An incident at a local coffee shop in US has ignited a debate. CCTV footage widely circulated online shows a customer, allegedly upset about beverage pricing, throwing drinks at the barista. The barista, Emma Lee, 23, in response, took out a hammer and smashed the windshield of the customer’s car. She has also decided to pursue legal action against the customer, as per a report from Fox News.
The confrontation at Taste of Heaven Espresso, a coffee shop owned by Lee in South Seattle, underscores the need for respectful interactions between customers and service providers. According to Lee, this was not the first instance of disrespectful behavior from this particular customer.
Emma worked her way up from employee to owner. She prides herself on knowing her regular customers’ orders by heart. “When it (the coffee shop) went for sale, I was like, I need it,” she said, reflecting on her journey. However, the recent incident was something she never anticipated.
What exactly happened?
After a heated 15-minute exchange over the price of a coffee and water, the customer’s frustration culminated in him throwing drinks at her. Emma’s reaction was swift: the customer’s windshield was shattered.
“You don’t get to name your own price,” Emma said, explaining that the customer ordered a 32-ounce coffee and a 24-ounce water, totaling about $22. The customer insisted on paying less.
“No one is forcing you to come here,” Emma said. “The argument that he didn’t know or was scammed doesn’t hold up. The prices are listed.”
The argument escalated when the customer backed up his car, got out, and became aggressive. “I felt in danger,” Emma said.
Emma believes that she acted in self-defense, citing her right to protect her property. She has said that she stands by her actions and is ready to face any legal consequences.
Police were called to the scene, and Emma has since filed charges for misdemeanor assault. The customer is now banned from the coffee shop. However, he could take her to small claims court to cover the cost of his windshield.
“It’s okay for him to be outraged about the price of his drinks, enough to assault me, but it’s not appropriate for me to respond?” Emma said.
WATCH | Barista Shatters Customer’s Windshield After He Throws Coffee At Her world-news World News | Latest International Global World News | Todays Breaking News Headlines
