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Original poster

AIBU to think takeaway iced coffee at interviews is unprofessional?

567 replies

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 19:45

Apparently, the world is debating this topic. Let's join in:

Is it unprofessional to bring a takeaway iced coffee into a job interview?

The answer to me is blindingly obvious, but not to everyone, it seems.

Feel free to add your age and industry, in case that matters.

OP posts:
LuckyHazelFox · 23/09/2026 20:12

tokennamechange · 23/09/2026 20:11

....clue's in the name?
I certainly wouldn't hire you if you couldn't work that out!

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I wouldn't want you if you were so judgemental.

tokennamechange · 23/09/2026 20:11

LuckyHazelFox · 23/09/2026 19:54

Couldn't even tell you what that drink is.

....clue's in the name?
I certainly wouldn't hire you if you couldn't work that out!

LuckyHazelFox · 23/09/2026 20:11

CaptainMyCaptain · 23/09/2026 20:10

It literally tells you the main ingredient and the temperature.

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Wow so a cold coffee. Don't hire the cheeky bastard!

CaptainMyCaptain · 23/09/2026 20:10

ThatLoudCat · 23/09/2026 19:55

You don't know what an iced coffee is? Surely you could take a guess?

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It literally tells you the main ingredient and the temperature.

ChicGreyZebra · 23/09/2026 20:08

I don’t see the problem

Coka · 23/09/2026 20:07

I always bring water to interviews as i get a dry mouth from speaking so much, not sure whats wrong with bringing a drink or iced coffee...i wouldnt want to work somewhere that they judge you for having a drink....

withoutwingsnow · 23/09/2026 20:07

I interviewed someone who had a massive water bottle. Before he answered he took a massive glue, it was over teams the bottle filled the screen the sound effects were nasty. He dropped it and then went searching around the floor. It was annoying. Don’t do anything in an annoying manner at interview- drinking ice coffee fine but small sipps and don’t have it covering your face.

LuckyHazelFox · 23/09/2026 20:07

A coffee is unprofessional now. Once again, I'm reminded why I'm glad to be out if it all. Jeez. How about it showing independence and initiative.

Whaleandsnail6 · 23/09/2026 20:06

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:01

Would it matter if they were eating a bag of Haribo or a Big Mac?

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Eating is different as it stops you talking due to needing to chew. You can have a quick, quiet sip of a drink whilst listening to questions and then have it swallowed before answering. Bit weird if they had to wait for you to chew and swallow to answer or an interviewee sat rustling the sweet packet

Somethinggg · 23/09/2026 20:06

Arlanymor · 23/09/2026 19:59

I usually take a picnic blanket with a selection of picky bits (know how much MN loves that term) and a bottle of chilled Picpoul de Pinet. I’ve aced every interview I’ve ever had.

I can't lie, that would make me give you pretty much any job you wanted.

LuckyHazelFox · 23/09/2026 20:05

5128gap · 23/09/2026 20:04

I wondered if I was being thick too and an iced coffee might be something else, akin to a can of stella and a kebab or something these days. But no, just coffee with ice in.

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You have to wonder why the big deal!

ColdAsAWitches · 23/09/2026 20:05

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:01

Would it matter if they were eating a bag of Haribo or a Big Mac?

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Everybody drinks coffee all the time in every company I've ever worked. Coffee is available for free in all our dining areas. Having a coffee at a meeting is perfectly normal, and done by about 75% of people in a meeting. Eating a Big Mac in a meeting isn't, so that's different.

Hayley1256 · 23/09/2026 20:05

This wouldn't bother me at all. I work in finance, quite senior and do interview sometimes. I don't see how it affects their ability. Also most people on meetings bring coffee, tea, water etc

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 23/09/2026 20:05

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 19:55

Supporting other people with what? Why so coy?

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Because everyone knows what a support worker is.

I shouldn’t need to spell it out.

5128gap · 23/09/2026 20:04

LuckyHazelFox · 23/09/2026 19:57

Well if its a cold coffee, I don't see the problem, unless I'm being thick.

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I wondered if I was being thick too and an iced coffee might be something else, akin to a can of stella and a kebab or something these days. But no, just coffee with ice in.

Thinkofnewthings · 23/09/2026 20:04

Very unprofessional. I work in a creative media field. I’m 50. Iced coffee, hot coffee, tea, can of coke, etc, all no. Being offered a drink while you are there is fine.

Whaleandsnail6 · 23/09/2026 20:04

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 19:55

Supporting other people with what? Why so coy?

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I imagine supporting people in a caring role...so an individual working with people with mental health or physical health or learning disabilities.

Anyway, I don't really think taking a drink into a job interview is disrespectful. I've actually been offered a drink going into an interview before

As long as someone doesn't start slurping or blowing bubbles through the straw then whats the harm? It sometimes helps to have a drink for dry throat (nerves)

Somethinggg · 23/09/2026 20:03

I don't personally give a shit. It's more that if someone brought an iced coffee into a job interview, that's a sufficiently unusual thing to do that it might make me wonder how many other workplace norms they were unaware of, and them not observing one of those might actually bother me.

OrchardOwl · 23/09/2026 20:03

Wouldn’t do it myself as an interviewee. As an interviewer I wouldn’t at all hold it against a candidate I was interviewing. In fact I’d probably admire them for taking a stand against old fashioned etiquette rules.

RatsCatsandPuppies · 23/09/2026 20:03

MuchAdoAboutSomething26 · 23/09/2026 19:46

Interviewer - their perogative
Interviewee - no way!

Agree with this!

SapphireSteel28 · 23/09/2026 20:03

Teaching-no way for interviewer or interviewee.

Backedoffhackedoff · 23/09/2026 20:02

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:00

You don't think disobeying the rules of etiquette is inherently unprofessional?

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im Really struggling to think of a role where it would make any difference to the decision to hire the right person unless it’s the sort of role anyone could do

tallyoh · 23/09/2026 20:02

I’m interested in why the fact it’s an iced coffee makes a difference, even though I think maybe it does.

It’s certainly not something I would do, but I work in the creative industries in a fairly senior role, and if I was interviewing someone in person (rare these days), I’d offer to buy them a coffee from our in house coffee shop first. If they said they already had one - especially if it was in their own keep cup - I wouldn’t bat an eyelid.
But maybe there’s something about iced coffee, drank through a straw in a plastic cup like a milkshake that makes it feel particularly casual?

I don’t think that would be enough to stop me hiring someone, but I suspect that anyone who did casually sip on an iced coffee through an interview might give off other red flags anyway. It does smack a bit of arrogance.

2manyEnergyDrinks · 23/09/2026 20:01

No I think regardless of what job it is extremely unprofessional! (Early 30’s)

Original poster
MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:01

ColdAsAWitches · 23/09/2026 19:59

I'm a manager and regularly interview. I don't think I'd even notice if someone brought in a coffee. It would have no bearing in whether they can do the job, so why would it matter?

Would it matter if they were eating a bag of Haribo or a Big Mac?

OP posts:
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