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?