Big Apple coffee fiends are spending loads of bread on brew \u2014 but the actual cost of a cuppa is just the\u00a0tip\u00a0of the iceberg.\u00a0<\/p>\n
NYC go-getters fueled by beans, cream and sugar are being \u201cguilt-tripped\u201d into tipping an average of $357 to baristas each year, warns a new report on the ever-controversial rise of tipping culture.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
More startling, java junkies across the entire Empire State annually spend over $237 million, combined, in gratuities to coffee shop employees, per the findings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New Yorkers are spending millions in tips to baristas every year, per an eye-popping new report. Cavan for Adobe \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a lot of dough to blow on a cup of Joe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pressure to tip is growing day by day, and the service staff provides to earn tips is minimal in some instances, such as a coffee from the coffee shop,\u201d wrote study authors for GigaCalculator<\/a>, a virtual mathematical resource.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe average American drinks three takeout coffees a week, and the average price of a coffee in New York City is $6.20,\u201d continued the experts, citing\u00a0trending Numbeo data<\/a>. \u201cConsumers are now expected to tip 20% on every coffee, leading to New Yorkers spending an extra $357 on what was once a voluntary occasional gift to workers.\u201d<\/p>\n The investigators also garnered statistics from the\u00a02026 Drive Research analysis<\/a>, which revealed that 71% of Americans drink coffee every single day, with 33% purchasing the hot stuff from haute haunts or chain caf\u00e9s on a weekly basis.\u00a0<\/p>\n Researchers revealed that NYC coffee lovers offer up approximately $357, per person, as a bonus to coffee shop workers in a given year. MargJohnsonVA \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Spilling the beans on New York\u2019s tipping habits, the Giga insiders determined that over\u00a0an estimated 533,000 locals buy takeout coffee every day, costing them a collective $237 million in tips.\u00a0<\/p>\n The demand to hand over a few extra bucks to food industry workers is becoming a buzzy bone of contention among consumers from coast-to-coast.\u00a0<\/p>\n A staggering 78% of customers say\u00a0tipping practices \u201chave become ridiculous,\u201d\u00a0<\/a>while roughly 74% claim restaurants arbitrarily inflate the suggested gratuity amounts displayed on digital payment screens,\u00a0a recent survey revealed<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Whistleblowers have even accused Shake Shack of hitting patrons with a\u00a0sneaky \u201cno tip\u201d surcharge<\/a>, arguing that the hamburger hut tacks on an additional fee to folks who refuse to tip before checking out. The fast-food joint has since\u00a0denied the allegations<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tipping culture detractors have publicly shamed restaurants, coffee shops and fast-food joints for demanding gratuity despite offering quality service. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n