food service grossness.

LOL This is a big public health risk and we have heard about it. That's why we have laws regarding safety standards and also safety inspections. LOL how stupid.

The good news is you will only have bloody diarrhea for 24 to 72 hours, PP, so yeah, yawn, who cares. I'm sure you have nothing else to do but sit on the toilet cross-eyed for one to three days. You're tough. You don't care. But I'd rather not.


Q: What are the signs and symptoms of food-borne illness? How should it be treated?

"Depending on which bacteria the food is contaminated with, one may experience one or all of these symptoms: nausea, vomiting, watery or bloody diarrhea, and/or fever."

https://www.uab.edu/news/youcanuse/item/8792-what-s-making-you-sick-an-in-depth-look-at-food-borne-illnesses

It may be a risk, but not a big one. People aren’t tied to their toilets 24/7 because they handled money then ate something. It’s just not happening.

Not tied to a toilet, lol, but I do wash my hands whenever “generally recommended”.

I haven’t caught viruses either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see anything explicitly wrong with this but I don't love it when the cashier and food handler are the same person - though in this case it's not like I'd throw away the cup of coffee or a pastry that they got me with tongs.

But the bigger point for me is this is a huge part of why I don't frequent independent places. They always try to cheap out on the help and that's how you end up with one person running around doing multiple tasks. It's far less common for Sbux or Pret to do that. I know people will argue that I'm missing out but eh whatever coffee is coffee.

I'm honestly not even sure how the independent shops even get staff. Why would you work for them for just cash when a corporate place like Starbucks pays you the same, plus health insurance, room for advancement, tuition assistance, and I think even a 401k option? Presumably they're the people too dumb to apply at Starbucks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see anything explicitly wrong with this but I don't love it when the cashier and food handler are the same person - though in this case it's not like I'd throw away the cup of coffee or a pastry that they got me with tongs.

But the bigger point for me is this is a huge part of why I don't frequent independent places. They always try to cheap out on the help and that's how you end up with one person running around doing multiple tasks. It's far less common for Sbux or Pret to do that. I know people will argue that I'm missing out but eh whatever coffee is coffee.

I'm honestly not even sure how the independent shops even get staff. Why would you work for them for just cash when a corporate place like Starbucks pays you the same, plus health insurance, room for advancement, tuition assistance, and I think even a 401k option? Presumably they're the people too dumb to apply at Starbucks?

DP. Because working for a corporation... is still working for a corporation. You think Starbucks cares more about its workers than a smaller independent shop? Highly unlikely. There's a reason why Starbucks stores are starting to unionize.

I've never been a barista or worked for a coffee shop, but I've worked for corporation - they're all the $ame at the end of the day.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For OP and PPs who don’t think OP is totally nuts: do you ever travel? If you do travel, do you go anywhere besides a few hermetically sealed resorts?

I cannot imagine having this level of anxiety and traveling. I love to travel and go all over the world whenever I can, and I can’t see how you could ever travel.

And enjoying the best food when you travel - yummy street food!!! OP would have a heart attack!

Yes, you'd have to be neurotic not to eat it.

So you don’t travel, but instead stay home and obsess about germs. What a sad life.