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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not know what to do with my coffee cup?

80 replies

HedgehogintheFog · 10/06/2022 11:29

I love using my reusable coffee cup, especially since covid, as so many places around me seem to have defaulted to providing disposables only, even if you're sitting there to drink. However, when I am out and about for a weekend of shopping or a day out on holiday, I don't know what to do with it once I've finished my coffee. Sometimes I want a second coffee in the afternoon, but my cup is in the bottom of my bag with grimy milk and chocolate powder from my morning cappuccino. Is it weird to ask the coffee shop to rinse it out? Is it too gross to do it in the loo? If I'm in a pub and getting them to refill my water bottle, is it odd to also ask them to rinse my cup? Genuinely curious as to others' opinions.

P.S. I also have a weird thing about drinking out of paper cups (and eating with wooden cutlery), so it's not solely for altruistic environmental reasons!!

OP posts:
BakedBeeeen · 10/06/2022 12:28

I have a fold up takeaway cup, from Waitrose. Maybe get one and then you’re not carrying 2 cups or having to feel awkward about asking someone to wash it!

MolkosTeenageAngst · 10/06/2022 12:29

Just swill it out with your water bottle - that’s what I’d do anyway.

jubileetrain · 10/06/2022 12:30

Very often the same person does both! Why would it be an issue?

You can't understand the issue of keeping food prep areas separate from the dirty dishes?

FuncaMunca · 10/06/2022 12:33

This is non issue. I get my coffee cup refilled in cafes all over London every day. They rinse it automatically without being asked and then fill it with fresh coffee. A lot of people do this...

22N · 10/06/2022 12:36

Some places do it but a lot don’t because basically it’s another job for the staff. Just have one coffee. Sorted.

littleducks · 10/06/2022 12:38

People ask for staff to rinse their cups all the time and I've never seen anyone be declined

SamphirethePogoingStickerist · 10/06/2022 12:40

22N · 10/06/2022 12:36

Some places do it but a lot don’t because basically it’s another job for the staff. Just have one coffee. Sorted.

They hold your cup under the hot water nozzle, swirl it around and throw the water in the dregs tray. They do that whilst your shot is dripping...

SirenSays · 10/06/2022 12:49

Can you wipe it out before asking people to rinse it?

CapMarvel · 10/06/2022 12:50

Just ask them to rinse it. It's possible to massively overthink these things.

10HailMarys · 10/06/2022 12:51

Personally I'd just rinse it under the tap in the loo. If tap water is clean enough to wash your hands, it's clean enough to rinse a cup out.

That said, in the days when I used to work in places where I served coffee, I'd have had absolutely no issue with giving someone's cup a rinse! Absolutely fine.

I've done a lot of bar work and some people - especially older men who drink real ale - are very firm about wanting you to put their second (and third, and fourth etc) pint into the same glass each time. And yes, as a PP said, in most places people clear tables and serve drinks as well.

Worth noting also that in general, people who serve drinks are taught never to touch the rim of the cup/glass people are going to drink from - they won't touch the rim of a dirty cup and then touch the rim of a clean one. You're not meant to touch the part of the cup/glass that will then come into contact with the customer's mouth.

skgnome · 10/06/2022 12:56

Rinse on the sink when you’re done, use paper towel to dry
when you’re ready for a second cup (later on the day) - take out, ask if they can give it a quick rinse (no milk or chocolate residue for them to deal with) and get your second cup

BrokenRice · 10/06/2022 12:57

22N · 10/06/2022 12:36

Some places do it but a lot don’t because basically it’s another job for the staff. Just have one coffee. Sorted.

I think the companies would much prefer the staff spent seconds rinsing out a reusable cup so that customers can buy the second coffee.

10HailMarys · 10/06/2022 12:57

jubileetrain · 10/06/2022 12:30

Very often the same person does both! Why would it be an issue?

You can't understand the issue of keeping food prep areas separate from the dirty dishes?

I'm wondering how many kitchens/cafes/bars/restaurants you've worked in, because it is 100% normal and standard for staff to both clear tables and load the dishwashers and also serve food and drinks. I've worked in loads of hospitality jobs and I've always done both - serving customers at the bar or counter and then nipping out to clear tables in between.

jubileetrain · 10/06/2022 13:05

I'm wondering how many kitchens/cafes/bars/restaurants you've worked in, because it is 100% normal and standard for staff to both clear tables and load the dishwashers and also serve food and drinks.

Not at the same time it isn't. The person you speak to when you order your coffee/food is the person you will give your cup to. The person has to take your cup into the food preparation area in order to rinse it.

jubileetrain · 10/06/2022 13:06

I've worked in loads of hospitality jobs and I've always done both - serving customers at the bar or counter and then nipping out to clear tables in between.

And when you nipped out to clear tables did you pass the dirty dishes over the counter into the food prep area or take them to the kicthen?

jadeyxox · 10/06/2022 13:18

I would just ask them to rinse it out when you get your second drink - that's what I've always done with mine and its never been an issue. I thought that was just normal practice tbh

OneTC · 10/06/2022 13:24

Asking to rinse is fine.

OneTC · 10/06/2022 13:25

Not at the same time it isn't. The person you speak to when you order your coffee/food is the person you will give your cup to. The person has to take your cup into the food preparation area in order to rinse it.

They just rinse it with the boiled water from the coffee machine

OneTC · 10/06/2022 13:25

And you're wrong about people having separate duties in most coffee shops

Sparro · 10/06/2022 13:26

If by washing it in the loo you mean the sink in the toilets and not the actual loo, why would that be gross?

WorriedWagon · 10/06/2022 13:28

jubileetrain · 10/06/2022 12:30

Very often the same person does both! Why would it be an issue?

You can't understand the issue of keeping food prep areas separate from the dirty dishes?

Have you never noticed in a restaurant that the same waitress who brings you your food also clears away your dirty dishes? I've never, ever, ever been to a restaurant where the dirty dish people are separated from the serving food/drink people.

jubileetrain · 10/06/2022 13:28

OneTC · 10/06/2022 13:25

Not at the same time it isn't. The person you speak to when you order your coffee/food is the person you will give your cup to. The person has to take your cup into the food preparation area in order to rinse it.

They just rinse it with the boiled water from the coffee machine

You are completely missing the point about food/drink preparation areas being kept separate - nobody should be placing dirty cups anywhere near the coffee machine.

jubileetrain · 10/06/2022 13:30

Have you never noticed in a restaurant that the same waitress who brings you your food also clears away your dirty dishes? I've never, ever, ever been to a restaurant where the dirty dish people are separated from the serving food/drink people.

But they don't then pass the dirty dishes the counter into the food prep area. Which was my point.

JuneyJune · 10/06/2022 13:30

How about.

Take with you - A waterproof bag that you keep the cup in. And some kitchen towel.

Once you've finished your first coffee rinse it with water quick - I don't see an issue doing this in a loo of your hands are clean and it's only at the sink.

That'll get the worst of the old milk/coffee out. Then dry it off a bit with the kitchen towel. Then pop it in the bag until next coffee.

That would be what I'd do.

jubileetrain · 10/06/2022 13:32

OneTC · 10/06/2022 13:25

And you're wrong about people having separate duties in most coffee shops

I didn't say they had separate duties. The person you come in and speak to, the one who takes your order, is the one you would hand your cup to. Over the counter into the food prep area. That person is not currently doing tables because they are taking orders and peoples reusable cups.