Barista loses job over blog poking fun at customers
PORTLAND, Ore. -- It turns out you can’t always be anonymous on the Internet.
A Seattle barista lost his job after creating a satirical blog, Bitter Barista, which pokes fun at customers, with jabs like: “Please pour your coffee in the trash can so it can ruin my day later.”
The humorous site quickly went viral.
Two Portland men behind the coffee-centric blog, Sprudge.com, discovered the nameless Bitter blog and revealed the identity of the not-so-sweet barista, Matt Watson.
In a statement, the Portland bloggers say: “Sprudge.com covers coffee news, events, rumors, innuendo and intrigue. We noticed that Bitter Barista was being retweeted and mentioned by some of our readers, who felt that it portrayed baristas and the coffee community in a negative light. We agreed.”
One barista, Julie Jones at Portland's Blue Lotus Cafe, expressed the same sentiment as the Portland bloggers. Still, she said she could sympathize with the demands of the job.
"With a job like this you understand it’s just going to be a transitory pain," Jones said. "It’s here then it’s gone. How long do I have to deal with people, maybe six or seven minutes if I’m making their food for them as well?"
In defense, Watson said the blog was all in good fun and he doesn’t know why his boss took such offense.
“I really liked my job,” Watson said. “That’s what I realized over the last week. It’s a shame you can’t have a job you like, but also complain about.”
By mid-afternoon Tuesday, Bitter Barista had added a disclaimer for folks before they entered the site. Visitors were asked to agree that they “understand what satire is” and “will not take this site literally” among other pledges.
“OK then, let’s get bitter,” read the icon to click on to enter the site.
One of Watson’s latest posts: “My ex-boss things the website is gonna stop because I don’t work there anymore. Man, I didn’t even work there when I worked there!”
Watson’s former boss told The Seattle Times that he could not endorse the statements by Bitter Barista, even if they were humorous, and that was why Watson was terminated.
The embattled barista – also an aspiring musician -- said he is not fazed by the firing. He’s received other employment offers and is also planning to write a coffee table book, he said.
“I’m OK with it,” he said. “I have a record out in six weeks and I was planning on taking some time off to promote it anyway, so this works out really well. And there’s some publicity out there, so it’s OK.”
Brew your own...... Tastes better.... Costs less..... :D) For those who didn't understand the Coffee Barista's blog..... Go fly a kite... schmucks!
I bet the do-gooders who outed this barista are very proud of themselves, but it's hard for me to discern who the bigger jerk is, the barista or the outers. The site was in fun, and the guy should be allowed to say whatever he wants without the fear of some sissy who can't take a joke coming along and divulging his identity.
My boss is a cosmic jerk. He rants and raves at me for not getting my work done, when all he does is sit around on his fat butt all day. He won't give me any vacation time or sick time, and he browbeats me about how stupid I am all day long. I wish I could quit and get away from this jerk but I can't... cause I'm self-employed!
 @The Rog lol.  Â
"The embattled barista â also an aspiring musician -- said he is not fazed by the firing. Heâs received other employment offers and is also planning to write a coffee table book, he said."
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"âI have a record out in six weeks and I was planning on taking some time off to promote it anyway,"
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Writer, singer poet, every "barista" I have ever heard of was an aspiring artist for something. It's like the dead end job of acting wannabes.
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The Portland Latte:Â Free range organic white guilt free roast, double boiled, extra whip, no whip, sprinkled with magical Portland fairy farts and a shot of smug.
Drink in Prius or Subaru on the way to a protest that you know nothing about.
Wow.....Freedom of Speech. It's still important, isn't it? I'd tie that in with a wrongful termination suit !
@Rob C 503 You are missing what freedom of speech means. Go into your boss and call him/her a stupid c*ck s*cker and when you are fired, sue because you have freedom of speech. Hint: Freedom of speech protects you from the government not consequence.
This Portland hipster really likes smelling his own farts.
Yeah, he has a right to express himself. Still, if you really read his tweets, you'll notice that this guy just sounds like an extremely miserable person who is annoyed by everybody, hates his position in life, and needs some help. Anybody who feels compelled to tweet that he hates happy, confident people is obviously struggling with some issues. And if you write that you give regular coffee to people who order decaf or that you are glad when customers don't come in to the store when you are working because they are avoiding you, then you have to know that you aren't exactly going to be considered an ideal employee! Most people would fire an employee who let that be known, which he did even though he tried to hide his name. Fact: nothing on the internet is private.
âMy ex-boss thinks the website is gonna stop because I donât work there anymore. Man, I didnât even work there when I worked there!â
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Win. Total, unadulterated win.
 @brautigan According to KATU'S stellar editors - his ex-boss "things" not "thinks".  I doubt that is something they should quote. Â
First of all, I think the idea that we have a special name for people who pour cups of coffee for a living have their own special title is beyond ridiculous. A barista sounds like what you would call rotund woman with a beard that spins plates in the circus while riding a unicycle blindfolded. The term "barista" is only rivaled in its absurdity by the "petroleum transfer engineers" who pump my gas.Â
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So this guy thinks the people who buy coffee at the shack he works are a pain in his ass. So what?! Free speech baby!Â
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Too anyone who is, or might be offended by the commentary of this "barista" (especially his former hypersensitive d-bag boss) lighten up! It's a joke. Maybe the truth is, that the people who are offended are the knucklehead customers that this guy was blasting off about. hmmmmmmmm
 @Walt F "Baristas", along with Vente and all the other crud born from Starbucks marketing, just like "sales associates" or "sanitation engineer".
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Just marketing spin for the same crappy jobs.
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@Dr. Rawdog Gee,,,,, I hope you don't get fired.
 @Dr. Rawdog Aren't they all?  Mine isn't a dick (cuz it's a 'she), but she's bi-polar and has to be reminded to take her meds.  On the days she forgets, it can get a little either manic or depressing or manic or depressing or manic or depressing.......
 @Sundowner  @Dr. RawdogÂ
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My boss is awsome! He leaves me to my work, advocates for me to higher ups and protects me from the politics of the over arching business.
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Becuase of that, I get my work done, have fun working and the day zips by.
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Not all boses suck. I have had two good bosses and two great ones.
"I'm a D.J.!" ~Portlandia
Man i just went to the blog page and saw no specific names or business names or anything that would link any particular person or place on this blog.  was all pretty funny satire of what we all deal with in the work place and i felt it to be pretty funny.    Only thing i can think of is this company had to do budget cuts and needed an excuse, so someone can't collect unemployment.   If that is the case shame on them.
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Good for the business owner for canning him. This is a business, not a social clique. A lot of businesses turn into little social groups for the employees.
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This is a good reminder why he was there in the first place. The customers. Like them or not, they're the reason for the businesses existence, a job and a paycheck.
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"Man, I didnât even work there when I worked there!â Â Perhaps as a aspiring musician he should grab a street corner and open is instrument case.
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Wise management move.Â
 @Quaoptician Hmmmm I'm a customer and I found it hilarious.   But then i don't have a stick up my ass either.   Dude business or no business,  we are all ppl who have seemed to have lost our sense of humor and compassion.   So sad. Learn to get along and get a back bone.
lol, seriously? what happened to privacy. Sounds like to bloggers got upset because his blog was funny and theirs obviously wasn't so instead of just moving on they found out who he was and cried about it to KATU and his boss. WHO THE HECK CARES? I have worked in customer service, people are rude, annoyingly so even. If we didn't have a place to vent, we would go nuts. Most of us vent to family and friends... he decided to vent on the internet with a bigger audience. I dont get it? If you are upset by this you are more then likely one of the people he was talking about. I can understand that his boss might be a little butt hurt but it was all in good fun, more then likely.
 @Newsin Yep and we all know what happens if we can't vent.   anyone hear of shooting lately.  wonder why.
I've been in lines with these people whose order take multiple sentences. Â They seem all too uppity and self absorbed, and fits the profile of those who probably will make fun of someone else, but take offense when being made fun of.
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It's flipping coffee. Â When you add in all the flavors it's been proven that most people can't tell if it's Folgers or some small batch gourmet roast.
Serving the public, is the birth place, of stand-up comedy
Jersey Bistro- new reality show- the last one washed out
People these days have little to no sense of humor. The baristas at my favorite coffee place can poke fun at me all they want. The work hard to turn out excellent cups of coffee as fast as they can. If they need a bit of release at my expense, fine. I can take it.
...it will be a coffee table book about coffee table books....
I was talking with an iinteresting man at a coffee shop yesterday. He said that he had a masters in art history and a phd in sociology. He then went on to tell me all bout how he studied at Yale and even went to Oxford for a year. Apparently he also siad that he was an accomplished concert pianist.Â
After listening him balther on about himslef I finally had to stop talking and get my double latte.
Wow I need a new keyboard. Lol at myself!
@Mr. Carbon Footprint I watch Frasier too
 @Bert No,    SUPER AWESOME!
 @Bert Awesome!!!!
The bosses must not watch the baristas on Portlandia.
I read a book written by a guy who worked in a book store. It was comprised of comments, questions and requests made by the customers of that store. If anyone has compiled thoughts, comments and observations of customers they work with, instead of posting on the internet where you can easily be found out and fired, write a book and submit it under a pen-name. Even if it is only published for e-books, it would be harder to identify the author.
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What is humorous to some can be offensive to others.
Best to post the hilarity on a site like notalwaysright.com where it's anonymous. No point starting a blog that can be traced back to you personally.
@badcat One could even go analog and put it for sale at the Independent Publishing Resource Center store or put it in their library, or both.
 @badcat But blogs can be a source of extra income if you become popular enough.
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 @Morticae Gotta weigh that against your existing paycheck...
 @badcat That's true. People with facebook are just as bad. If I worked in HR, I'd just look up everyone's facebook account to weed out the crazies. People post some stupid pictures on there.
What a bunch of emasculated, effeminzied, Marxist-*******list, fey, effete, epicene ween bags.
 @MuttleyÂ
Define "Marxist." Â Bet you can't do it without Googling it and then, if you have an integrity, feeling like an idiot.
well, I guess that those who make fun of others will be found out one way or the other.
SAD, SAD, SAD !! Â I would love to be employed !!!! Â He obviously needs to see a counsellor, but best that he is getting an opportunity to find a better fit for himself !!!!!
The business owner has a lot more at stake than Matt Watson. By writing about his workplace, he is representing the company whether he likes it or not. If you don't like your customers or your boss, then a barista is not the place for you. I was a barista for years and it was the funnest job I have ever had.
 @Tedomatic Dude what company is he working for?   ya that is right you don't know because no one knows.  all we know is it is in Seattle.   So what company is he representing whether he likes it or not?  i would like to know. So i can't not step foot in there.  not because of the blog but because of the A hole boss who fired him over such a thing.  GET REAL>
I, for one,.am upset I have not been able to post on the California killer ex-cop story for the last hour! Doesn't matter how many time I let the webmaster know either! Â
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 @TheUglyTruth Amen to that. and they should stipulate about customers to.   Life is to short to be serious all the time, so if you can't laugh at yourself, call me i will laugh at you.
 @TheUglyTruth Complaining about your job may be one thing, but as soon as you start to insult the customers, out the door you go.
I say the guy is genius..with an an impending album coming out and he is getting this attention will only be beneficial to him. However on the flip side of it, people should be thankful they have a job and appreciate each situation for what it is and move on.