Coffee date etiquette
The topic of coffee dates has come up several times in the past few weeks. I’ve been asked about the etiquette of things like who pays, if you should wait to order until your colleague arrives, should you wait in the parking lot if you see the person getting out of their car, etc. So, I thought it would be helpful to write about coffee date etiquette.
When meeting for coffee or a meal of any kind, it is the person who calls the meeting who pays for the coffee. If it’s a friend or a standing date and there is no clear host, then you can either take turns paying or pay separately.
Now, this leads to one of the questions I’m asked most often. What do I do if I get there early? Do I pay for my own drink or do I wait until the other person arrives? If you are the person who called the meeting and you arrive early, you should wait until your guest arrives so that you can order both drinks together.
Alternatively, you could order your drink when you get there and then order your guest’s drink when she arrives, but that’s a little more awkward. Usually your guest will protest or will end up buying her drink faster than you can get to the register to pay for it. But, I have done this at times with success.
One of my class participants mentioned that if she arrives early to a coffee date she initiated she will call the person she’s meeting with and ask what she can order for him. The drink is then waiting for the guest when he arrives. It’s best to get a sense of when the guest will show up, because if he is running late the drink could be cold upon his arrival.
Let’s talk about when you are the guest and arrive before the host. It is presumptuous to wait for the host to arrive and pay for your drink, so go ahead and order your drink and let the host order her own when she arrives.
A colleague of mine mentions that when she arrives later than her guest and the guest has already ordered a drink, she will send a note thanking the guest for the meeting and will include a $5 Starbucks card saying she was sorry she couldn’t pay for the drink at their meeting. I think that’s lovely.
What about the dilemma of waiting or not waiting when you see your colleague getting out of his car in the parking lot. If you are close to your colleague’s car and he doesn’t seem focused on other things – talking on the phone, handling papers – then go ahead and wait. But, if your guest’s car is farther away in the parking lot or he seems preoccupied with other things, it’s fine to head into the coffee shop and wait for him there.
A few more things about meeting etiquette; if you need to leave at a specific time, be sure to let your colleague know at the start of the meeting so she understands why you are looking at your watch and you can structure the meeting to fit within the timeframe.
It’s best not to order food unless your colleague does because it can be awkward eating alone. It’s also hard to talk when your mouth is full and the other person isn’t dealing with the same problem.
Lastly, I’ve said this many times, but it bears repeating since it’s something people continue to complain about. When you are meeting with someone, do not answer your phone. The person in front of you gets priority and deserves your full attention. However, if you’re expecting an urgent call, let your colleague know at the beginning of the meeting. If the call comes in, excuse yourself from the table and take it.
What are your coffee meeting etiquette dilemmas? Are there things you’ve encountered that I haven’t covered? Do you have coffee date pet peeves?
Arden Clise, President of Clise Etiquette, is a business etiquette consultant and columnist for the Puget Sound Business Journal. She specializes in business etiquette, customer service, social media etiquette, communication styles and executive presence consulting and coaching. Learn more about Clise Etiquette at www.cliseetiquette.com, or read more from Arden at www.cliseetiquette.com/blog/.
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