Page 17 | AIBU to think takeaway iced coffee at interviews is unprofessional?

MasterBeth · 2026-09-23T18:45:03+00:00

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.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 11:33

winkingeyealcoholsuggestion · 24/09/2026 11:31

Can I ask a question to the people who don't think a drink should be brought in?

I have xerostomia and have to have a drink with me at all times because if my throat dries out I start choking (which I also need a drink for 😂). I have some medication for it that looks a bit like weird fruit gums. I wouldn't be able to just hope there was water in the room, I'd have to bring something. Tbh water isn't the best thing for it either because it doesn't stimulate salvia. Talking makes it worse.

I don't drink any kind of coffee, but what would you lot expect me to do in the interview? Completely genuine question as I'm actually not sure!

I would expect you bring a bottle of water - or whatever is best for you - in your bag, in case you weren't offered a drink by your interviewee, which you almost always would be.

OP posts:

DeftGoldHedgehog · 24/09/2026 11:34

I wouldn't do it as a candidate, nor wrangle a hot coffee either. I spilt coffee down my front on the way to a conference the other day so wouldn't trust myself.

But it wouldn't necessarily be a deal-breaker for me as an employer or interviewer. Loud slurping or straw sucking noises would be, mind.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 11:35

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 24/09/2026 11:28

Do you think it's wrong to presume someone would understand something and judge them for not intuiting it?

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OMG! You got me! Are you a superstar lawyer?

OP posts:

pulpJarvis · 24/09/2026 11:37

As an interviewer I'd mark someone down for that. If they needed caffeine, have a drink beforehand - if they are genuinely thirsty - then I'd probably forgive a bottle of water, but there would be water on the table.

I'm old though and also think that you should dress smartly for an interview, not bring your mum with you, and - on a different track - shouldn't wear pyjamas to breakfast in a hotel.

TheFishFish · 24/09/2026 11:39

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 11:17

They aren't going to judge me for finding it off-putting because they won't know I found it off-putting.

They probably just won't get hired or, at least, will have to be better than other candidates.

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You understand though that such a judgement is completely illogical?

winkingeyealcoholsuggestion · 24/09/2026 11:40

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 11:33

I would expect you bring a bottle of water - or whatever is best for you - in your bag, in case you weren't offered a drink by your interviewee, which you almost always would be.

Edited

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I see you've amended it a bit now, but as I said water might not be enough. Would you prefer someone to drink something else, use medication that looks a lot like sweets, or wonder if you should call an ambulance when I look like I'm dying? 😂

There's an additional option of gum and hoping for the best with water but I very much doubt you'd approve of gum either!

putmeonthebackburner · 24/09/2026 11:40

It’s so unprofessional. The entire discourse is mind boggling

margegunderson · 24/09/2026 11:40

BeardOToots · 23/09/2026 19:47

Ok, so at the age of 50, I have never attended a job interview, but I think it would depend on what the job was. Creative industries, no biggie. Senior management, terrible look.

How?

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 11:43

TheFishFish · 24/09/2026 11:39

You understand though that such a judgement is completely illogical?

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No, I don't agree, Mr Spock, as explained thoroughly above.

OP posts:

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 11:44

winkingeyealcoholsuggestion · 24/09/2026 11:31

Can I ask a question to the people who don't think a drink should be brought in?

I have xerostomia and have to have a drink with me at all times because if my throat dries out I start choking (which I also need a drink for 😂). I have some medication for it that looks a bit like weird fruit gums. I wouldn't be able to just hope there was water in the room, I'd have to bring something. Tbh water isn't the best thing for it either because it doesn't stimulate salvia. Talking makes it worse.

I don't drink any kind of coffee, but what would you lot expect me to do in the interview? Completely genuine question as I'm actually not sure!

I don’t think you can do anything, people like OP won’t hire someone who needs to drink all day

winkingeyealcoholsuggestion · 24/09/2026 11:45

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 11:44

I don’t think you can do anything, people like OP won’t hire someone who needs to drink all day

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This is what I'm gathering!

toomuchtooold · 24/09/2026 11:46

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 11:17

They aren't going to judge me for finding it off-putting because they won't know I found it off-putting.

They probably just won't get hired or, at least, will have to be better than other candidates.

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Yeah exactly. Nobody running an interview will want to let on that they are rejecting you on the basis of anything other than "there was a better qualified candidate, sorry" because none of us want to get our company sued. But having supervised one of these "it's my human right to drink my coffee, I have an until now undisclosed very serious medical condition that requires me to rehydrate every nine minutes" people for an internship a couple of years ago I would never want to take on someone who showed the slightest similarity to that person, god what an absolute pain in the arse she was. I would be prepared to miss out on quite a few well qualified candidates to avoid hiring another one like her.

Butchyrestingface · 24/09/2026 11:49

winkingeyealcoholsuggestion · 24/09/2026 11:45

This is what I'm gathering!

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Initially I thought taking an iced coffee into a job interview was unprofessional not least because I hate coffee.

The more the thread progressed, I realised a shot of caffeine would probably be the LEAST I'd need to get through one of OP's interview panels.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 11:49

winkingeyealcoholsuggestion · 24/09/2026 11:40

I see you've amended it a bit now, but as I said water might not be enough. Would you prefer someone to drink something else, use medication that looks a lot like sweets, or wonder if you should call an ambulance when I look like I'm dying? 😂

There's an additional option of gum and hoping for the best with water but I very much doubt you'd approve of gum either!

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I would expect you to say something like "I have a medical condition so I need to drink this/chew this" and, of course, that would be fine.

Similarly, someone being welcome to bring their guide dog to the interview doesn't mean it's fine for someone else to bring their pet to the interview.

OP posts:

TheFishFish · 24/09/2026 11:50

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 11:43

No, I don't agree, Mr Spock, as explained thoroughly above.

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It is though, really.

If you are looking for the best person for a given job, them bringing a drink in shouldn't impact on that decision at all. It's just a coffee. To me, depending upon the industry, it would actually be a sign of someone who is relaxed and not uptight about the interview process and for certain jobs that is exactly what you want.

It's not a black and white thing, at all.

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 24/09/2026 11:50

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 11:35

OMG! You got me! Are you a superstar lawyer?

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Are you able to address the point?

winkingeyealcoholsuggestion · 24/09/2026 11:53

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 11:49

I would expect you to say something like "I have a medical condition so I need to drink this/chew this" and, of course, that would be fine.

Similarly, someone being welcome to bring their guide dog to the interview doesn't mean it's fine for someone else to bring their pet to the interview.

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Disclosing medical conditions at interview usually means you have no chance of getting the job, so I guess I'm out of luck here.

FiveEightNine · 24/09/2026 11:57

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 10:19

But you don't seem able to empathise with the possibility that other people might not share your intuition.

Not at all.

On this thread, the current voting says that 79% of people share my intuition.

But that means at least 21% of people don't.

So it's at least contentious.

So the question becomes not whether it's OK to bring in an iced coffee, but whether other people might think it's OK.

The judgement I'm thinking about is whether the benefit of bringing an iced coffee (which is what? "I want to drink an iced coffee right in the middle of my job interview") is worth the risk of being interviewed by one of the 79% of closed-minded, starchy, rules-bound Gen Xers like me who will find it off-putting.

Anyone who thinks it's still worth it when the alternative course of action is as simple and straightforward as maybe not bringing an iced coffee into their job interview doesn't have good judgement.

You could ask exactly the same thing about gum. Why not chew gum in a job interview?

It's something people already do in the office. It doesn't impinge on anyone's ability to do the job. It might even help them focus.

Sure, you might forgive an outstanding candidate chewing all through the interview. But, yeah, it would put me off.

Hiring and interviewing is a two way street. Both parties are testing each other.

I don't drink coffee, I don't drink iced coffee, but it sounds that bringing one is the easiest way to have any potential employer who let people with your views run hiring remove themselves from my employer candidate pool.

Either you understand my qualities and get over your feelings and "sensibilities", or you won't waste my time further.

Just out of curiosity, would iced tea in a takeaway cup have the same effect? If yes, I wouldn't have to waste a coffee to test you.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:00

TheFishFish · 24/09/2026 11:50

It is though, really.

If you are looking for the best person for a given job, them bringing a drink in shouldn't impact on that decision at all. It's just a coffee. To me, depending upon the industry, it would actually be a sign of someone who is relaxed and not uptight about the interview process and for certain jobs that is exactly what you want.

It's not a black and white thing, at all.

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What would you think of a high court judge who brought a takeaway iced coffee into the courtroom as they sentenced a murderer?

What would you think of a newsreader who had a takeaway iced coffee on their desk as they announced a tragedy?

What would you think of a priest who had a takeaway iced coffee on the pulpit as they carried out a funeral?

There are clearly circumstances where bringing a drink in marks you out as not being the best person for a job. The way you present yourself in a job interview is one of these.

AIBU to think takeaway iced coffee at interviews is unprofessional?

OP posts:

Butchyrestingface · 24/09/2026 12:00

putmeonthebackburner · 24/09/2026 11:40

It’s so unprofessional. The entire discourse is mind boggling

I think it might cross my mind to wonder if the person was diabetic.

Obviously I would not ask a candidate this at interview and the possibility would also lead me to be mindful not to write such a candidate off.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:01

FiveEightNine · 24/09/2026 11:57

Hiring and interviewing is a two way street. Both parties are testing each other.

I don't drink coffee, I don't drink iced coffee, but it sounds that bringing one is the easiest way to have any potential employer who let people with your views run hiring remove themselves from my employer candidate pool.

Either you understand my qualities and get over your feelings and "sensibilities", or you won't waste my time further.

Just out of curiosity, would iced tea in a takeaway cup have the same effect? If yes, I wouldn't have to waste a coffee to test you.

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Yes, of course.

OP posts:

Ilovegermany · 24/09/2026 12:01

I’ve had an interviewee that did worse than bringing a coffee in. She wore a hat and kept it on during the whole interview.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:02

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 24/09/2026 11:50

Are you able to address the point?

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No, I can't compete with your laser-like logic.

OP posts:

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 12:03

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:00

What would you think of a high court judge who brought a takeaway iced coffee into the courtroom as they sentenced a murderer?

What would you think of a newsreader who had a takeaway iced coffee on their desk as they announced a tragedy?

What would you think of a priest who had a takeaway iced coffee on the pulpit as they carried out a funeral?

There are clearly circumstances where bringing a drink in marks you out as not being the best person for a job. The way you present yourself in a job interview is one of these.

Show quote history

It wouldn’t matter what I thought of a high court judge. Their employer knows only a few people can do that job well.

Daisymae55 · 24/09/2026 12:04

Mid thirties theatre professional here, so a super relaxed/informal interview culture (I’ve been offered wine at interviews before, I’ve declined)

I wouldn’t take any kind of takeaway coffee, iced or not, into an interview. It would feel totally unprofessional, plus I’d be worried about knocking it over (nothing worse than a coffee spill in the costume department haha)