As an excessive coffee consumer and fellow barista, I have seen it all.
Whether you are a barista or not, I'm sure most everyone has come across these types of people or groups when stepping foot inside a coffee shop. I have had the pleasure to work in a coffee shop off and on during the past three years and I have learned the "types" of people that typically visit coffee shops.
1. The Business Man.
You can find him talking on his smart phone then taking a 30-second break to order his americano and leave without tipping.
2. The Hipster.
Typically the hipster tries to be edgy and create new drinks that no one has ever heard of...sorry we do not have tofucinno's here.
3. The Mom with too many kids.
She always orders drinks for her kids while making completely sure that she has the healthiest option for all of them. Then she proceeds to order a caramel and honey breve with extra whipped cream for herself.
4. Teenagers.
Do I even have to go into detail with this one? You will most definitely see that obnoxious group of teenagers who come right after school gets out and order at least 15 hot chocolates.
5. The Apathetic Health Conscious Crowd.
Those people who come in and order that unhealthy shake made out of pure ice cream at 8 in the morning right before they have to go to work. Clearly they enjoy life, because I would love ice cream for breakfast too.
6. The Picky Customer.
After asking about every single ingredient in every bakery and coffee drink, they decide that adding an extra 400-calorie muffin to their daily caloric consumption is not worth it, so they order a mint tea instead.
7. The $5 Coffee Drinkers.
I'm talking about those people who come in every single day and probably know more about your life than your best friend, buying the exact same thing even if it costs them $5.32 a day just for a 24-ounce mocha.
8. Coffee Shop Closers.
That guy who comes in two minutes before we close and orders a latte just seconds after we cleaned and closed down the espresso machine.
9. The Complainer.
That person who comes in and finds anything to complain about just to complain.
10. The Older Generation.
That old man who comes in and gets a plain black coffee and pays with exact change while at the same time holding up the line of impatiently waiting customers.
11. The Sleepwalker.
The people that come in right when the cafe opens, just needing to smell freshly brewed coffee in order to truly wake up and make their way to work.
12. The Usuals
The usual customers who genuinely care about you and will listen to you complain about life for five minutes while you are making their latte. They are also the ones who make working at a coffee shop that much more enjoyable.
By looking at the list above, just remember the next time you go into a coffee shop that the barista needs coffee just as much as you do.
