The economy is down causing the creativity of some coffee shop owners to go way up. With a “whatever it takes to bring the customer in” attitude, some owners are cutting back on the barista uniform, replacing them with bikinis. This new trend seems to be growing, according to three stories I have seen in the last week. While using scantily-clad servers is not a new idea, you generally find them in late night spots like bars and nightclubs, but lately coffee shop owners are getting in on this game.

We already know the plethora of reasons why this is so wrong on so many levels, especially when we are talking about daytime. Therefore, I am not going to even spend time with that here. What I would like to point out are two other areas that crept into my overactive imagination.

My first question is how sanitary can nearly-naked servers be? I mean in most food establishments not only are uniforms required, but hair nets as well. Human beings shed thousands of skin cells every day. Baring that much skin increases the risk that a lot of those cells are going to end up in my coffee. You see, already I am feeling ill. At least alcohol has disinfecting properties.

My second question is, what about spillage? Generally our clothing helps to protect us when we spill something. The odds of the baristas getting a dangerous burn while carrying around all of that hot coffee is certainly an increased possibility with so much skin is exposed. Don’t you think? I mean this could lend itself to an upswing in law suits leaving business owners with skyrocketing insurance premiums.

Okay maybe it’s just me, but mark my words; I predict these bikini coffee shops and stands will be a hotbed for disease and litigation. I don’t know about you but I will gladly take my coffee sans the skin flakes. Just milk please!

Case closed.

Story links:

Bikini Baristas Forced To Cover Up? A Brewing Controversy in Everett
http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-091609-bikinibaristas,0,6478894.story


Baristas Serving up Cups of Joe in Their Bikinis
http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/59406792.html


Solid Grounds
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2009/09/17/business/doc4aa95bb53fa52446685094.txt