Topic: New trend in Northwest espresso: embarrassingly dressed baristas (Read 23276 times)

Ozymandias · « **Reply #50 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 21:05 »

COFFEE AND TITS

SERIOUS BUSINESS

michaelicious · « **Reply #51 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 21:08 »

When I first read the word "pasties" I thought they were talking about the delicious kind.

That kind.

Ozymandias · « **Reply #52 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 21:10 »

That is completely a coffee shop I would go to if they served pasties. I don't even need tits at that point.

Also, I love my pagebreak. That is pretty much my favorite post I will ever make now.

Blue Kitty · « **Reply #53 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 21:14 »

Topless coffee shop

David_Dovey · « **Reply #54 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 21:34 »

For those of you who like tits, but can't stand alcohol.

Alex C · « **Reply #55 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 21:45 »

I like how the topless coffee shop will be located at the former "Mac Daddy's Pub at the Fatcat Grille" building. CLASSY.

Lunchbox · « **Reply #56 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 22:03 »

Guys, do you know how hot it gets working behind an espresso machine, even in the dead of winter? I'm just sayin'

Anyway, as a barista (I feel my contribution earns a touch of professionalism to this thread) I would say good gravy, do these girls not treasure the soft milky skin of their stomachs? I come home from work every day absolutely covered in coffee and milk stains. Occasionally if a smidgen of skin is showing at my midriff I burn it when I'm purging the steam wand. I wouldn't go to work without my stomach covered at least, and I wear long pants most every day because the coffee grinds get all over my feet and ankles (I have started wearing brown pants so it doesn't show as much.) The horrible part about working coffee also is that your hands look revolting, dry and callused from all the water and the constant movement, with torn stained cuticles and coffee grounds under the nails. My face is always greasy from sweat and it's useless to think about doing my hair because the humidity plays havoc with it. So really. These girls can't look all that hot.
Oh. And.
As a lady with an okay body, I would say yes, I would probably work at one of these places because they sound funny. And, y'know. Tips are great. I get hit on enough at work really when I'm in a daggy t-shirt and jeans, I don't think any of that would change if I were to wear less. Don't get angry about it, my lovely forumites! It is really not worth your fury!

Nodaisho · « **Reply #57 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 22:10 »

The article was in the summer, so it was probably in the 60s or 70s (this is Washington), there were two other articles similar (I searched sexpresso to find the story, and won't that be fun to justify if someone uses my laptop?), the last one was saying that the pasties, scarf, or electrical tape waitresses made it count as... adult something-or-other, not sure if the bikini ones were stopped by the zoning issues as well.

Lunchbox · « **Reply #58 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 22:13 »

Oh, and for the utterly confused (as I was):

Quote

Pasties (sing. 'pastie') are adhesive coverings applied to cover a person's nipples. They vary in size and are usually not much larger than the person's areola.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #59 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 22:15 »

But Lunchy what is the point of feminism if we are not allowed to get really angry on behalf of other (obviously misguided/brainwashed/subjugated) fully-grown human beings?

Ozymandias · « **Reply #60 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 22:27 »

Seriously, we're posting on the forums for a webcomic about a coffee shop whose seemingly only defining characteristic is that it's staffed by snarky hot chicks. The sexy barista thing is a common cliche already, but now we're greatly and angrily offended because now there's skin involved. It's fine when it's a subtle, subversive sexism we can ignore, but now it's overt FUCK Y'ALL.

BrittanyMarie · « **Reply #61 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 22:38 »

The funny part is that someone said something about how some of us are "so angry and offended a bloo bloo" before anyone actually said anything like that?

I think that this has the possibility for exploitation. I guess every job has the potential but this is like who someone replied to what Harry said about what if the coffee shop ONLY hired pretty girls to work there.

But we've had lots and lots of discussions about this before, debating about women using their sexuality to their advantage. I think the last time it was specifically about adult film stars, where sure there are some who are kind of forced into it, but there are also plenty of women in the adult industry who love what they do.

Darkbluerabbit · « **Reply #62 on:** 11 Jan 2009, 23:31 »

The article makes it sound like regular old coffee places are at risk of being forced out of business. Personally, I kind of doubt that this would happen. From my time spent in coffee shops, I have noticed that most of them, especially the independent places, have very loyal customers. Dedicated coffee shop people also seem to value an atmosphere of intellectualism. If someone mentioned this idea in any of the places I have frequented, it would likely spark a debate about feminism and exploitation not unlike the one going on in this very thread. No fedora sporting philosophy major wants to drink espresso and read Derrida with pasty-clad boobs bouncing around. I can see these places competing with Dunkin' Donuts or McDonald's "McCafe," but not the places I know and love. I also suspect that Sexpresso places are booming due to novelty value, but they will probably go the way of Krispy Kreme here in the U.S. Oversaturation due to a surge of popularity, followed by mass closings once the novelty factor wears off.

jhocking · « **Reply #63 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 04:48 »

I've seen multiple independent coffee shops driven out of business by a chain place opening nearby. This happened a couple times in New Haven, with coffee shops that mostly service Yale students. The loyal customers who would never go to the competitor make up a smaller portion of their business than you might assume.

BrittanyMarie · « **Reply #64 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 05:11 »

Whereas I've seen the exact opposite phenomena here. There was an article about it in the local paper, there were four or five Starbucks closings in the area, but all the locally owned coffee shops are doing just fine. Apparently people frequent the locals will just get a regular coffee without the fancy sugar grossness in times of economic downturn instead of completely forgoing their morning coffee.

jhocking · « **Reply #65 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 05:15 »

*shrug* Every specific situation is different of course, I was mostly saying I would tend to believe the article.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #66 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 07:11 »

Oh no it would seem that I have been forced into reading the entire NN2S archive again. Damn you Jens, damn you.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #67 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 07:29 »

I'm pretty sure this is my favourite one

tania · « **Reply #68 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 07:32 »

again, i couldn't work in one of those stores because the idea frustrates and angers me and i don't like being hit on by strangers. but there are some ladies who really do like the attention and the tips and being hit on. solution: they work there and i don't. everyone is happy! if i were to say to one of those girls: "listen, you shouldn't work there, it's exploitation" that to me seems to be roughly the equivalent of "listen, you're obviously too naive and stupid to even realize you're being taken advantage of. do what i tell you to do because i know what's best for you better than you do." think about it, that's a terribly insulting thing to say to someone whom you don't know anything about. yes, admittedly it really weirds out and upsets me that any girl would enjoy working a job like this but i just have to accept the fact that not everyone is me. i'm sure most, if not all, of the girls working there know what they are getting into and are perfectly okay with what the job description entails.

to quote penny arcade - if you take a job eating bees, don't complain about bees stinging your mouth because eating bees is your job. so if you don't like being a half-naked barista, don't take a job working there. and if you don't like the business model, don't give them your money at all. pretty easy.

tania · « **Reply #69 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 07:43 »

i think maybe it started from the bottom, but the article mentioned that a few already-existing businesses converted to the same model in order to avoid losing business, and did so by hiring new staff or asking the already-existing staff to wear skimpy outfits. unfortunately that complicates the "if you don't like it, don't work there" ethos a bit because if you're a lady who doesn't want to get naked, and suddenly the coffee shop you work at is a half-naked one, you've lost your job there.

valley_parade · « **Reply #70 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 07:58 »

Meh, hot baristas just end up making you hate life and drink yourself silly on New Years.

tania · « **Reply #71 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 07:59 »

there are probably times and places where i don't mind, but in general i don't really enjoy or welcome it as much as a lot of other people.
i understand that lots of people do like being hit on, and because of that the guy was probably just trying to be nice, so i handle it mainly by avoiding situations where that would happen (i.e. not working at a half-naked coffee stand) or politely asking them not to do it. it seems to work.

benji · « **Reply #72 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 08:03 »

Quote from: tania on 12 Jan 2009, 07:43

i think maybe it started from the bottom, but the article mentioned that a few already-existing businesses converted to the same model in order to avoid losing business, and did so by hiring new staff or asking the already-existing staff to wear skimpy outfits. unfortunately that complicates the "if you don't like it, don't work there" ethos a bit because if you're a lady who doesn't want to get naked, and suddenly the coffee shop you work at is a half-naked one, you've lost your job there.

In this case, I wonder also about what happens to people who don't fit the "new model." If you were a man, for example, or if management just didn't think you were attractive enough. When restaurants start with an ogling women theme, it's my understanding that they often work in a modeling clause to the contract so that they can excuse only hiring hot women. Someone I met who had worked at Hooters at one point in her life said that this is how things worked there. But if you start as a normal coffee shop and then go half-naked, the overweight girl who makes a mean cup of coffee is a the ideal employee one day, and an "unattractive" liability the next.

MrSteevo · « **Reply #73 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 08:19 »

Where do you put the tip?
(just throwing that out there)

Eli · « **Reply #74 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 08:33 »

Man, all I can think is, "This can not be very sanitary or safe." Being around espresso machines does make you very hot and sweaty. When you're taking out the trash, you get germs on your skin and from the looks of it, the sexpresso places don't seem to wear aprons. Spilling milk on clothed parts of your body still hurts a bit, I can't imagine spilling it on your stomach, thighs or any other tender part.

Orbert · « **Reply #75 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 10:49 »

This is weird because as an old guy, I'm kinda used to being more conservative than you hip young people. But here I'm thinking "So what's the problem?" while some people seem genuinely disturbed or even angered by it.

Basically, I'm not that picky about coffee-shop coffee. Most of it is pretty good, better than the instant crap I make at home, and generally worth a few bucks if I'm out and need a fix. There are always multiple shops to choose from, so given the choice, I'll stop at the one with the girls in bikinis. Why? Because if I'm going to have some coffee and have the choice between staring at the walls while I drink it or checking out girls in bikinis, I'm going with the second choice. The shop with the best atmosphere wins, simple as that. This is The American Way.

It did occur to me that the barristas could get more burns, and more severe burns, than if they were more fully covered. But as has been pointed out, they knew the risks when they accepted the job. There are job which some people will not do, while others are fine with it so they do it. This too is The American Way.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #76 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 11:22 »

RE: the original article
i think i know one of those girls in the picture. weird.

oh yeah, and...

Quote from: Lunchbox on 11 Jan 2009, 22:03

purging the steam wand

hurr hurr hurr

redglasscurls · « **Reply #77 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 11:26 »

My first thought was that this would be the absolute worst coffee shop to take a lady you are interested in to.

Blue Kitty · « **Reply #78 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 11:32 »

My first thoughts on this is the increase of people getting burned. From the women wearing next to nothing, which Lunchy pointed out so well, to the people that may not have the capacity to drink coffee and turn their heads as the half naked women they got the coffee from walk by.

Everyone's getting burned.

Scandanavian War Machine · « **Reply #79 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 11:34 »

luckily it's the Northwest so everyone is already freezing cold to begin with.

getting burned would be a relief.

Drill King · « **Reply #80 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 12:00 »

Why do people assume that girls that are scantily clad are embarrassed? A lot of girls are totally comfortable in wearing something they might wear at the beach. Not all girls make the drastic difference between,"Oh I am wearing this at the beach/attract a guy/it's hot" vs "Oh hey I like tips and this is a good way to do it without anyone being taken advantage of"

Really, unless a girl is forced into it(which in most first nation countries is a pretty big feat) the only people being taken advantage of are the people who would drink poor coffee(I am not sure of this, it might be good coffee!) to look at what you can see on a beach.

Caleb · « **Reply #81 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 12:40 »

I don't drink coffee much.

As for scantily clad ladies...

...well I don't get enough of those in my life. But I don't feel like I should have to pay for it. That includes buying products to be near such females. If other people want to be naked or buy stuff being sold by nakedness then that's fine. It's just not my scene I guess.

october1983 · « **Reply #82 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 12:49 »

Man, that's nothing. I recently went to a free viewing for a new exhibition at the National Gallery here in London and Corona had very generously provided a large quantity of free bear served by similarly scantily clad ladies. High-brow renaissance art and tits.

benji · « **Reply #83 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 12:54 »

Quote from: Ptommydski on 12 Jan 2009, 12:21

I confess that I would find myself pretty embarrassed as a customer if women were scantily clad whilst serving coffee to me. Not because I find women in a state of undress to be unnatural or inappropriate, just that such a scenario paints me, the customer, into a specific corner which I have no desire to be in. For example, I tend to be nice and polite to pretty much everyone I ever meet, for whatever reason. However, if I was being served coffee by a lady who is scantily clad, people might assume that I was being nice to her because of her attire, rather than because I like other human beings. Thus, I'd sooner just not use such an establishment for fear of being a person who goes to a coffee store to ogle women in their underwear.

It's weird but I feel like as I get older, the more I appreciate privacy and discretion as being an integral part of sexuality.

I would feel pretty much the same way. I like the people who serve coffee at my local coffee shop, and I enjoy being friendly with them. I would be uncomfortable with the implication that the reason I was being friendly was because they weren't wearing much clothing. I don't think it does provide the best atmosphere. It adds a dimension to the atmosphere that I don't particularly want with my coffee.

Nodaisho · « **Reply #84 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:00 »

I agree with Tommy here, as well. I tend to be polite towards everyone, but I hate it when someone tries to get me to do something by being "charming", it feels like an insult to me. I think that would extend to the skimpily-clad attempt to get tips.

And, of course, the only time I go to a coffee shop, it is with some friends, all of which happen to be girls. Going there would be extremely awkward like that, especially as I don't trust my eyes to do what I tell them.

Fun fact: I checked five times to make sure that the word tips in the first paragraph wasn't tits.

october1983 · « **Reply #85 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:00 »

Quote from: Jeans on 12 Jan 2009, 12:58

Quote from: october1983 on 12 Jan 2009, 12:49
Man, that's nothing. I recently went to a free viewing for a new exhibition at the National Gallery here in London and Corona had very generously provided a large quantity of free bear served by similarly scantily clad ladies. High-brow renaissance art and tits.

Bears? Man, that must have been the manliest art exhibition

Man I am not even going to edit that post. Instead I am going to edit my memory of the event.

Dazed · « **Reply #86 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:07 »

Honestly, while I don't see anything wrong with starting/running your business this way, I really don't get the attraction. I think if I were to go there, I'd spend so much time trying not to be creepy and not ogling the ladies that it would defeat the purpose of having them in skimpy clothes.

Also, I drink tea. I make it myself.

Nodaisho · « **Reply #87 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:19 »

That is a really good term, Jens, what is that from?

redglasscurls · « **Reply #88 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:20 »

It's a bit misleading I think though, my experience with boy scouts says they are kind of nerdy and very sexually repressed kids who would LEAP at the chance to see some tits.

eddie · « **Reply #89 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:25 »

There was this biker pub in our town, I went in there when was 16/17 because sunday was topless barmaid day and they were all 40/50 years old it was really weird, they had some young hot girls working behind the bar aswell but they chose to keep their tops on.

redglasscurls · « **Reply #90 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:30 »

Man, if I worked at a biker pub I would totally keep my top on at ALL times. Tips are not worth drunken gropes.

Nodaisho · « **Reply #91 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:30 »

Quote from: redglasscurls on 12 Jan 2009, 13:20

It's a bit misleading I think though, my experience with boy scouts says they are kind of nerdy and very sexually repressed kids who would LEAP at the chance to see some tits.

They weren't clipped, though, were they?

Josefbugman · « **Reply #92 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:46 »

.

(did not realise you were quoting song lyrics, please ignore. delete this post if it is possible)

Liz · « **Reply #93 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:48 »

Quote from: redglasscurls on 12 Jan 2009, 13:20

It's a bit misleading I think though, my experience with boy scouts says they are kind of nerdy and very sexually repressed kids who would LEAP at the chance to see some tits.

This is Jens.

(Jens was a boy scout.)

(tee hee)

Alex C · « **Reply #94 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:51 »

Yeah, what Tommy said. I try to be aware of what kind of message I send with my actions, and I'm not sure I'd like what I'd be saying about myself if I went to such a place.
Plus, my life experience consists of Catholic private school and small town life, so even if I'm not really offended I still feel tremendously out of place in some situations because I don't really know how to fit in yet. For example, were I ever to go to a strip club, I think the biggest problem I'd have is being paralyzed by my ignorance of strip club etiquette, not being offended by tits.

michaelicious · « **Reply #95 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:52 »

Quote from: Jeans on 12 Jan 2009, 13:42

Man, the first two lines of that song never fail to make me laugh.

I was born wearing pants!
(be prepared!)

That's probably one of my favourite Albini lines.

Nodaisho · « **Reply #96 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 13:57 »

Quote from: Jeans on 12 Jan 2009, 13:32

It's from one of his spoken word performances on CD, Think Tank. Apparently I got it wrong (he says "boy scout astronaut mode" which is almost as good) or it was from one of his other shows, but this was the one that sprung to mind. It's at about 1:55.

Oh my god, that was hilarious. Thank you.

pwhodges · « **Reply #97 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 14:45 »

I remember being very puzzled as a result of being made to read, at the age of 10, Scouting for Boys - specifically, the chapter entitled "Self Abuse", which meant nothing whatsoever to me at that innocent age.

Gilead · « **Reply #98 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 14:57 »

Man I would probably not go to these places not out of feminist outrage but because they sound classless as hell.

BrittanyMarie · « **Reply #99 on:** 12 Jan 2009, 16:06 »

I just realized after reading Gilead's post that if they just changed the name to "Burlesque" coffee shops or something I would probably feel like the situation was a little less creepy. Hmm.

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Author Topic: New trend in Northwest espresso: embarrassingly dressed baristas (Read 23276 times)

Gilead