Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Denise Smith on January 20, 2009 at 9:36am

Following this thread my brain went into over drive (caution it often leads to brain wrecks).

"I'm sorry, I'm I'm not Jimmy Nutron, we don't nuke drinks here... my I replace it for you?"
"While may folks think I'm super... I'm not a super hero, I have no nuclear powers; may I make you a fresh drink?"
"Saps, Zap... We just give you a fresh cup."

Okay, I know... my kids don't get my humor either. ~80)

... back to the construction sight.

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Permalink Reply by Bryan Wray on January 20, 2009 at 12:18pm

This happens all the time at my shop and we simply tell the customers we can't take a drink back over the counter once we put it out due to the Health Board. We tell them this because... well... we can't take a drink back over the counter once we put it out due to the Health Board. Following that is a I can remake the drink for you at a discount, but I can't reheat it, sorry. Never had any problems.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Avirett on January 20, 2009 at 1:20pm

According to current health codes, again at least around here, that is an extreme violation. Milk can go "bad" rather quick actually, once it reaches 140 degrees it is in the safe zone all the way up to 180 degrees, which we all know is where milk burns. Now when I say that milk goes "bad" I don't mean it curdles, I mean that below 140 bacteria begins to grow at an alarming rate, go check out for info regarding the changes and temp suggestions. I don't give all of this info to scare anyone but simply to make you think twice about re-heating anything like that in the old trusty microwave, since you can't control the temp that it rises to you have no idea whether or not the temp will be high enough to kill what bacteria have begun to grow. This is also why it's a good idea to serve drinks between 150 and 170 degrees.

Using the steam wand is an if-y choice as well for a few of reasons.
One: if you don't use a sanitizing solution on your wans when you wipe it down then you could be spreading those bacteria from drink to drink.
Second: any unknown disease that a customer may carry can be transmitted despite the use of sanitizing solution, if it's a disease that the solution was not created to neutralize.
Three: Once milk has been steamed a first time, the proteins that stretch creating microfoam are, for lack of better wording, spent; a lot like over used silly putty. And the flavor of your drink can be compromised, and rarely, if ever revived.

I don't drop all of this info to sound pretentious at all.

Whenever I've been asked to reheat a drink I just kindly inform that we can't and if they ask why, I tell them a shortened version of all of that. They usually understand.

As far as re-heating black coffee goes I usually just offer a free refill.

I hope this came off as an answer and not a retort.
Good luck with dealing with this. Check out they have a good write up on milk steaming and what all you are actually doing when you steam the milk. It answered some of these questions for me.

peace, love, coffee
Chris

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Permalink Reply by Jacqueline Greenawalt on January 20, 2009 at 1:39pm

I think microwaving their drink is kind, but if thought deeply about, it isn't such a great idea after all. Think about it.

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Permalink Reply by daniel on January 20, 2009 at 2:12pm

yeah, they are in paper togo cups... does that make a difference?

Cedric said:

Touche Terika. But isn't that like using silverware, cups, and plates. After using the steam wand, clean it up properly. Plus if we remake drinks when customers wants something reheated, that wouldn't be great on our numbers.

Hey Daniel, are you giving those drinks out in to go cups? Maybe that person is like the owner of the store I work at. I swear he has a volcano mouth. I can give him a freshly brewed cup of coffee and it's never hot enough.
Terika said:

I'm pretty sure this has health code violations written all over it...not to mention the fact that it is just plain disgusting to put a steam wand into a drink that a customer has already drank out of.

I would probably just remake their drink.

Cedric said:

Just put their cup under the steam wand on the espresso machine. It's faster than the microwave.

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Permalink Reply by Jacqueline Greenawalt on January 20, 2009 at 2:26pm

I wouldn't consider the customers satisfaction of the drink, but better yet, the coffeehouse in general (which means other customers, as well). I understand your point when you mentioned the use of to-go cups instead of for-here cups but it is also HIGHLY unsanitary to put the drink the customer already drank out of under the steaming wand. The steaming wand is not used for just you, but other customers, too.

Just a thought concering sanitation.




daniel said:

yeah, they are in paper togo cups... does that make a difference?

Cedric said:

Touche Terika. But isn't that like using silverware, cups, and plates. After using the steam wand, clean it up properly. Plus if we remake drinks when customers wants something reheated, that wouldn't be great on our numbers.

Hey Daniel, are you giving those drinks out in to go cups? Maybe that person is like the owner of the store I work at. I swear he has a volcano mouth. I can give him a freshly brewed cup of coffee and it's never hot enough.
Terika said:

I'm pretty sure this has health code violations written all over it...not to mention the fact that it is just plain disgusting to put a steam wand into a drink that a customer has already drank out of.

I would probably just remake their drink.

Cedric said:

Just put their cup under the steam wand on the espresso machine. It's faster than the microwave.

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Permalink Reply by Mo Hautala on January 20, 2009 at 4:25pm

Great info! Thanks for sharing. . . I definitely won't feel near as bad turning away a "nuke" request...

cavirett said:

According to current health codes, again at least around here, that is an extreme violation. Milk can go "bad" rather quick actually, once it reaches 140 degrees it is in the safe zone all the way up to 180 degrees, which we all know is where milk burns. Now when I say that milk goes "bad" I don't mean it curdles, I mean that below 140 bacteria begins to grow at an alarming rate, go check out for info regarding the changes and temp suggestions. I don't give all of this info to scare anyone but simply to make you think twice about re-heating anything like that in the old trusty microwave, since you can't control the temp that it rises to you have no idea whether or not the temp will be high enough to kill what bacteria have begun to grow. This is also why it's a good idea to serve drinks between 150 and 170 degrees.

Using the steam wand is an if-y choice as well for a few of reasons.
One: if you don't use a sanitizing solution on your wans when you wipe it down then you could be spreading those bacteria from drink to drink.
Second: any unknown disease that a customer may carry can be transmitted despite the use of sanitizing solution, if it's a disease that the solution was not created to neutralize.
Three: Once milk has been steamed a first time, the proteins that stretch creating microfoam are, for lack of better wording, spent; a lot like over used silly putty. And the flavor of your drink can be compromised, and rarely, if ever revived.

I don't drop all of this info to sound pretentious at all.

Whenever I've been asked to reheat a drink I just kindly inform that we can't and if they ask why, I tell them a shortened version of all of that. They usually understand.

As far as re-heating black coffee goes I usually just offer a free refill.

I hope this came off as an answer and not a retort.
Good luck with dealing with this. Check out they have a good write up on milk steaming and what all you are actually doing when you steam the milk. It answered some of these questions for me.

peace, love, coffee
Chris

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Permalink Reply by Mo Hautala on January 20, 2009 at 4:26pm

Baha, corny! I LOVE it.

"I'm sorry, I'm I'm not Jimmy Nutron, we don't nuke drinks here... my I replace it for you?"
....I USE TO LOVE THIS SHOW!!!

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Permalink Reply by Alistair Ramsay on January 20, 2009 at 5:59pm

There should be laws against this kind of request! I think there is a time when the old saying 'the customer is always right' goes out the window. Maybe better just to remake their coffee.

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Permalink Reply by Adam on January 21, 2009 at 9:54am

but what if you clean the wand like you do after every drink anyways?

Terika said:

I'm pretty sure this has health code violations written all over it...not to mention the fact that it is just plain disgusting to put a steam wand into a drink that a customer has already drank out of.

I would probably just remake their drink.

Cedric said:

Just put their cup under the steam wand on the espresso machine. It's faster than the microwave.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Davey on January 21, 2009 at 12:39pm

Personally, I wouldn't care how well the wand was cleaned after I saw this happen. I would walk out and never come back. Makes you wonder how other sanitation practices are handled. If you really want to know how gross this really is....take a steam valve apart. Purge as much as you want there will be residue. Yes, most of this is burned to all hell but it is still there. That in itself is gross enough. Don't add other people's cooties to this. Would be a much more satisfied customer if I was told of the health concern and was offered to have my drink remade. Honestly would have declined, but the offer would have been noted and I would come back knowing that the shop had my and the rest of their customers best interest in mind.

Adam said:

but what if you clean the wand like you do after every drink anyways?

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Permalink Reply by Darice Grass on January 21, 2009 at 1:31pm

As much as we all know, perhaps too well, the associated "problems" with microwaving a once beautiful, milky drink, I err on the side of a) re-make it--perhaps your thermometer isn't calibrated or b) stick the sucker in the microwave (let us remember...babies bottles are microwaved to ensure the appropriate temperature and sanitation and it's much safer to then check the drink with your re-calibrated thermometer and then wash it like normal than to deal with the re-steaming idea).

More to the point, however, I'd be prepared to pop it in the micro for them and then engagingly and politely ask if they've ever noticed a difference in flavor between steamed milk and microwaved. If they say "Why, no. What do you mean?", then you have opportunity to explain. If they say yes, but I like it microwaved...c'est la vie. Ordering and enjoying your coffee is not a time to feel like you've done something wrong by asking for something you find normal. Be gentle. People are nice.

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