In recent years, trendy cafes have become more prominent today, so much so that one can say that it’s a cultural phenomenon. Whether you’re looking for that one perfect coffee photo to post on Instagram or just looking for a place to work in peace, these cafes offer more than just their products, they offer an environment perfect for social interactions, relaxation and a place for creativity. But is business really booming when some of their frequent customers are also their greatest adversaries?

Behind the scenes of a café lies a very delicate balance that can easily be disrupted by unruly and toxic customer behavior. I think we’ve all encountered such cases, gatekeepers who try to hide the café from people, people who judge the choice of your drinks, elitists who thinks that they’re above other people, and patrons who seem to live a lavish lifestyle, treating the staff as servants. These kinds of behaviors not only hurt other customers, but also the café itself by driving customers out and eventually killing the business.

If your local café is something that you want to visit frequently, then let it thrive, be part of the solution to an ongoing problem, so here’s a guide to proper café etiquette:

I. Be Patient and Friendly to the Staff

The staff and the baristas are people too, just like you and me, treat them with respect, after all, they are the ones responsible for getting your drinks done. The baristas work long hours, and the job is physically demanding, they must mix the drinks using the appropriate portions of ingredients, while simultaneously working on other things and as well as taking orders from customers. Being unruly and demanding only inconveniences them, which might result in orders not being delivered in time, or much worse having the drinks mixed using the wrong ingredients.

II. Dine in politely

Like most people say, being stuck with a crying baby in a flight for hours is an infuriating experience. The same goes for dining in cafes. You must remember that you are not the only ones in the café, being obnoxiously loud ruins the atmosphere that a café brings. People go there to work, relax, socialize and more. If you keep being a frequent party pooper then you’ll see your local café lose business quickly.

III. Stop gatekeeping

Despite knowing the risks, legal trouble and security issues, many still pirate. For many, it’s about saving money. Legitimate media can be expensive, and the cheaper, free option is just so accessible. With so many torrent sites and streaming platforms, piracy is incredibly convenient. The risk of getting caught seems low as well, especially with anonymity while on the web.

IV. Judging others is not self-fulfilling

Some people seem to get a sense of self-fulfillment when judging what other people order. What kind of drinks other people enjoy is none of your business; in fact, they might just be avoiding some other drinks due to health reasons. Just enjoy your time and save yourself the stress of obsessing over other people’s drinks.

V. Don’t take up space

While cafés are generally okay with customers taking their time in their café, they don’t appreciate people who just come in and take a seat without ordering anything at all, the table is pretty much wasted on you, which could have been used by actual customers. A café is a business, and they must make money, it is a must to order something if you wish to stay.

References

Timothy, B. (2019, July 24). Proper Café Etiquette for the Modern World. Procaffeination. https://procaffeination.com/proper-cafe-etiquette-for-the-modern-world/