That thing a barista in Portland said to me about my coffee order

Was at a shop in Portland last week and the barista straight up told me my usual order was "boring" and suggested something off menu. Has anyone else had a stranger's random comment actually change what you like?

3 comments

3 Comments

clairem471mo ago

Used to think that was rude, but now I actually trust their suggestions more.

evan_campbell1mo ago

My friend Matt in Austin @clairem47 let a barista swap his latte for a cardamom date latte and now won't drink anything else.

gibson.elizabeth16d ago

Does Matt trust the barista enough to let them swap again or was it just fluke the first time? Because I feel like that's the real test here - one good suggestion doesn't mean they've earned total control over your drink. I've had baristas push weird combos on me that sounded gross but worked out, and other times I got something I couldn't even finish. It kind of depends on how well they actually know your taste, you know? Like did this barista just get lucky or do they actually get what Matt likes? That cardamom date thing sounds pretty specific, not something you'd just throw at anybody.