The insidious Hilton coffee tax!

[DC3]

Its the charge for a barista-made coffee, versus the pot of coffee they bring around...

Yes, similar to bad airline coffee.

 

[Archphoto]

Its the charge for a barista-made coffee, versus the pot of coffee they bring around...

Penny pinching much??:shock:

The mind boggles - thought hotels were in the business of "hospitality"; absolutely nothing hospitable in charging for a coffee that's made fresh! Next it'll be an additional tax on fresh pineapple over that canned stuff. . . . . . . :mrgreen:

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Is this specific to Australia? I have never encountered it o/s that I can remember.

 

[Isochronous]

I don't drink coffee, but this is outrageous. Shame on Hilton!

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

I don't drink coffee, but this is outrageous. Shame on Hilton!

I agree shame Hilton. Everyone has been saying it since it was introduced and nothing happened. It has only expanded to more cities around Australia. I agree poor form but is there anything we can do?

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Is this specific to Australia? I have never encountered it o/s that I can remember.

Try asking for a nice flat white in many countries! Seems to be Ozcentric, same as good barista coffee it would seem. In my very limited experience, coffee is consumed very differently in so many countries.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I agree shame Hilton. Everyone has been saying it since it was introduced and nothing happened. It has only expanded to more cities around Australia. I agree poor form but is there anything we can do?

No. I firmly believe it is a tax to push us away from barista coffee and onto the machines. Many machines do a pretty good job, but the best machine does not match the best barista. An excellent machine does a reasonable job and a poor barista does a cough job so make of that observation as you wish. The crud they bring around in a pot best belongs at a garden party..........fertilising plants!

 

[kermatu]

No. I firmly believe it is a tax to push us away from barista coffee and onto the machines. Many machines do a pretty good job, but the best machine does not match the best barista. An excellent machine does a reasonable job and a poor barista does a cough job so make of that observation as you wish. The crud they bring around in a pot best belongs at a garden party..........fertilising plants!

Does Cairns Hilton actually have a barista making coffee? I've never looked closely but often feel the coffee is basically from a similar machine to the one available to all. If that is the case then a charge is even more insidious - but clearly one which anyone in the know should just avoid. Genuinely don't know though.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Does Cairns Hilton actually have a barista making coffee? I've never looked closely but often feel the coffee is basically from a similar machine to the one available to all. If that is the case then a charge is even more insidious - but clearly one which anyone in the know should just avoid. Genuinely don't know though.

It's a barista machine, but any of the staff make it.....hence why I've grown somewhat fond of the plebs machine. The "barista" coffee takes too long and is similar to the pleb machine, so yes.....the coffee tax at H-CNS is a very rudimentary attempt to say to guests...."get it yourself"!

EDIT......there is an upside however, that being the take away! We made ourselves a takeaway each this morning for the drive to Pt Douglas for a reef trip. That's a silver lining!

 

[kermatu]

Yes - have taken coffee away once but also often see the (wonderful) staff in CNS encourage people to do so.

Have certainly felt the barista coffee in HSW to be worthwhile (when free) - especially after the change of machine in the Exec Lounge - but in CNS I'm usually happy with the pod version from my room or the machine. But I'm no aficionado and as stated above, tend to have tea more often anyway.

All up, the charge for coffee just seems petty to me. Perhaps charging for a 3rd coffee per person would be reasonable. But even then, it would be contra to the general rationale of a fixed price for a buffet.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

All up, the charge for coffee just seems petty to me.

Realistically it's not the charge for the coffee......it's the charge for the labour to make the coffee. It must be pretty intense to meet the needs (expectations?) of a hoard of breakfast goers (many directly contributing nothing to the overhead) as well as dealing with the orders. We do have to be a little careful, as Hiltons throughout AU offer far more than HH suggests/dictates/mandates! I do very much disagree with the coffee tax, but I'd rather that than a strictly continental breakfast (with coffee pot crud on the side).

 

[kermatu]

We do have to be a little careful, as Hiltons throughout AU offer far more than HH suggests/dictates/mandates! I do very much disagree with the coffee tax, but I'd rather that than a strictly continental breakfast (with coffee pot crud on the side).

Very fair points. I remember some very limited Diamond benefits in some US Hiltons, for example, where even getting a small glass of OJ alongside a croissant was considered a luxury reward!

 

[JohnK]

As long as you are willing to pay for it!

Free coffee is still available?

 

[Buzzard]

No charge for 3 coffee's at HSW this morning. Informed that the cost was $4 until I mentioned Diamond status.

 

[Sbv72]

No charge for coffee at HSW this morning. I think it was charged at the register but I didn't receive the bill. Did not mention it but I think they knew I was diamond (marked as diamond on guest sheet when we were greeted at breakfast). Other tables ordered coffees and received bills. Not on bill at checkout either.

 

[kermatu]

No charge for coffee at HSW this morning. I think it was charged at the register but I didn't receive the bill. Did not mention it but I think they knew I was diamond (marked as diamond on guest sheet when we were greeted at breakfast). Other tables ordered coffees and received bills. Not on bill at checkout either.

Exact same experience for me at HSW this weekend.

 

[jojen]

We were staying at the Hilton Brisbane over the weekend. Served the terrible coffee from the pot. It tasted " bitter and stewed ". When I complained I was offered a free coffee. After that we went to the lounge and had our coffee there.

 

[kermatu]

Just to confirm, asked outright at HSW what the deal was when I ordered a coffee on Monday morning - was initially given an account but then stated I was Diamond - account taken away and told no coffee charge for Diamonds. Forgot to ask about Golds which I will likely be next year.

 

[Buzzard]

DT MEL on Sunday initially charged a coffee tax until I reminded them that as a Diamond I should have been given a room on 16/17 with as coffee pod machine, not a room on 15 without said machine.

 

[Termite]

DT MEL on Sunday initially charged a coffee tax until I reminded them that as a Diamond I should have been given a room on 16/17 with as coffee pod machine, not a room on 15 without said machine.

Im assuming Doubletree - hit and miss. If you get the big Asian girl on check out, you will be charged regardless of gold, diamond or Trump Hairpiece. Most of the other counter staff are ok in my experience