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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think SIL is acting up

97 replies

jnfrrss · 03/05/2018 09:14

She's coming to stay for a night this weekend. She always makes a big deal over she's addicted to coffee. Every morning she'll act as if she can't function, think, drive or do anything without a coffee.

Aibu to think it's just an act?

She will refuse alright instant or French press stuff but yet a Costa machine from a garage 15 mins walk away is fine. She always makes me feel guilty about not having a coffee machine and says ridiculous things like "I'll need to get a taxi to the garage".

She's not an addict right? I've worked in a and e and acaholics used to eat the hand wash so I don't see a real dependency with her as she refuses any coffee I have in the house.

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 03/05/2018 09:57

Don’t rise to it. Remind her to bring her own coffee if she doesn’t like yours. Perhaps she likes the walk and the alone time. Or perhaps she likes the drama.

Aridane · 03/05/2018 09:57

Yes - that's why I think SIL is being a part. (Was just making the point about caffeine dependency and withdrawal as OP seemed to think that was made up)

Belphegor · 03/05/2018 09:57

She's a drama llama. Costa is awful, the coffee manages to be both weak and burned. I make far better in my own kitchen (yes, in a French press...).

Aridane · 03/05/2018 09:57

(a prat, not a part!)

onalongsabbatical · 03/05/2018 09:58

but I can't function without caffeine - the point is she's turning down perfectly lovely cafetiere coffee and taking taxis to go and buy Costa shit coffee. I don't think the caffeine has much to do with it, and it may well be that she can't function without caffeine, but she's still being ludicrous!

TheVastMajority · 03/05/2018 10:02

I once took great delight in buying decaff for a friend like this. SHe spent the next hour telling me about the buzz she got from real coffee.

I only have instant in my house as I don't drink coffee very often. Coffee snobs are the new wine snobs, IMO.

PlatypusPie · 03/05/2018 10:05

She could always pack a small Bialetti Moka stovetop if it is that important to her to have an espresso. 🙄 My husband bought a stupidly expensive machine that takes up a chunk of worktop ( but it does make exciting hissing sounds ) and my battered Bialetti makes a much nicer cup. I also like a cafetière cup when I want a longer drink. Costa, though - ugh, Costa - I’d rather have a good instant .

Maeb · 03/05/2018 10:16

I have a family member who 'needs' caffeine to function, can't stand decaf, etc. so I just didn't tell her we only have decaf....she never noticed Wink Grin

Oh and we buy big packs of supermarket own brand and re-fill a smaller fancy brand tin (for freshness rather than snootiness!) so double whammy on the placebo effect!

gussiefox · 03/05/2018 10:20

Get her to stop off on the way to yours and buy several cups - then microwave them as needed. I know that would most likely be vile, but then I rarely drink coffee.

TorviBrightspear · 03/05/2018 10:23

I love a cafetiere coffee occasionally, have a small one on my desk at work, just big enough for one mug.

Costa is nice for smoothies, though.

NotTakenUsername · 03/05/2018 10:25

I’d be very tempted to become a very kind sister-in-law and pop to Costa on her behalf.
Pick her up a sly decaf and see how it ‘helps her function.’ Totally psychological.

DairyisClosed · 03/05/2018 10:26

If she's was an addict she would c be shaking like crazy and her head would be aching too much for her to think about coffee.

DairyisClosed · 03/05/2018 10:27

Oh v and surely custard don't actually put enough coffee into their sticks to v surpass caffetire caffeine Cleveland c anyway?

Coastalcommand · 03/05/2018 10:31

Could she bring her coffee beans and a hand grinder? Then make it in the cafetière?

dubdurbs · 03/05/2018 10:45

Why can't she just buy a bag of costa coffee and make it in your place herself? Or does she have form for being a special flower in other area's of her life?

StealthPolarBear · 03/05/2018 10:49

Costa is fine. Coffee snobbery bores me stupid.
I start every day with a cup of coffee and drink it like water through the day (instant BTW). But if for some reason I don't have any I manage just fine and i struggle to believe people can't. Come the zombie apocalypse what will all these totally inflexible people do?
Oh hang on, if they're like the majority of mners who don't open their front doors to ANYONE EVER they'll be fine as the zombies won't get in :)

GeorgeTheHippo · 03/05/2018 10:52

She may well be addicted to caffeine and I'm sure she would notice if given decaf. But the French press will be absolutely fine, as would instant (but she might want two cups to get her fix).

The rest of it is attention seeking bollocks.

Namethecat · 03/05/2018 10:57

If she has to have a Costa cappuccino first thing it's probably an addiction to sugar rather than coffee tbh.

TomRavenscroft · 03/05/2018 10:59

I can't function well without caffeine either and get a bit panicky if I don't know if I could get my hands on a coffee. Blush I'm not proud of it.

She's being an arsehole though as a) Costa is rubbish and b) French press coffee is delicious.

kissthealderman · 03/05/2018 11:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

missbonita · 03/05/2018 11:03

If it was ‘caffine’ She needed she’d have your coffee. She wants a big hot frothy milkshake!

ArtBrut · 03/05/2018 11:04

I order my coffee beans from London Grin note, I do not snoot in other people's houses and I call bullshit. No one who is actually seriously into coffee would drink the piss they make in Costa, which tastes as if it's been watered down with washing up water. Any cafetiére would make better, even if your coffee dates from just after food rationing. And all that sighing about taking a taxi to the garage is just a tiresome version of 'Don't mind me, I'LL JUST SIT HERE IN THE DARK.'

She sounds like her idea of herself just involves having a Costa take away cup in her hand, because 'that's just what I'm like!', the tiresome drama queen.

onalongsabbatical · 03/05/2018 11:10

ArtBrut nailed it! Grin

Enko · 03/05/2018 11:15

I enjoy Costa coffee I also like French press and a ridiculously expensive coffee/cappuccino machine. I enjoy trying many different coffees My friends call me a coffee snob because I do not like instant coffee. (just changed work and all they have is instant too!)

However I would NEVER make the drama out of it your sil does It is a lack of manners. Yes I might say "Im just going to pop down the road to get a coffee as I really feel like that do you want something? However taxi jokes drama comments nope.. I am an adult who is capable of dealing with my own abilities with or without coffee.

I would go with the " don't forget we havent got a machine and please bring your preferred type of coffee with you" Then if she starts simply smile and say" I did warn you"

FourFriedChickensDryWhiteToast · 03/05/2018 11:17

Costa coffee is shite anyway, so she is just being pretentious.

Instead of a machine, you can make real coffee in a jug or cafetiere. You do not need a fancy machine. That is more pretentiousness tbh.

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