Support baristas who wear clothes

I got a “jolt” from a local espresso stand recently and it wasn’t from the caffeine in the coffee!

I was disappointed, frustrated and saddened when I saw a young girl standing out in front of a stand with the top half of her body clad only in a skimpy bikini top. She held a sign that advertised “espresso” as another sign read, “Bikini Barista.” I wonder what they are trying to sell here. In a world that uses sex as a marketing tool, I was disgusted to see that a local espresso stand has decided to stoop to this level.

We have a long list nowdays of what we can add to our coffee: extra shots, flavored syrups, white chocolate or dark; and now sex seems to have been added to the list. I immediately decided that I will not patronize this particular stand and I hope others decide to do the same. Unfortunately, this stand is located where I am forced to drive past it on a regular basis. I am angered that I am forced to see this every time I go by whether I am alone, with my husband or our three young boys.

As I continued on my route, I was thrilled to see the sign at another espresso stand that stated: “We serve it hot with our clothes ON!” I stopped and praised the barista for the message! She aired her frustration over the other’s decision to have bikini baristas and felt it was offensive and demeaning to her as a barista and a woman.

Where is your self respect here, ladies? What really is your job title?

I would hope that higher standards would be set by this local small business and these young ladies with so much potential! If we tolerate this I am afraid to think of what could be next!

Crystal Bates

Arlington