The barista who called me out on my fake smile

Last Tuesday I was having the worst morning - car wouldn't start, spilled coffee on my shirt, the works. I dragged myself into a Starbucks on 5th Ave and ordered my usual black coffee, and this barista named Maria just looked at me and said 'You look like you're faking it today.' She didn't let me pay, gave me a free pastry, and told me to take 5 minutes and actually breathe before I went anywhere. I sat there for 10 minutes and honestly started crying a little, but in a good way. She didn't ask for my story or try to cheer me up with cliches, she just saw me and made space. Has anyone else had a stranger just see through your act and help out like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

hill.sarah17d ago

Kind of a weird take but I don't love this. That barista overstepped. I get she meant well but calling out a stranger's fake smile is a gamble. You could have been fine until she pointed out you weren't. Then you're crying in a coffee shop. Turns out okay here but it could have backfired hard.

grace_hunt8416d ago

Do you think calling someone out like that is ever worth the risk though? Because I see where you're coming from completely. That barista might have thought she was being helpful but it could have just as easily made someone feel worse. Especially if the person had been holding it together and then felt like they had to explain themselves to a stranger. I worked in customer service for years and we were told never to comment on a customer's mood like that, you just don't know what's going on. It's nice that it worked out in that story but I wouldn't call it a good idea in general. People can sense fake smiles and choose to ignore them for a reason.