Former barista reveals the ways she would mess with rude customers' drinks to get revenge

Composite: Stock image of barista making a takeaway coffee with a screenshot of Betsy
Photo credit: Getty Images; TikTok / Betsy Windmill

As someone who worked in hospitality for five years, I could tell you a thing or two about the blood-curdling (or should that be milk-curdling?) behaviour that can go on behind the scenes.

Let's put it this way; if you've ever wondered whether a waiter has deliberately tampered with your triple-shot-extra-hot-no-foam-skim-milk atrocity, it's definitely possible - if you've given them reason to, of course.

A former barista has now spilled the beans on her favourite ways to get sweet, sweet revenge on rude customers; now seems like a good time to remind everyone to be kind to their barista.

Betsy Windmill, a former barista in the UK, revealed on TikTok she would frequently tamper with customers' orders if they were rude or ill-mannered to satisfy her need for retribution. 

"I used to work in a coffee shop and here are some examples of the things I would do if customers were rude to me," Windmill began.

First up, she explained she would default to a commonly used tactic that's usually only detectable to the most discerning customer - using decaf coffee instead of regular. No mid-morning pick-me-up for you, sir.

Other times, Windmill admitted deliberately giving rude customers a single shot of espresso instead of a double, a trick she said she usually got away with due to working at a coffee stand.

"I used to work in a train station, so I could get away with this because people were more often than not in a rush," she explained.

Another way she got even with badly behaved punters was deliberately using the wrong flavour of syrup - "just to piss them off" - or putting their change on the counter instead of in their outstretched hand.

If a customer did come back to complain about their beverage, Windmill said she would usually bluff by telling them they had picked up the wrong order - which again, is much easier to get away with at a takeaway joint rather than a café.

Finally, Windmill said if an insolent customer ordered a panini, she would make sure to ever so slightly cross the fine line between toasted and burnt - to make their eating experience that little bit less enjoyable.

The video has since gone viral with more than half-a-million views, prompting many current or former waitstaff to share their own tips on how to get payback on a less-than-friendly patron.

"Using full fat milk instead of skinny was my favourite," one revealed, with a second adding: "The change thing is so good, it's a wind-up."

A third penned: "Give the straw a squeeze before putting it in the drink."

"I feel like I'd under-toast [the panini] so it looks normal, but then you bite into it and the inside is still fridge temp chilly," a fourth admitted.

And a fifth chipped in: "When I worked at a bar and someone was rude, I would always under-pour their alcohol."

Another warned any baristas hoping to take a leaf out of Windmill's book to be careful when it comes to potential allergies, but noted that they "applaud the pettiness".

The takeaway? Let's take a minute to remember that waitstaff are usually underpaid, understaffed and trying their best - and as always, treat people how you would want to be treated. The world's not going to end if your Americano with a splash of cold coconut milk is slightly too cold, or your flat white is a little more like a latte. Let's all just relax and smell the coffee beans (preferably Arabica).