Starbucks worker's coffee cup message leaves coffee fans divided

The quiet politics of Starbucks cups has been a source of amusement and frustration for plenty of regular coffee drinkers.

Misheard and misspelled names are par for the course, but some Starbucks scribes have been creative over the years.

In one instance, a Starbucks worker used a note on a cup to check whether a young female customer was okay in a tense exchange with an older male one.

Others take to using the cups for somewhat less safety-conscious reasons, as one TikToker discovered.

What was perhaps an ill-advised but potentially sweet-natured note saw her caption the clip: "AHAHHA what just happened at Starbucks?

"Never going back there."

A Starbucks coffee cup - James Leynse via Getty Images

The TikToker in question was one of the Chance Twins – identical twin sisters from Canada with a knack for snapping selfies and sharing lifestyle content in Los Angeles.

But what could have prompted such a response? It was indeed a note left on her coffee cup.

"Secret message," it read on the side in thick black ink, with an arrowed line pointing away to the back and bottom of the cup.

There, the printed text that usually reads “Careful, the beverage you're about to enjoy is extremely hot” had been craftily edited to read: "Careful, you're extremely hot."

A swing and a miss for that Starbucks employee, it seems, with the object of their desire swiftly beating down the attempt via TikTok.

Some commenters sprang to their defence, however.

"It's cute, girls say guys never do anything,” said one commenter who assumed the admirer was a dude. “He just put his heart out to you."

"Hear me out.... lowkey kinda attractive," said another.

A third added: "For God's sake marry this kind of people right away."

Others were unimpressed, some to the point of anger.

"I’ve worked at Starbucks for two years and my coworker used to do that to every girl," said one who had been put off by it.

Another said: "That is rude who did that but that person is not wrong, you're beautiful, plz stay safe."

Taking a sip - Alxey Pnferov via Getty Images

If you’re wondering what about the note was ‘suspicious’, some of the more cynical viewers out there claimed that the TikToker may have written the note herself.

"I'm sorry but imagine if she drew it herself in the car," one said.

"Me getting Starbucks after buying a Sharpie," said another.

The twin in question hasn't appeared to respond to the messages from the video after posting it back in 2022.