Asked for a new coffee lid

[CountryVic]

Went to a cafe this morning that only does takeaways, you order and they call your number. Often your foods ready before your drink and vice versa, so you go one side to collect food, and another for your drink.

My number was called literally by both the barista, and the food server at the same time, so I collected my toastie then took a few steps back and went across to the barista counter.

My late was the only drink on the counter, as I stepped over the lady behind me, who also ordered after me, walked up to the cup and put her hand on the lid, picks it up and says is this mine. The barista says number 72, the woman says no Im 74 so she puts it down, then rubs her finger over the spout where some of the latte foam has come out, licks her finger and steps back.

I step forward, hesitated for a second, then asked the barista for a new lid. She just looked at me and I just said sorry, that lady put her hands all over the lid, I’d like a clean one please, the baristas handed one to me not saying a word, and I swapped them over, said thanks and put the other one in the bin on the way out. The other lady just stood there 2 steps behind me watching.

Part of me thinks I was being fussy, and wasteful of a new lid, but the other customer didn’t just pick the cup up at the side, her palm was flat on the lid and she ran her finger over the drink hole. Who knows where her hands had been?

Goodness

How do you think the barista gets the lid on?

But regardless, it’s a new plastic lid, nobody cares. This one is some pointless over thinking

I’m in two minds, the issue is the lids are not sterile op. Other people have touched them, the barista would have done the exact same thing.

You did the right thing. That would have grossed me out also. Who knows where her hands have been?! So many don't wash their hands after using the toilet - she could be one of them for all you know.

Weird as all the coffee shops here leave the lids off and you choose one yourself

As could the barista who would have used her whole hand to put it on.

Oh I’ve never seen that.

What’s weird?

This is not the norm anywhere I've been... all the big chains put your lid on for you.

I agree with you OP, it would have grossed me out and I'd have got a new lid even if it is silly. I also don't like that the batista has to push it on either but not much I can do about that.

I would take my chances with the barista as I would hope that they have been taught about food hygiene.

No way would I want to drink out of a cup manhandled by a member of the general public.

I would assume the barista was following proper food hygiene protocols for hand washing so would be less likely to pass on anything than a random woman queueing.

With kindness, the problem is your anxiety. If I asked for a new lid I wouldn't be worrying about at all, never mind coming to an Internet forum for opinions.

So genuinely, have a think about where your life is at at the moment and seek support if you need it.

I don't mean this as a sassy, you suck! takedown, but to offer some proportionality and perspective and hope that you reach out for help if things are hard because this level of overthinking warrants concern

Our 2 local independent cafes also leave the lids off for you to put your own on.

Someone making coffee all day will wash their hands after the toilet or if they get dirty, like most other people.

I'd have asked for a new drink never mind just the lid! You can think I'm fussy but a few years ago I caught H Pylori, I'm convinced it was from a dodgy takeaway and neither the H Pylori itself, nor the treatment, were something I'd ever wish to go through again.

Why could she possibly need a new drink?

So when they get splashed with milk, or chocolate powder, whilst washing out milk jugs etc. therefore far more often than a random person.

You wouldn’t wash your hands while rinsing a jug, nor would they get that much crap on their hands. Why would they be splashing their own hands with milk?

Seems fine what you did.
I must need more coffee as I initially read it as coffin lid.

Why not get a refillable cup? More eco-friendly and less wasteful than a disposable cup, and then you'd never have this problem again 💡

Rubbing her finger over the spout is very odd of her as she already knew it wasn't hers

Not deliberately but it does happen, you pick something up and theres splashes on the outside of it where it's been poured and run down, that sort of thing or when you bump the milk jug for the foam it splashes a bit high onto your hand.

I've worked in hospitality, making drinks, coffees etc, I definitely washed my hands more often than if I was on the other side of the counter.

Thank you, I did wonder this as my co-worker said I was being a bit precious. I’ve been travelling for work and fighting the worst head cold whilst trying to soldier on, I just want my own home and bed I think.

I have to. And yes more times than some people not at work but certainly not ‘far more often’ as I wasn’t particularly messy. You’d still be touching lids, cups, cleaning cloths. The lid from the stranger is not a significantly higher risk. But also the barista won’t have cared at all about being asked for a new lid, no OP overthinking it is unnecessary

The weirdest thing here is the customer who wiped the foam off the spout with her fingers and licked it AFTER she had been told it wasn’t hers and had put it down. Seems pretty passive aggressive and for that reason alone I would want a new lid. I would be wondering what she knew was on her fingers!