Texas bartender gets $0 tip—for making an espresso martini… with espresso: ‘Life as a bartender’

Working as a bartender can be mentally draining. Besides dealing with difficult and drunk patrons, the ones not well-versed in their drink terminology sure can be a doozy. It’s even worse if the customer punishes you for it, like this bartender was.

Houston-based TikTok creator Makayla Bacot (@ezmak) unveils to 168,000 viewers a glimpse of how frustrating ‘the life of a bartender’ can be.

According to the photo of a receipt, it appears a customer ordered an Espresso Martini. Sounds pretty simple, and an easy tip, right? Nope, not exactly. The ‘reward’ is a big fat $0 tip.

All of it is due to what seems to be a lack of knowledge of alcoholic drinks. “Wanted my espresso martini without the espresso,” the customer’s note on the tip line reads.

So, What Did The Customer Order?

Typically, espresso martinis consist of vodka, espresso, and coffee liqueur, and syrup that gives the drink its sweet, bold flavor. It’s essentially a caffeinated cocktail that satisfies both the alcohol and coffee kicks. However, it’s not even close to an actual martini since it doesn’t contain the classic gin or vermouth. Instead, it falls under the category because of the V-shaped glass the drink is served in.

Nevertheless, those who aren’t fans of the espresso can swap it out for other coffee substitutes. Some of these options include cold brew concentrate, instant espresso powder, or extra-strong chilled brewed coffee, Nyssa’s Kitchen states. But the customer could’ve been confusing this beverage for a Black Russian.

Viewers Expressed Their Anger

In the comments section, almost everyone collectively felt their blood boil for this order mix-up.

“Cause wtf do you meannnnn??” one viewer asked.

“The way id literally be unemployed bc of this,” another remarked.

“Yeah, I would have needed to see two forms of ID,” a third stated.

Furthermore, this isn’t uncommon in the industry, as fellow bartenders recalled outlandish drink requests.

“I had a customer order a lemon drop martini but she hated the taste of lemon so she wanted no lemon,” one commenter recounted.

“One time, I had someone ask me for a margarita without lime,” a second shared.

Even in February, The Mary Sue covered a bartender named Elizabeth who had a woman order a martini without the ingredients that make it the drink. When she followed the substitutions per agreement, the customer didn’t even like it.

How Not Tipping Affects Your Bartender

Whether it’s because of the bartender’s perceived or actual mistakes, not tipping does hurt their wallet. In the United States, ‘tipped employees’ aren’t paid a standard hourly wage. Think of the servers, bussers, and, of course, the bartenders. Businesses in 15 states are legally able to pay these workers a measly $2.13 an hour. Under the tip credit, establishments must make up the difference if tips don’t meet the $7.25-per-hour federal minimum wage. And Bascot’s home state of Texas is one of them.

So, if you decide to hit up your local bar, be sure to know what you are ordering, or else it can be a recipe for disaster for both you and your bartender.

The Mary Sue reached out to Bacot via TikTok comment and direct message.

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