Coffee shop etiquette

[Gill H]

I've created this thread because a discussion elswhere was derailing another poster's original thread.

Please remember to play nice - there are evidently at least two schools of thought on this question but no-one is being rude and there seems to be no definitive right or wrong answer.

The rules:

We're talking normal arrangements, not systems which have been brought in recently to accommodate social distancing etc.

I'm thinking of Starbucks/Costa or equivalent, not cafes or restaurants.

So, today's question is...

When you walk into a coffee shop, do you:

a) Go and find a table and sit down, then send one of your party to queue for drinks

b) Queue up, as you're not entitled to a table until you have paid and got your drinks

Evidently some people are doing (a) and others (b) and each are driving the others crazy!

What are your thoughts?

[LostPrincess]

Ooh it depends! Normally A I think? But I've definitely done both in the past and have never really thought about it.

[sam_b]

A) it’s the only way that makes sense... that way, when I walk into an establishment I can see if there is space for me to sit, rather than gambling that there will be one.

[LostPrincess]

I'm now thinking about quick services at Disney. If it's super busy one of us will go scout a table while the other queues for food.

[megaflyer]

It depends. If it looks busy then one of us in the party will grab a table but if there are plenty of spaces then maybe not - plus we dont want to clutter up the line within one person and a tray can do the job so I feel that is more considerate (especially in these covid years)

[WhereIBelong]

Originally Posted by Gill H

I've created this thread because a discussion elswhere was derailing another poster's original thread.

Please remember to play nice - there are evidently at least two schools of thought on this question but no-one is being rude and there seems to be no definitive right or wrong answer.

The rules:

We're talking normal arrangements, not systems which have been brought in recently to accommodate social distancing etc.

I'm thinking of Starbucks/Costa or equivalent, not cafes or restaurants.

So, today's question is...

When you walk into a coffee shop, do you:

a) Go and find a table and sit down, then send one of your party to queue for drinks

b) Queue up, as you're not entitled to a table until you have paid and got your drinks

Evidently some people are doing (a) and others (b) and each are driving the others crazy!

What are your thoughts?

See more...

It depends... if out with young kids then would find a table. If 2 adults, would queue together.

Usually have no choice at all as I like to shop alone, so on a busy day I dont bother getting a cuppa since there won't be anywhere to sit.

[MarkUK]

b) Queue up, as you're not entitled to a table until you have paid and got your drinks

I’ld be extremely annoyed if people were sitting at tables without drinks whilst I circle the restaurant looking to sit down with my hot drinks/food

[stecee]

Usually A, but it depends on how busy the place is. If there are plenty of seats, then it will be B.

[Fluffypenguin]

Usually we have one person sit down and the other goes to get the food and drinks. There’s no point buying food and drink to eat in and not having a table to sit at. If everyone got a table before ordering food and drink then no one would be walking around with a tray of food looking for somewhere to sit.

[KarenG]

For an adult only group Always B because I hate seeing people with drinks and food wandering around when people at tables whose may not be ready for a while avoid eye contact!

With children though sometimes it’s better to leave an adult at the table with them so I think that’s different?

So I would say... it depends and if everyone was polite and considerate of others that would be goos enough