Takeout Coffee Filled with Ants?! Restaurant Responds They Gave the Wrong Order

Shocking Coffee Delivery Incident in Yunnan: Ants Instead of Espresso

On March 24th, a user posted on Xiaohongshu and Douyin about ordering a hot coffee from a Chinese breakfast shop in Yunnan. After receiving the delivery, the user, who was busy studying for an exam, didn't carefully check the order and directly inserted a straw to drink... only to discover that instead of the expected energizing coffee, they got a mouthful of ants.

- Image source: Xiaohongshu user "啊啊啊啊啊啊啊麟宝"

From the images posted by the user, it's clear that what they received wasn't the hot coffee they ordered, but rather a cup filled with black ants soaking in a yellow liquid. According to the user's post: they ordered the hot coffee around 7 AM when nearby coffee shops hadn't opened yet, so they chose a Chinese breakfast shop instead.

However, due to an important exam that day, the user didn't verify the order after receiving it and instead focused on studying. It wasn't until they got into a Didi ride that they finally tried to drink it. After noticing the strange taste and realizing it wasn't hot coffee, the user took photos and videos, and contacted the merchant to address the issue after completing their exam.

- Image source: Xiaohongshu user "啊啊啊啊啊啊啊麟宝"

Merchant Response and Compensation

The merchant explained that an employee had made a mistake and offered a full refund for the coffee's original price, while having the involved employee apologize to the user. The user mentioned that the employee was a 60-year-old woman who had accidentally mixed up the coffee with ants used in their Dai ethnic cuisine, and was willing to apologize in person... Considering the woman's age, the user didn't require her to come apologize. However, the user felt that a full refund wasn't a sincere apology and therefore refused this compensation.

Analysis of the Incident

Objectively speaking, any consumer receiving such "coffee" would likely be shocked, regardless of whether these ants are actually nutritious and expensive. They're not a food that everyone can accept. Moreover, the consumer ordered coffee, not the "nutritious food" as mentioned by the user, so the value of the food itself cannot provide psychological balance. Additionally, the merchant failed to verify the order before delivery, didn't ensure basic consumer health protection, and neglected food safety issues.

- Image source: Xiaohongshu user "啊啊啊啊啊啊啊麟宝"

Ants aside, the customer ordered a hot coffee, which normally shouldn't be packaged in PET beverage cups. If the merchant sells hot beverages, they should train employees to use appropriate packaging. Regarding the incident, although the merchant responded that there was a mix-up, had the involved employee apologize, and offered a full refund, they provided no explanation for why the order wasn't verified before being sent out.

Resolution and Final Thoughts

After the incident, Coffee Workshop also contacted the user who posted about it. She mentioned that the merchant reached out after seeing her Douyin video. The merchant said they had consulted with relevant authorities and learned that for such mistakes (delivering food different from what was ordered), they would be required to provide triple compensation. They believed this incident had affected the user's mood for the day, and since she had posted on Douyin, the impact on their business was significant, so they transferred 200 yuan as compensation, sincerely apologized, and hoped the user would understand the difficulties of running a restaurant business.

- Conversation with user "麟宝"

The user stated she didn't want to pursue the matter further, but this doesn't mean she accepted what happened. She also mentioned that she didn't hide the video or post because she wanted to hold the merchant accountable, but rather because this was a personal experience she wanted to share. After all, anyone would find this scene unacceptable. The user later negotiated with the merchant, who recognized the seriousness of the incident.

This incident serves as a reminder for everyone to verify their delivery orders on the spot, regardless of what they ordered. Secondly, it's hoped that all merchants will learn from this example - problems can't be dismissed with just saying "running a restaurant business isn't easy." When selling food to the public, merchants should ensure consumer health and safety. Even if these ants are safe to consume, they weren't on the menu for customers to choose from, and it wasn't the food the customer ordered.

- Conversation with user "麟宝"

Finally, it's worth reminding everyone that as coffee becomes increasingly popular, many Chinese breakfast shops have started offering coffee as an option. However, for coffee delivery, it's still recommended to order from specialized coffee shops. When that's not possible, ready-to-drink coffee is also a good alternative.

Image sources: Screenshots from Xiaohongshu and Douyin

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