# Don't take my money and make me wait 20 minutes for a coffee! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 26, 2008, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720 "2008-12-26T10:29:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/41 "2008-12-27T23:16:10Z")
I imagine, Mr. Monkey, that would be quite messy. Though I would like to see it. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/42 "2008-12-27T23:27:34Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I’m beginning to see a business idea here. 😃 I’ve been thinking lately that, while the Friends list feature they’ve added to the SDMB is nice, what they really need is an Enemies list. If you see a name, and you vaguely remember not liking that person, but can’t remember why, you can just click on your Enemies list, and it’ll say, “Once said something vaguely complementary about George Bush,” or “Not a Princess Bride fan,” and instantly know why you’re supposed to shun that person. ---
**Author:** ![mudkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mudkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudkicker)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2008, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/43 "2008-12-27T23:38:34Z")
A cafe near my place takes at least 20 minutes to bring your food, even just a sandwich. Now I don’t actually mind this, because at least I know, and I’m happy reading the paper if alone or talking to my friend if not. BUT. They bring the damned tea right away, about two minutes after they take the order. So it either gets cold or drank while I’m waiting for my meal. And no, they don’t do free refills, and anyway, I don’t want two cups of tea, just one with my meal. Grr. Is it really that bloody difficult to realise that people might want to have their tea or coffee _with_ their food, not 20 minutes before? I’ve taken to asking for both to be served together, but the look I usually get is like I’ve asked for their first born child garnished, pan-fried and served along with my fry-up. For purely pragmatic reasons, I don’t like to piss off people who serve me food so I just sit and fume quietly into my cold tea in a passive British fashion. Gah. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/44 "2008-12-28T01:18:47Z")
> [@mudkicker](#): > > A cafe near my place takes at least 20 minutes to bring your food, even just a sandwich. Now I don’t actually mind this, because at least I know, and I’m happy reading the paper if alone or talking to my friend if not. BUT. They bring the damned tea right away, about two minutes after they take the order. So it either gets cold or drank while I’m waiting for my meal. And no, they don’t do free refills, and anyway, I don’t want two cups of tea, just one with my meal. Grr. Is it really that bloody difficult to realise that people might want to have their tea or coffee _with_ their food, not 20 minutes before? This annoys me too, but I’ve always seen it as a thinly veiled ploy to make you buy an extra drink. Fortunately, they’re usually pretty good at bringing the food out not long after your drink here, but I have been to places where my coffee has gone very cold long before the food shows up, and then it’s a toss-up between ordering another drink or eating your meal with no drink. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/45 "2008-12-28T04:43:15Z")
Hide the empty tea cup and ask the waiter where the tea you ordered is. “You gave me tea already? I’m afraid you are mistaken. Do you see any empty teacups? Unless you can produce a video of you serving me tea…” ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/46 "2008-12-28T04:56:56Z")
> [@jali](#): > > This was in a no seating area, _Evil Coffee Empire_ store inside of Macy\*s in The Lenox Mall. > > I stood directly across from the barrista and she handed me the first cup, then stopped me, took it back, and explained that is was the wrong drink. > > I was directly across from the same barrista when she smiled and handed me the caramelly gunk instead of my Mocha Truffle Crack in a Cup. There were only 2 other people in the store by this time. > > I don’t think I was a crappy customer for feeling that the creation of a beverage shouldn’t take 15 minutes. I didn’t complain at all and I was pleased with myself that I didn’t. I’ve had the drink a few times this month and it’s usually a 5 minute wait if there’s a line ahead of me. > > The customer isn’t always wrong. > > If I didn’t mean to imply you were wrong. Your story just reminded me of my experiences. FWIW, your barista sounds like an idiot. I’ve met those. Heck, I’ve worked with those. They generally suck for customers, other baristas as well as managers combined. Sorry to hear about your bad experience. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/47 "2008-12-28T05:01:16Z")
> [@Jaglavak](#): > > Funny you should mention it, but I actually have a gift card from the Evil Coffee Empire that I got last Christmas. I’ve never used it because every single time I walk past the ECE stand there is a line out the door. I figure they’re slipping heroin in there or something. Waddever, I refuse to wait 1/2 hour for a cuppa joe. You know, there are websites where you could exchange your gift card with one you want: [plasticjungle.com](http://www.plasticjungle.com/) [cardavenue.com](http://www.cardavenue.com/) [giftcardrescue.com](http://giftcardrescue.com/) ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/48 "2008-12-28T06:40:38Z")
> [@catsix](#): > > The look on my face must have been priceless. I was actually slack-jawed with disbelief that she was standing there, oblivious to everything, playing with the espresso and foam, twirling and stirring with the spoon as if she was in some mystical other world. > > It was rather like watching a five year-old child play with ice cream in a bowl – stirring it up and then lifting the spoon to watch the ice cream stretch upward and then separate into a curled peak. It was so blatant that she was playing with the foam that other customers actually watched it too. I live in an area where the weed flows pretty free and have had some experience with service like this- she sounds like she was just plain high and found the foam irresistibly awesome at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/49 "2008-12-28T07:46:40Z")
> [@mudkicker](#): > > A cafe near my place takes at least 20 minutes to bring your food, even just a sandwich. Now I don’t actually mind this, because at least I know, and I’m happy reading the paper if alone or talking to my friend if not. BUT. They bring the damned tea right away, about two minutes after they take the order. So it either gets cold or drank while I’m waiting for my meal. And no, they don’t do free refills, and anyway, I don’t want two cups of tea, just one with my meal. Grr. Is it really that bloody difficult to realise that people might want to have their tea or coffee _with_ their food, not 20 minutes before? > > I’ve taken to asking for both to be served together, but the look I usually get is like I’ve asked for their first born child garnished, pan-fried and served along with my fry-up. For purely pragmatic reasons, I don’t like to piss off people who serve me food so I just sit and fume quietly into my cold tea in a passive British fashion. Gah. This might take a little practice, particularly if that one place is the only establishment where it’s a problem, but you could train yourself to say, “Nothing to drink, thanks” (or “Just some water, thanks”). Then when the food arrives, tell the server, “You know, I’ve had a change of heart. Please bring me a hot cuppa. Thanks awfully.” ---
**Author:** ![mudkicker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@mudkicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mudkicker)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/50 "2008-12-28T20:36:15Z")
I likes it, thank you! Will be there at 9am tmrw morning to try it out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/51 "2008-12-28T21:05:21Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I’ve been thinking lately that, while the Friends list feature they’ve added to the SDMB is nice, what they really need is an Enemies list. If you see a name, and you vaguely remember not liking that person, but can’t remember why, you can just click on your Enemies list, and it’ll say, “Once said something vaguely complementary about George Bush,” or “Not a Princess Bride fan,” and instantly know why you’re supposed to shun that person. I couldn’t agree more! I just came back to the SDMB after being gone for a few years. I recognize a lot of names but I am having a really hard time remembering if they are old friends or old enemies. A list would really come in handy. Hey, speaking of Handy. Is he still around? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/52 "2008-12-28T21:32:43Z")
> [@Diane](#): > > Hey, speaking of Handy. Is he still around? Nope. He answered one too many medical questions with bullshit and got banned. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720/53 "2008-12-29T06:30:08Z")
> [@Diane](#): > > I just came back to the SDMB after being gone for a few years. I recognize a lot of names but I am having a really hard time remembering if they are old friends or old enemies. A list would really come in handy. > > Hey, speaking of Handy. Is he still around? Nice seque. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-take-my-money-and-make-me-wait-20-minutes-for-a-coffee/478720.md?page=2)