Tipping for coffee

[TarasHarp55]

Just wondered if it's the norm to tip for a coffee. My sister and I had a coffee yesterday and when I went to pay the man behind the counter plonked a "tip jar" down just as I was paying with my card. I didn't have any cash so just left it. When I told my sister she rummaged through her purse and put some change in it. Does anyone else leave a tip just for coffee?

Do you have the same, long term staff all year round? If not I think this isn't really a fair way of doing things, especially given that the Christmas bonus is usually out of an employers pocket. Sorry if it's not the case. I'm still salty about my large tips being taken by the boss in one place. I was the only waitress, 10 tables, tips of at least £20 per table and I never saw a penny. Wage was shit too as I was under 21 which mean much lower National Minimum wage too. He did pay for a curry twice a month though. A grand total of maybe £8 spent on me!

And OP, no I wouldn't ever tip a self serve place. If I need to go order and get my own coffee then I'm not tipping anyone else for it. I would would be more annoyed at someone slapping a tip jar down and would not tip out of sheer annoyance at the rudeness of it.

I tip where good service really elevates the experience or someone has really gone out of their way to help.

So the waiter who recommends great dishes, advises against over ordering the seven sides I’ve selected, is quick with extra drinks etc gets a tip.

Or the barman who finds me a better table and moves drinks with minimum fuss or distracts an idiot at the bar gets a tip.

It’s a hard no to tipping for takeout coffee/sandwiches or in clothes shops.

I also stopped staying in a hotel recently that started adding a % to the entire bill as a gratuity. Made me really uncomfortable.

I also tip food delivery drivers and my hairdresser which don’t really fall into those
categories, but I just do.

I often chuck in a small amount. I'm a generous tipper generally.

I tip at the place I use for coffee, but I've been going there for years, and the waitresses are lovely.

Small cafe, yes, I’ll stick a pound coin in. It will still have still cost me less for two coffees than one of the big chains.

Having your tips stolen is not normal and I’m very sorry you experienced that. To answer your question, no, I do not steal my staff’s tips.

If someone leaves (rare) I’ve pretty much had the same staff for 7 years, then we split before they leave. Most staff choose to keeps theirs saved up for Christmas, one might decide they fancy keeping theirs.

I like the German system of rounding up a bill, so if the coffee eg costs £2.80, you'd pay £3. They win some, they lose some - eg they do better if it's £2.60 than if it's £2.95!

I'd probably put the change in a tip jar, but given everything is largely cashless these days, I will be paying by card. I don't like tipping on a card as there's no guarantee the staff get it; it's far more likely that the manager/owner hives it off.

I've noticed that my hairdresser now has a "do you want to leave a tip" on the card payment machine. No, I don't. It costs £45 for a wet cut. That is enough.