How to Increase Tips for Baristas

• This is advice to increase tips for Baristas. Other advice can be found for:

  • General Advice
  • Delivery Drivers
  • Shuttle Bus Drivers
  • Waiters, Waitresses, and Servers

• Be Personable

  There is a debate as to whether or not baristas should receive tips at all. This is the first hurdle you will have to clear. If you are not personable or if the customer does not notice you, they will not likely enter into the internal debate as to whether or not they should tip you. Clear this first hurdle by by making them notice, and like, you. Some servers view this as being on stage, or assuming a different persona while at work.

• Know Your Stuff

  A barista that only has to push a button on a machine is not as likely to receive a tip as a barista that can make awesome coffee beverages and answer questions about coffee. Repeat customers and coffee aficionados will know the difference. Increase your knowledge of coffee and increase your tip income.

• Use Names

  Use your customers' names. If you don't know it just ask, but do it quickly. People like to hear their own names. Regulars like to be remembered.

• Prime the Tip Jar

  If you are using a tip jar, throw a few bucks and some change in there. Change is important since customers may not to want to tip a dollar for a $4 coffee drink and they may feel that dropping in some loose change would be an insult. If they see change in the jar, they will be more likely to leave their change. Also remove some money from the jar to a stash behind the counter when it gets too full. The chance of getting a tip in the jar will increase if the jar is not empty nor too full.

• Use Humor

  Humor can put your customers at ease and loosen their wallets. The Tip Jar Stickers and Buttons on this site are meant to encourage tipping with a gentle humorous reminder. They are not meant to "guilt" the customer into leaving a tip. A guilty tip is not going to be as big as a voluntary tip.

• Hygiene

  Be professional and clean. Do not wear cologne or perfume, it interferes with the smell of the coffee. Do not smell of cigarette smoke. Dress nicely.

• Smile

  Leave your problems at the door. Enjoy your job and smile often.

• Comp Drinks

  If your management approves of the practice, comp a drink for a regular once in a while.

• Latte Art

  Sometimes people like art in their latte. Maybe a simple yin yang to go with the "Tipping is Good Karma" tip jar sticker. They don't have to be as intricate as these.

• Memory

  The biggest tippers will probably be the regulars. It goes a long way to remember more than their names and their usual drink order. Then you can ask them if they still like their new car, if they have their puppy house trained, how their kid did at the soccer meet, etc. Any customer might become a regular. Improve your memory and improve your tips.

• Cleanliness

  Make sure there aren't dirty coffee cups on the tables or stir sticks laying on the counter. Clean restrooms are also a big plus for a coffee shop.

• Bring the Right Change

  If the change is $5, a couple of bad things can happen. If you give them a $5 and they don't have change, they may not tip you. If you give them ones, some people will see that as blatantly trying to get a tip and not tip you. The solution is to say "That's $5 in change. How would you like that? A five? Ones? Maybe some quarters for the car wash? Nickels for the slot machines? Pennies for the fountain?"