Restaurants have a complex set of rituals, etiquette and laws governing the interaction between the establishment and the guest. Jeffrey Steingarten (and I wish I could quote it but my copy is out on loan) talks about how the best waiters are so good that they become invisible. Plates arrive, glasses are filled and the table is cleaned without any unnecessary interuption. This idea being that people come to restaurants for two reasons: for food and for company. If making sure each of these is as enjoyable as possible is the goal then you can work back and justify the seemingly curious rules and laws laid out in fine dining. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘customers’
Opting In
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010Tags: Cafes, consumer, customers, design, layout, opt-in, selling coffee, service
Posted in Opinion | 14 Comments »
Diversity Vs Identity
Sunday, January 11th, 2009I’ve tried to avoid writing about the current economic climate, and the outlook for coffee in 2009, and using the two “c” words that lost any meaning months ago.
Nonetheless it has been interesting to see what they industry press are writing about, what advice is being offered, what strategies are being deemed wise. A word I am seeing more and more is ‘diversifying’.
Starbucks are in a mess right now, and they have been for some time. To me the problems are linked to a gradual loss of identity over the last few years. Right now they are putting out mixed messages – on one hand promoting better coffee, on the other hand discounting it. Worrying about breakfast sandwiches, selling CDs, whilst still trying to claim that they are all about the coffee.
Tags: Coffee, consumer, customers, diversifying, identity, pricing, promises, quality, sales, starbucks, tonx, trust
Posted in Coffee | 15 Comments »
Who is to blame for bad coffee?
Monday, January 5th, 2009I’ve written a lot recently with an industry readership in mind. This post I write with the consumer firmly in mind. This isn’t about exonerating lazy cafe owners and baristas, or excusing the chains or making allowances for restaurant coffee. Anyone who loves or even likes coffee will often complain about how bad a lot of it is, how hard it is to get a good cup.
You, the consumers, are to blame.1
Now you certainly can’t take all the blame but consumers have an enormous power over the people making the coffee. After all – you’re paying for it. You are staggeringly tolerant of incredibly poor product. You can do something very simple that would have a huge effect on the quality of coffee served: when it is bad – take it back.
Footnotes:- I ought to make it clear at this point that obviously consumers are not really to blame, but to start a discussion about the power of the consumer and also – heaven forbid – have a little fun with this topic! [↩]
Tags: Barista, Cafes, cupping, customers, drinks, feedback, job, not too serious, Opinion, quality, trust
Posted in Opinion | 32 Comments »