One strike - of that nature - does not count. Just keep going there. You had the option of asking if you could hang inside until the official opening time and the barista had the option of pro-actively offering you that choice. Neither of you chose to do that but the whole incident seems minor in the big scheme of things.

I used to do the Tues-Thurs opening for a cafe that opened "officially" at 7:00 AM. I would arrive most days at 6:40 AM, turn on just a few lights (but not the "Open" sign,) set about weighing the first sets of beans for the airport brewers, counting the cash drawer etc. We had a customer who would show up once or twice every other week at 6:45 AM when I had not yet brewed any coffee (most other days she came in at 7:30.) She got royally pissed every time she was there at 6:45 and coffee was not already brewed - quite often stomping out in a huff. I smiled, shrugged my shoulders after she left and went on about my business. Next day she'd come in and be peachy sweet to me (but not at 6:45 AM.) Go figure.

erik996 wrote:I pulled open the unlocked door and the barista shouted to me: "we don't open until 6:30!" Granted, the GB5 was making noise and we were about 30 feet apart so she had to raise her voice, but she sounded pissed off.

I agree with walking out, I would have done the same. I have one observation though, have you ever worked on a machine and it wasn't working out? I've been known to throw wrenches, curse etc while working on projects. Perhaps is was just poor timing? This doesn't excuse poor behavior but can explain it. I'm sure she regretted the exchange later when she calmed down. (hopefully so on both counts!)

Just a bit more information.....

This particular barista always seems very disinterested and gruff when I'm in there. The other employees at this establishment, without fail, have been welcoming and friendly every single time I'm there. This one, however, rarely smiles but makes very good drinks. I always tip and I always say "thank you" when they put the drink on the bar to acknowledge their work. I really do appreciate the skill and stamina it takes to stand at an espresso machine all day and make drinks. I spent a couple shifts working in a small drive through kiosk at a local roaster I invested in, so I have a small idea what's involved, and how absolutely rude and offensive customers can be. I also deal with less than savory people at my work yet I am expected to be professional if at all possible.

In this instance, if the barista would have told me she wasn't quite ready and could make my drink in a couple minutes, or even been the slightest bit polite, I would have been just fine. I'm mostly over it, however I'm now less apt to frequent them. When the barista barked at me, I didn't say a word or slam the door. I simply looked at the small card next to the door, stepped back, let the door close on its own and left.

I will email the company at some point, and I'll be sure to let them know I'm not looking for anything from them other than acknowledging my experience. I'm not wanting anyone to get in trouble either. Fortunately, there are plenty of top quality roasters/cafes in Portland so even if I were to boycott this place (I won't do it, nor do I plan on naming them) I would have plenty of options.

Sounds a little rude to me but hey, everyone has a bad day now and then. If this was a trend that would be a different story.

I would have told them to stick their coffee up their arse.

I remember once in Italy, my wife and I went to a local cafe for our morning espresso and while the cafe was opened up, the barista told us he wouldn't be officially open for about 30 mins. He sat at his table smoking his cigar and reading a paper while we waited for him to "officially" open and brew our drinks!

We still laugh about that one! Sometimes, you just have to laugh things off.

erik996 wrote:I pulled open the unlocked door and the barista shouted to me: "we don't open until 6:30!" Granted, the GB5 was making noise and we were about 30 feet apart so she had to raise her voice, but she sounded pissed off... but the door was unlocked and shooing a paying customer away over a 4 minute discrepancy was in poor taste IMO.

From a business owner's point of view, there's no advantage to being curt to your customers. That said, it sounds like it's possible that you misinterpreted her reply. How you respond to her is a matter of personal temperament. Assuming I wasn't in a particularly bad mood, I would shrug it off as an "everybody has an off day" moment. I wouldn't be so understanding if it were to happen a second time.

The door should have been locked if the barista really didn't want anyone coming in. I would have asked if it were OK to wait until 6:30. If I were the barista (not the owner) I might be a little touchy about my start time, especially if I hadn't had my coffee yet.

You should have taken out your Glocks and started blasting!!!

Its not a big deal. You are not human if you are not at least bit cranky early in the morning

Laugh it off next time. On scale of life and death it is meaningless to bother with such things let alone think about it for more than 5 seconds. As Buddha said: "When someone offers you a gift and you decline to accept it, to whom then does it belong?"

If the door is unlocked it's time for her to put on the happy face, they're open.