Taiwan 85°C Barista Writes Profanity on Coffee Cup

A woman in Taiwan ordered a caramel macchiato from a local 85°C café, only to find an offensive word written in caramel syrup on the foam when she opened the lid. What should have been a pleasant coffee break turned into an upsetting experience, raising serious questions about staff conduct and franchise accountability.

The answer is clear: the offending café, 85°C’s Xinfeng branch in Keelung, was immediately ordered by corporate to shut down for one full day and required all staff to undergo retraining after a part-time employee—working there just two and a half months—wrote a swear word on a customer’s drink as a prank.

What Happened at the Keelung 85°C Café?

The incident occurred when a customer, identified only as Ms. Hsu, visited the 85°C Xinfeng branch in Keelung and ordered her usual caramel macchiato. Upon lifting the lid, she was shocked to see an explicit word formed in caramel on the foam. She confronted the staff, who claimed it was just a joke among colleagues. Ms. Hsu took photos and posted them online, drawing widespread criticism.

How Did 85°C Respond?

85°C’s corporate office acted swiftly. The Xinfeng branch was ordered to close for one day to conduct mandatory staff training. A company spokesperson, Du Yuexiu, stated that the franchise would face strict penalties, and that all franchise locations would need to reinforce employee character education and service training before being allowed to reopen. The employee responsible—a part-time worker with only two and a half months on the job—was identified as the perpetrator and was made to apologise to Ms. Hsu.

What Do Other Staff Say?

When reporters visited the store after the incident, they found the café closed with a sign indicating a “staff training day.” Staff members on duty denied having time to write on cups, citing a busy work environment, and insisted they would never engage in such behaviour. One employee remarked, “We wouldn’t be so bored as to write things like that.”

Why This Incident Matters

This wasn’t just a prank gone wrong—it was a serious breach of customer trust and professional conduct. For the customer, seeing a crude message on her coffee ruined her day. For the brand, it risked lasting damage to its reputation. The swift response from 85°C headquarters underscored the importance of staff training, accountability, and maintaining basic standards of decency in customer service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did the incident take place?

The incident happened at the 85°C Xinfeng branch in Keelung, Taiwan. This is a franchise location of the larger 85°C chain, which is known for its baked goods and coffee drinks.

What exactly was written on the coffee?

A female part-time employee wrote an explicit profanity in caramel sauce on the foam of the customer’s caramel macchiato. The offensive word was visible when the customer lifted the lid to drink.

How did the customer react?

The customer, Ms. Hsu, was upset and immediately showed the cup to staff, who claimed it was a joke. Unsatisfied, she took photos of the cup and posted them online to seek public feedback and hold the business accountable.

What actions did 85°C take against the store?

85°C corporate ordered the Xinfeng branch to close for one full day. All employees were required to undergo retraining. The company also issued a statement saying it would enforce stricter staff training and character education across all franchises.

Was the employee fired?

The article does not specify if the employee was fired, but it does state that the part-time worker, who had been employed for just two and a half months, was made to apologise to the customer and that the store faced disciplinary action and retraining requirements.

What did other staff at the café say afterward?

When the media visited after the incident, other employees said they were too busy to write on cups and insisted they would never do such a thing. They claimed the incident was not representative of normal store operations.

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