By DAVID K. LI
Posted: 3:33 am
July 18, 2008
A New York coffee lover declared war on a Beltway barista, leaving both sides looking like drips.
Jeff Simmermon, 32, of Brooklyn, wrote on his blog that Murky Coffee in Arlington, Va., trashed the customer-is-always-right mantra when it refused to serve him three shots of espresso over ice on Sunday, arguing the ice would dilute it.
His outraged writing touched off a huge customer rights-vs.-java purity debate.
Embarrassed by the online brew-haha, Simmermon declined further comment yesterday.
"I'd like to let this thing fall off the radar," said Simmeron, an executive at Time Warner Cable. "It's a tiny cup of coffee and there are wars and genocides out there, man."
Murky owner Nicholas Cho said his e-mail box has been filled to the brim with boiling-hot responses.
"It's very divided," he said. "I've gotten hate mail from people saying, 'Who do you think you are, it's just coffee!' The good mail is people saying they appreciate me sticking up for an employee and for having standards."
