You love the Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts mobile payment apps that let you pay for breakfast with your smartphone. But your coffee server, or barista, probably feels very differently. Here's why. Every day, on my way to work, I stop at my local Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks for some java. I mix it up a bit; I’m no coffee loyalist, and sometimes I feel like Dunkin’, sometimes I feel like ‘Bucks. Whenever I go to Starbucks, I pay using the company’s mobile app. Early this month, Dunkin’ Donuts released its own mobile app, so now I use my phone to pay at both stores. But I’ve noticed an interesting trend: I enjoy using the cards to pay for breakfast. Part of it is just the novelty of using my phone, but it’s also easier for me to use than cash because I’m already reading e-mail or checking Twitter on my phone as I wait in line. However, the coffee servers, ahem, baristas at Starbucks, very often feel differently. In fact, some of them clearly dislike the apps—I’m looking at you, disheveled-and-very-likely-hungover Dunkin’ lady with the star tattoos on your hand. And I think I know why they feel that way. The Dunkin’ and Starbucks apps make it quicker and easier for people to pay for their coffee, assuming they know how to use them and don’t fumble with their phones for five minutes every time they try to pay. But the cards also do away with the change customers receive after paying. In other words, the mobile payment apps drastically reduce the tips coffee servers receive. And when you’re making minimum wage, or close to it, tips make a difference. Of course, the same holds true if you pay with a credit card or other plastic loyalty card, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Dunkin’ or Starbucks to build some feature into their apps that lets customers quickly, or automatically, add on a small tip. The servers could keep some sort of digital record for their tips and then “cash it in” at the end of the day. I’ll still leave some change for my server if I have it in my pocket, but I rarely do. Call me cheap, but I don’t want to leave a dollar on a $2 coffee purchase, even if I have single bills. The moral of this post: Don’t forget the folks who make your commute to work, and your morning, less painful. I’m making a point to bring some change from my car when I buy coffee using my phone, or to at least pay with cash every once in a while. You should too. Just because they serve you doesn’t mean they have to dislike you. AS Related content Feature How culture and strategic partnerships help fuel transformation Marc Hale, CTO for AIA New Zealand, recently spoke with Cathy O’Sullivan, editor for CIO New Zealand, about navigating the complexities of digital transformation, and focusing on culture to enable healthier outcomes for customers. By CIO staff Mar 22, 2023 7 mins CTO Digital Transformation Change Management Feature 10 things CIOs wish they knew from the start Go slower. Network. Tell stories. Get training. Be kind. CIOs have plenty of advice they’d give to their younger selves if they could. By Martin Veitch Mar 22, 2023 7 mins CIO Careers IT Management Interview CIO Karriem Shakoor on harnessing the power of data democratization The UL Solutions tech chief aims to empower business stakeholders and improve marketing and sales effectiveness through comprehensive data transformation. By Martha Heller Mar 22, 2023 5 mins Data Management IT Leadership News Nvidia accelerates enterprise adoption of generative AI Nvidia’s AI Foundations as-a-service offering aims to help enterprises build and run AI models that generate text, graphics, and even proteins. By Peter Sayer Mar 21, 2023 5 mins Cloud Management Infrastructure Management Artificial Intelligence Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe