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A Melbourne coffee shop has come under fire after they refused to serve a pregnant woman coffee.

A coffee shop in Melbourne has been criticised for refusing to serve a mum-to-be despite her having ordered and paid for her coffee. The mum says that she was asked by the barista if she would prefer decaf when placing the order but didn’t think anything more of it.

“I thought that was a really weird question, and I said no, I’ll have that normal,” she said.

“When I went and sat down the person in charge said, unfortunately, they’d like to ask me if I could make that a decaf because the barista didn’t feel comfortable making me a caffeinated beverage, given I’m pregnant and there are health risks for babies.”

The mum says she was embarrassed by the whole experience, despite having had two healthy pregnancies previously, and knowing that a small amount of caffeine was safe for expectant mums.

“I was just so shocked and angry because I really wanted that coffee,” she said.

“I felt a bit judged for my choices, it just felt a bit unfair that someone else was making assumptions based on my pregnancy. I’ve always drunk coffee, in fact, nowadays I need it more and more, but I do try to just stick to the one and I’m pretty strict with other foods as well.”

Following the incident, both the mum-to-be and her husband expressed their disappointment to the cafe owner and received an apology, with the owner stating that refusing service to pregnant women was not part of their policy. They were also offered to return to the cafe for complimentary coffee but declined.

“We were happy with the response but I won’t be going back, even though they offered coffee,” she said.

It’s hard enough to deal with the constant advice that comes with being pregnant, so we really feel for this mum! The most important thing is that you are doing what is right for you and following your doctor’s recommendations.

Do you think this barista was out of line? Share your thoughts in the comments!

  • Out of line definitely! Everything in moderation is okay.

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  • Absolutely they were out of line! No one has the right to question anybody for their choices. We all make out town choices whether they be good or bad. Our choices, no one else’s!!

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  • They were totally out of line. And surely their actions were illegal.

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  • I only drank decaf whilst pregnant…..I think it was out of line but can.understand to a degree…..coffee is bad for yr unborn child..

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  • Definitely out of line!

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  • I think the barista was out of line. It’s not up to them to decide who can and can’t have coffee

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  • It’s up to the mother about what she orders. It’s not the barista’s!

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  • Appalling! I for one was actually told by multiple drs during my pregnancies that it’s fine to drink coffee in moderation, in my case I was actually told to drink caffeine beverages because my blood pressure was extremely low and there wasn’t suitable medication safe to bring it to a safe level. PS my kids were born healthy and no developmental issues.

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  • That’s disappointing

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  • Thats terrible! Glad they apologized but no one should judge or force their own opinion on others.

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  • Its OK to have your own opinions, but not to force them on to others

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  • Good that they apologized but yes, they definitely were out of line.
    You cannot force your opinion on another person and decide for them what to do, whether it is about coffee, alcohol, cigarettes or drugs


    • You know what I find hypocritical ? We live in a country where a pregnant woman is allowed to abort /choose death for her baby up to 22 wks and six days gestation and when the baby has a disorder or syndrome they can even abort the child up until birth !! and they talk here about a coffee being bad for the pregnant mum ??

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  • That poor woman ???? I’m so sorry you had to deal with someone like this !! They had no right to refuse you your coffee !! There is no excuse at all and there certainly isn’t any justification for it what so ever there opinion and what they feel is right for this expectant mum is nothing to do with them at all there is enough judgement, criticism and hate in this world with out a barista judging a mum on her desicion to have a normal coffee ! I hope the coffee shop owner reminded the barista it’s not there job or place to decide what is right for a pregnant woman !! That being said I could understand if it was alcohol but it wasn’t .

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  • That definitely wasn’t called for but glad they apologised

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  • Yes he was out of line,poor woman!

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  • Barista definitely out of line!

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  • Hard to have anything these days without being judged when pregnant. Probably have been best to advise them rather than deny someone from coffee

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  • Alcohol I could understand but coffee is taking it a bit far.

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  • The barista had good intentions, but it wasn’t his or her place to refuse the coffee.

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  • If that will be a bar and alcohol then I would say it was good thing but coffee?

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