Comments on: In defense of “coffee Nazis”

By: In Defense of Espresso Tuscano: Murky Coffee Owner N. Cho having an easy time saying “No” to customers. « Bean Chaser

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:16:13 +0000

[...] reading an engaging report of one customers “moment” at Murky Coffee in Arlington, VA (near D.C) I decided to [...]

By: Wilson Hines

Wilson Hines — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:41:40 +0000

After listening to every portafilter.net podcast and then meeting about 15% of Nick’s staff and finally as well as meeting a few of his friends I must say this: I don’t agree with Nick Cho on anything except COFFEE.

Here, in this instance, Nick mixed coffee with business. I don’t agree with some of Nick’s business practices, however here I am with Nick 100%. I own my own trucking business and there are probably 15 or 20 things that I just flat out won’t do and if the customer wants to ask me, that is fine, but I will kindly decline. About five of those 15 things will cause a customer to get a little angry or frustrated. And while I have never told anyone that I would “punch them in the dick,” I have told a few that I would “kick there ass…” and a few other good ol’ southern metaphors.

Nobody, and I do mean nobody, should tell a man that has hundreds of thousands of dollars invested (not to mention their whole LIFE) should be forced, coerced or made to feel guilty enough to “give in” to the demands of a megalomaniac.

After all, it is your business, isn’t it?

By: TheShot

TheShot — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:26:39 +0000

Touché…

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:40:39 +0000

Abusive customers are bad and should be discouraged. So should staff who turn otherwise normal customers into abusive customers by being arrogant and condescending.

However, I would be hard-pressed to expect someone like Nick Cho to understand a basic business concept; the man can’t event get his mind around rent or tax payments.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:49:18 +0000

I can understand Murky’s position, but a better sense of customer service on the part of the barista would have made things much better. Simply saying, “I’ll do this for you, but I would suggest that icing the espresso dulls its flavor” (or whatever) could get the point across just as easily. It’s fine if they want to do all they can to provide the best coffee experience, but being snotty about it also ruins the experience.

By: Mike Miller

Mike Miller — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:57:45 +0000

A store is no more obligated to serve you espresso the way you want it than your wife/girlfriend/SO/whatever is to oblige your request for a particular intimate act. Isn’t our society all about not doing anything you’re not comfortable with?

By: anon

anon — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 23:51:55 +0000

No, Murky was wrong and its owner’s subsequent behavior was borderline illegal under Virginia law.