Toxic, Discriminatory, and Exploitative -- Stay Away…read more
I worked here for two years, and it was by far the most toxic, discriminatory, and unprofessional workplace I've ever experienced in nearly a decade in the coffee industry. I was fired without cause -- the real reason? I was a gay man working under two ultra-conservative general managers in a company where men are rarely hired unless they're considered a "special exception," as I was told.
The management culture is a clique -- tight-knit, cult-like, and built on favoritism. I saw the stand managers' group chat titled "Gold Diggers," which tells you exactly where their heads are. They gossip about employees, bully baristas under the guise of "coaching," and pit women against each other to maintain control. One of my coworkers was fired over a false theft accusation simply because she didn't wear makeup or have a "cheerleader attitude." That's the standard here.
We were constantly overworked, sent to other locations with no compensation, denied even basic 10-minute breaks, and never received lunch breaks. After two years of covering shifts, taking on extra responsibilities, and staying loyal to this company, I was made to work a full closing shift -- including handling their EPD product order -- only to be fired immediately after. My work ethic was exploited right up to the moment they threw me out.
The general managers protect each other and ignore real problems. They pressure baristas to upsell so they can pad their own bonuses, all while pretending the business is built on "community." It's not. It's built on control, exploitation, and image.
This is a workplace stuck in the past -- discriminatory, toxic, and shockingly out of touch for a company that's been open over 25 years. I'm grateful to be out. No one deserves the kind of treatment I endured here.
To Management,
After two years of dedication, I left your company not just disappointed -- but deeply disturbed by the culture you've allowed and enabled. I wasn't just let go without reason; I was discarded after being used, overworked, and never once given the respect or recognition I had earned.
You foster a toxic, discriminatory environment -- one where cliques run the show, gossip is normalized, and real issues are buried to protect each other's reputations. Your lack of professionalism and empathy was evident every time you mocked employees, pit them against each other, or made hiring and firing decisions based on personal biases instead of actual merit. I was called a "special exception" as a gay man -- a comment that was both dehumanizing and revealing.
You exploited my work ethic, had me close your stand and complete your inventory order, only to fire me immediately after. That wasn't just unprofessional -- it was calculated and cruel.
But the worst part? You've been running this business for over 25 years, and still can't figure out how to treat people with basic human dignity. You ignore labor laws, deny breaks, withhold appreciation, and manipulate your staff for profit.
What kept me going were the customers I built relationships with and the few real coworkers who, like me, were simply trying to survive under your thumb. They deserved better -- we all did.
I hope, one day, you reflect on the damage you've done to the people who gave you their time, energy, and loyalty. Until then, I'll be using my voice to speak the truth about what working under your leadership really meant.
