Christians, Generosity, and Tipping at Starbucks...

I was employed by Starbucks when the first tipping debate stirred up the vitriol at the popular blog Starbucks Gossip (2004.09.07). Well, they have decided to revamp the conversation with Tipping debate (Part 2): How much should you tip for a cup of coffee?

I draw your attention to this for three reasons: (1) I think the divergent opinions regarding this issue are interesting (2) Few would disagree that the tip jar at Starbucks has played a significant cultural role in paving the way for tip jars everywhere (3) Pastors and church planters spend a lot of time at Starbucks...a lot of time. And, unless you're the mute, introverted pastor/church planter type, the baristas at Starbucks know what you do.

So, the main reason I drew your attention to this is because I wanted to ask you a question: If all they had to base their opinions on was you, what would the baristas in your local coffee shop think about the generosity of Christians?

Technorati Tags: "Here's+A+Tip", Christian+Witness, missional, tipping, generosity, serviceindustry, Starbucks

Comments

[Justin Buzzard]

I tend to be a generous tipper when having meetings at restaurants, but a pretty poor tipper (if I tip at all) when at Fourbucks. I have room to grow here.
I hardly ever have meetings at Starbucks though. I'm a Peet's coffee guy. My tipping habits are pretty poor at Peet's. I oughta step it up some.
Good post.

[Nick]

Kevin, great post. I used to be a barista - 3 years of it actually - AND, I was the guy who counted up and vivyed out the tips each week... so, I can speak from experience.

When I go places, espeically where I am known and am a "regular," I tend to tip quite generously. I think it's important when we're living out lives as emmisaries of Christ to show that we're not the tightwad, legalistic, you're bad-I'm good people that others see us as. For example - I have been getting my haircut by the same girl for several months now. Pretty soon into the first conversation with her, it came up that I'm a pastor. This girl is in pretty desperate need of Jesus, so it's an obvious opportunity on a regular (about every 3 weeks) basis to share some things with her and present myself as real and loving and genuine. It's hard to be those things if she doesn't want to provide a service to me because I'm a penny pincher that doesn't want to help her afford her sins!

What I'm saying is this - I think it's more important than we think it to be. People are looking at us as Christians in EVERYTHING we do and a lot of times they can't disassociate the action from their perception of the person - if we are truly missional and reformed in our living, Christ is in everything, and I think our generosity and appreciation toward others is very important.

[Chase Bowers]

I think a buck is a good tip at Starbucks, as it is usually around or over 20% of the tab.