Do you love coffee shops? Ever wondered how to make your experience even more enjoyable? Well just remember coffee BEAN and you’ll love shops even more!

Baristas are human too.

Expect to pay more than $0.99.

Ask questions if you don’t know.

Never leave a mess.

Baristas are human too. This seems like a simple statement, but you would be surprised as to how many people forget it. Baristas have lives outside of coffee; they have off days and they have joyous victories. So when you walk in, remember that the person behind the bar is also living a life and that treating them with kindness and basic human decency is just the norm.

(P.S. We love regulars! They make bad days better, so go into shops and go into the same one often! It makes our day better and it’s always more fun to see friends!)

Expect to pay more than $0.99. There seem to be two extremes in the coffee world, and if you are going to an independently owned small business, it is better to lean one way over the other. “Fast food coffee”, as I like to call it, this includes fast food coffee and gas station coffee, is usually only going to cost about $1.00. This is not normal for a coffee shop. High end corporate coffee, including Starbucks, may charge upwards of $3.00 for a similar cup. And while you need to do what is best for your wallet, if you are going to a stand-alone shop you should expect closer to $3.00 rather than $1.00. It’s just not normal in the coffee world for a cup to only cost a dollar and it throws your baristas off if you demand a lower price.

Ask questions if you don’t know. If you have never had a traditional cappuccino, the best way to find out how your coffee shop makes it is to ask. Most baristas are more than willing to answer questions so that you get the drink you actually want. Similarly, a barista may actually correct you. In most cases, this is a serious, non-judgemental way for them to help you. We want to make sure you get the best drink you possibly can, and if that means correcting how you order, we will do it. Honestly, baristas like making people happy through coffee; they will work hard to make you the best cup of joe you have ever had.

Never leave a mess. This is another one that seems obvious, but everyone needs a good reminder now and then. It is just common courtesy to leave a place better than when you found it. This means putting all furniture back where it was when you came in. This helps other customers be able to come in and get right to reading, studying, or catching up with friends. If you used in-store mugs, please bring them back. It helps baristas' workflow be more ergonomic. They can do more tasks more efficiently this way. This means they can serve you better. As an overall, please be kind to your fellow coffee connoisseur.

I hope this short acronym can help you have a more enjoyable coffee experience. Really, your barista will love you so much more if you can follow these four simple rules.