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Coffee Cups Are Next

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Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#141

Post by slavik81 »

8_hours_ago wrote: post #133
satori99 wrote: post #96

A former workplace of mine mandated that no-one was allowed to use re-usable coffee mugs at all. This was done because of the mass of dirty, moldy cups that seemed to fill every kitchenette in a multi-floor building. The business was a media organization and it seemed to me like reporters were the worst culprits. The company provided styrofoam cups which were consumed at a enormous rate, and this was deemed to be a b…

I feel like dirty dishes have been a problem in every place I have worked. Have any companies wised up and installed a dishwasher in each kitchen, and have someone assigned to run them every night? Or even just pay someone to wash the dishes by hand?

I worked in an office with company mugs and a pair of dishwashers. It was great. We had no problems at all.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#142

Post by prawn »

rorykoehler wrote: post #95
DoreenMichele wrote: post #8

First they came for plastic bags. Then they came for straws. Coffee cups are next. Straws are a hot button topic in disabled circles.

I have my own straw I take with. Is there a reason a disabled person can't do the same?

I once innocently and accidentally strayed into the disabled-straw debate. My Twitter responses were quite the scene for a few days after.

From memory, it's considered yet another imposition on someone who already has enough struggles to deal with. They might forget, etc. I can't remember what the argument is against straws being kept under the counter and only given on request.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#143

Post by mrbonner »

satori99 wrote: post #96

A former workplace of mine mandated that no-one was allowed to use re-usable coffee mugs at all. This was done because of the mass of dirty, moldy cups that seemed to fill every kitchenette in a multi-floor building. The business was a media organization and it seemed to me like reporters were the worst culprits. The company provided styrofoam cups which were consumed at a enormous rate, and this was deemed to be a b…

At my workplace there are occasions when some people just push their own glasses, cups or bottle waters up touching the nozzle. It is so unsanitary. When we have the disposable cups this kind of issue wouldn’t happen.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#144

Post by partiallypro »

satori99 wrote: post #96

A former workplace of mine mandated that no-one was allowed to use re-usable coffee mugs at all. This was done because of the mass of dirty, moldy cups that seemed to fill every kitchenette in a multi-floor building. The business was a media organization and it seemed to me like reporters were the worst culprits. The company provided styrofoam cups which were consumed at a enormous rate, and this was deemed to be a b…

This same thing is unfolding in my office. They are getting rid of paper cups but no one washes their dishes. I don't understand what's wrong with paper cups? They are biodegradable.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#145

Post by pg_bot »

tptacek wrote: post #119
SllX wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You shouldn’t be downvoted for this, you’re absolutely correct about bringing your own cups.

Thanks! A bit of friendly advice: voting on HN is a stochastic process, and by the time I saw this comment, it had already been upvoted many times. This is one of the reasons the guidelines ask not to comment on voting (but not the most important reason). I have trouble with this too! A sort-of-obvious trick: instead of discussing whether something should be downvoted, say you upvoted it and why. "I upvoted this, bec…

I would be wary of selection bias in the people who already use reusable containers. They might be more diligent in their sanitation than a larger population would be. Anyone in the food service business that is good, cares deeply about health inspections.

I can foresee some problems with the plan. For example, you might get higher turnover because staff members are sick of cleaning dirty cups. It might take longer to serve each customer which would usually leads to less business. People who aren't aware that they need to bring a cup might leave empty handed and never return. It might be easy to do the occasional mug, but at lunch rush with a line of people it may be a different story.

I would be highly interested in seeing the results of an experiment where a shop only used reusable cups. I think it might surface problems that you might not think of. Not to say that it couldn't be solvable.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#146

Post by partiallypro »

mirajshah wrote: post #124
GuB-42 wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I went to a cocktail bar that used dry pasta. Some kind of very long macaroni. Genius. It works perfectly and even holds up longer than a paper straw. And not only it is biodegradable, it is also edible.

Dry pasta likely cannot be made to hold up to a hot beverage though, can it?

It also undoubtedly alters the taste

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#147

Post by bogomipz »

If anyone is looking for a good reusable coffee mug solution I've been quite pleased with the Zojirushi vacuum-insulated mugs.[1]

They keep your coffee hot for 6 hours, they don't seem to impart much if any of a taste on the coffee, they're easy to clean and they can really take a beating.

Ergonomically it's pretty well thought out. They have a switch mechanism that can either flip the lid open or lock it with a push of the thumb. It also works equally well for keeping ice coffee or water cold.

[1] https://www.zojirushi.com/app/product/smkc

I would be interested in hearing what other people are using.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#148

Post by fouc »

8_hours_ago wrote: post #133
satori99 wrote: post #96

A former workplace of mine mandated that no-one was allowed to use re-usable coffee mugs at all. This was done because of the mass of dirty, moldy cups that seemed to fill every kitchenette in a multi-floor building. The business was a media organization and it seemed to me like reporters were the worst culprits. The company provided styrofoam cups which were consumed at a enormous rate, and this was deemed to be a b…

I feel like dirty dishes have been a problem in every place I have worked. Have any companies wised up and installed a dishwasher in each kitchen, and have someone assigned to run them every night? Or even just pay someone to wash the dishes by hand?

One company of 120+ people I was at did have a dishwasher and people were somewhat diligent in filling it up, but that didn't stop dishes from piling up in the sink etc. The receptionist ended up being responsible for running the dishwasher and so on unfortunately.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#149

Post by bane »

SapporoChris wrote: post #34

I was in Seoul last month. The McDonalds there had plastic coffee mugs and there was a bin for the mugs where the trays are returned and trash is disposed. Of course, normal disposable cup was available for to go orders. The major issue is cost of course. Disposable cups are a cheap solution. As long as they remain cheap and there are not other compelling reasons, few companies are going to be making any changes. I'v…

In Seoul these days, I've seen many coffee shops not allow you to sit in if you use the disposable cups. If you want to stay there to drink, you have to use a reusable cup.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#150

Post by fouc »

satori99 wrote: post #96

A former workplace of mine mandated that no-one was allowed to use re-usable coffee mugs at all. This was done because of the mass of dirty, moldy cups that seemed to fill every kitchenette in a multi-floor building. The business was a media organization and it seemed to me like reporters were the worst culprits. The company provided styrofoam cups which were consumed at a enormous rate, and this was deemed to be a b…

Interestingly I remember seeing signs at Booster Juice company that talked about why they chose to keep using styrofoam cups for environmental reasons. Because the carbon footprint of producing non-styrofoam cups was apparently much higher.
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