A bikini-cladded barista delivered more than just a hit of caffeine when she smashed a threatening customer’s windshield with a hammer.
Trouble brewed at drive-thru coffee shop, A Taste of Heaven Espresso in Seattle, America, when a customer kicked off over a $22 (£17) coffee order, which led to business owner Emma Lee pulling out the hammer. The business’ USP is that the barista serves coffee wearing a bikini.
Surveillance footage shared on the 23-year-old’s Instagram shows the customer out of his car, disputing the price of the order and ominously telling her “nobody is going to miss you”.
READ MORE: Bloke shares ‘controversial’ Wetherspoons opinion – and leaves Brits divided
Click here for the latest news from the Daily Star
After ignoring Lee’s subsequent requests to leave, the barista threatens to pour his order – an iced coffee and a water – over him.
He takes the drinks back off her, opens the lids and throws first the water, then the iced coffee through the service window.
As he gets into his car to drive off, a furious Lee leans out of the window and smashes his windscreen with a hammer.
Lee told FOX 13, she “felt in danger” and was threatened by the customer’s “screaming, spitting” and attempts at “trying to pry open the window”.
(Image: emmxxss/Instagram)
She said the man was a repeat customer and had previously complained about how much his order cost.
“The argument that he didn’t know or was scammed doesn’t hold up.
“The prices are listed,” she said.
(Image: emmxxss/Instagram)
Following the incident, the small business owner filed misdemeanour assault charges against the customer.
Lee added that she doesn’t believe she should be treated differently to any other barista because she serves coffee while wearing barely-there swimwear.
She said: “Why should this kind of interaction be expected because of the environment? It’s disgusting.
(Image: emmxxss/Instagram)
“It’s okay for him to be outraged, but it’s not appropriate for me to respond?”
On Instagram, Lee spoke out about violence against women. She said: “This is no longer the time of women that will smile and apologize, having our only acceptable response be the art of deescalation – this time, we will fight back!”
The post’s comment section was full of people backing Lee’s actions.
(Image: emmxxss/Instagram)
One person wrote: “The hammer to the windshield was extremely satisfying!!! I’m so glad you stood up for not only yourself but all of us girlies in the industry!!”
Another commented “So proud of you for sticking up for yourself!!”
A third exclaimed: “Hell no girl, good for YOU!!!! The first thing I wanted to know is who is this girl so I can buy her the next round!!!! Hell yeah, you’re a badass!!!!”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.