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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get irritated by one sachet of sugar on a saucer when I go to a cafe? (lighthearted!)

28 replies

user1491572121 · 15/04/2017 11:24

First world problem I know...so don't slaughter me for moaning. It's just annoying!

I hate it when I go into a cafe and am brought a cup of coffee with one (presumptious) sachet of sugar on the saucer.

First of all, I then have to ask for more...often illiciting a comment such as "Oooh that's a lot of sugar!" or similar.

Secondly, why don't they just have some on the table in a bowl?

It's also annoying when I visit a cafe and am asked "Would you like sugar?"

As though I'm at a mate's house and they expect to put it in for me!

I like to add my own sugar as it varies according to the size of the cup...I also usually taste it then adjust...AIBU? It seems to be something I keep coming up against! Generally in independant cafes.

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 15/04/2017 11:25

YABU. I wouldn't trust people not to sneeze in the sugar bowl and sugar in coffee is gross Grin

scaryclown · 15/04/2017 11:26

in indie cafe's its not about how much sugar you want, its how the saucer is curated for instagram. DON'T YOU GET IT?!?!?!
Grin

Original poster
user1491572121 · 15/04/2017 11:28

Oyster sachets in a bowl I mean!

Scary then sachets wouldn't be good! They need those random, varied lumps of raw brown stuff!

OP posts:
Original poster
user1491572121 · 15/04/2017 11:29

Also the offending cafe today was pretending to be a cool place with prices to match the decor.

Vintage cups and saucers...all very 60s and 70s...orange, mismatched mod prints etc...practical sawdust on the floor...yet they were too tight to put a bowl of sachets on the table!

OP posts:
Doublevodkaredbull · 15/04/2017 11:29

Pub I work in used to have bowls on the table but people kept stealing them. I mean empty the bowls into their handbags. I just whack three sachets on the saucer.

Original poster
user1491572121 · 15/04/2017 11:31

Well God. I suppose I understand that then Double but they could just offer people 5 or so in a small bowl. And if I'm paying trendy prices then I expect trendy treatment! Grin

The word trendy is so not.

OP posts:
Doublevodkaredbull · 15/04/2017 11:32

No trendy prices from us - 99p a latte! At the moment we have a huge problem with sauce theft. I restock sauce boxes each night and by the next afternoon all of the posh vinegar is missing Shock

OldandJaded · 15/04/2017 11:35

YANBU - I like to taste the sugar in my tea/coffee and even hot chocolate! I have a sweet tooth and if I'm going to spend best part of £3 on a treat hot drink I want to enjoy it!
I ask for more but yeah, I get comments too, I replied to one that you don't get a flabby wobbly body like mine without a bit of effort Grin lightened the mood lol

CigarsofthePharoahs · 15/04/2017 12:01

Well I'd be heading back and asking for canderel!
Surely its going to cost money due to the large number of people who don't even take sugar? Once its been handed to someone, I would hope it would be chucked away rather than be given to someone else!
My local garden centre cafe has a big selection of sugars and sweeteners by the till. However even these are not safe from light fingers as I observed a lady filling her entire tray with them. Took the whole bloody lot!
Then spent ages at a table stashing them in various handbags with her mate.

SingaSong12 · 15/04/2017 12:09

Yabu to be irritated by the cafe only providing one sachet if they often go to waste.

YWNBU at all to be irritated and I'm often angry at customers who take advantage of cafes and restaurants so that they can't trust people not to steal sugar, salt, pepper grinders or pick up piles of napkins when a couple would do. Fair enough to take more napkins if you have toddlers who feel need hands wiped or another good reason, not if you are on your own with a cup of coffee.

wictional · 15/04/2017 13:01

I always ask if anyone wants sugar before I put the lids on the takeaway coffee because if not people faff around and moan at me that it's too fiddly.

We also have bowls on tables that people take handfuls out of, and next to the till, which people also take handfuls from (which then come back untouched but because they've been on the trays etc we can't reuse them). That's infuriating to me. It's very wasteful.

wictional · 15/04/2017 13:02

It's the same with napkins. Yesterday a whole wodge of untouched napkins came back through into the kitchen on a single tray. So wasteful!

Doublevodkaredbull · 15/04/2017 13:20

wictional it's so annoying isn't it?

SwedishEdith · 15/04/2017 13:27

I never have sugar so get irritated with being given it. But that's nothing compared to my rage at being asked if I want milk in an Americano.

wictional · 15/04/2017 13:31

swedishedith I always ask if they want milk or cream in an americano because if not I get a "er, can I get some milk for my coffee??!!" With heavy "are you an idiot" implied in their voice.

amicissimma · 15/04/2017 13:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SwedishEdith · 15/04/2017 13:33

Grin. I do the "No" with heavy "are you an idiot" implied in my voice. Actually, I've given up and just ask for a black coffee now.

SwedishEdith · 15/04/2017 13:34

An Americano is a black coffee.

MrsPear · 15/04/2017 13:38

What I get annoyed about is being given brown sugar for tea.

Doublevodkaredbull · 15/04/2017 13:49

Mrs I'm with you on that. White sugar for tea!

The thing is we're so busy for coffee because of our prices and as we're a pub primarily it's not feasible to ask people how many sugars etc. We just don't have time and the saucers are laid out with spoons and sachets ready to go.

I totally get going somewhere that charges more than 99p and expecting better service.

Meekonsandwich · 15/04/2017 14:36

It actually isn't, an Americano is a double (long) espresso with water, that can be served with milk or without.
A black coffee is a single espresso with water.
White coffee is a single espresso with water and a little bit of milk.
I could go on.

I got a shock when I had angry customers at work say "where's the milk?!" after I gave them the Americano they asked for, so I always ask now :)

Also, why are you annoyed at asking for more sugar sachets? Just ask! I guarantee its because people like to steal them.
Also if you don't want the sugar sachet, just give it back!!!! It's not hard!
"Oh I don't take sugar, thanks!"
Done!

Original poster
user1491572121 · 15/04/2017 16:41

Meek I think it's because I'm irritated by their presuming everybody takes ONE sugar.

Why is ONE sachet the default?

People know that there are variations on how many sugars people take...it's either none, one, two or so on. So why go with the least amount as default?

It's assuming everyone's a theif...that's why I'm irritated by it.

OP posts:
CactusFred · 15/04/2017 16:59

I get annoyed when they bring me sugar as I don't want it! Always 2 sachets lol.

I wouldn't want it from the table. Last week my ds poured salt into the table one and had to tell staff as imagine the poor sod putting that into their tea!

Meekonsandwich · 15/04/2017 18:38

Hehe yes but in retail you'd be shocked at how many people do it!!! Taking 10 napkins at a time to throw them in the bin, asking for more bags than necessary that they are literally going to take from me and then take the stuff out of, it all comes from the shops profit and means less hours less wages and less staff.

It'd be nice to live in a world where people didnt take advantage but they do.

After reading the thread about reusing unfranked stamps I have no doubts that the majority would take them and run ;)

JackandBump · 15/04/2017 18:48

I don't take sugar, but I always struggle to get one measly butter pat stretch access a whole scone!

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