Tell me you’ve never worked in the service industry without telling me you’ve never worked in the service industry. I believe this is the dividing line in the recent internet debate regarding coffee – or indeed beverages of any kind. The question is: when ordering a typical iced coffee drink without ice, are you entitled to a full cup? Apparently the internet is divided.
The answer is, of course, no, no, but let’s get over it. As reported News NationThe confusion started where this type of thing usually happens: on Facebook. Some an anonymous user posted to the Dunkin’ World Facebook group page, “I just came across their fresh policy. I just paid $6 or more for a immense cloud cookie butter latte, with less ice, so as not to fill to the top because their fresh filling policy says they won’t do it on purpose. I’m sending it to everyone so they know what they’re getting.”
Can we also take a moment and appreciate the idea of posting this anonymously? That you’re irate enough to write about your unfair huge cloud cookie butter latte, but you’re afraid of some Dunkin’ revenge that will make sure you never have another huge cloud cookie butter latte. This is one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen on Facebook.
The photo attached to the post shows which Dunkin’ drinks will fill to the top when asked for less or no ice, and which ones will not. Generally speaking, espresso-based drinks will be insufficient, while drinks such as iced coffee and tea, chilly brew and lemonade will be replenished.
Many people, sensible and sensible people, have noticed that drinks are designed in specific proportions, so simply pouring extra liquid to arbitrarily fill the cup would ruin it. Others slammed Dunkin’ for penny pinching.
I’ll add to the discourse that not only should they stock ice-free versions of these drinks, but I get annoyed when coffee shops do it. There are times when I’m at a coffee shop and I grab a drink to pick someone up, usually it’s a fun, summery, special menu, something like that. Dallas, where I live, is incredibly balmy and everywhere is 20 minutes away. This means that the frozen drink will be destroyed before I get it to the person who asked for it. Therefore, please do not employ ice so that the drink maintains its integrity during transportation. But then the cafe fills it with a mixer, probably to keep me from writing a bad review on Yelp. And I try as demanding as I can to keep the cup from filling all the way, but it never works. Now I lingered, trying to explain what I wanted, and was given a diluted drink.
I’m not saying that the anonymous contributor to the Dunkin’ Global Facebook page is particularly responsible for this, but I’m not saying that either. It’s because of posts like this that some cafes are willing to destroy their carefully prepared drinks to avoid this. Therefore, I suggest everyone follow what I tentatively call the “free refills” rule. If a drink comes with free refills or is self-serve, it should be filled to the brim, whether it contains ice or not. However, if not, then the volume of liquid is the volume of liquid, regardless of the amount of ice.
We hope to put an end to this problem once and for all. And if not, then I advise you to never consume food and/or drink in public places because you will be seriously disappointed with the way the world works.
