Waterbean Coffee — Restaurant in Davidson

Today, I had a freakish experience at this location of Waterbean Coffee--the first time in my entire life. I ordered a small latte for $5.41, made the payment using Apple Pay, and then went to look for a seat. When I got home, I found that the barista tipped herself $1 (see the screenshot, at 15:47, April 23, 2025) following my payment. I clearly remember I didn't wait for the tip options to be shown on the POS screen as it took a bit longer than normal, and some cafes no longer have the tip options for coffee.

Although it was only one dollar, which could have passed unnoticed, it gives me a negative feeling about this cafe as a whole, and I'm not motivated to revisit it. One dollar doesn't matter at all, but honesty and decency matter more in keeping loyal customers going back. The barista did that without the customer knowing and without the customer’s consent. I hope that this review will serve as a warning...

I’m a regular at the Cornelius Waterbean and truly appreciate their consistently great coffee—I’ll always support local spots like this. However, I’ve noticed a big difference when visiting the Davidson location. While the coffee remains excellent, the overall customer experience could use improvement.

The baristas often seem disengaged and unapproachable, which really affects the vibe. Having worked in a coffee shop that is voted Best in NC year after year, I understand how important it is to greet every customer warmly, even when you’re in the middle of a task. A simple “hello” can go a long way in making someone feel welcome. Unfortunately, that energy is missing here.

I’d love to see the Davidson team bring the same level of friendliness and hospitality that makes the Cornelius location such...

The barista was clearly having a bad day. Seemed annoyed to take our order, threw dishes around in the back to the point where everyone in the shop stopped talking and looked up. Asked for more half and half in the container and she threw more dishes around and put a splash in rather than refilling the entire container. Not sure what was going on but I felt embarrassed for her and a little sad at whatever was going on. I hope things get better for her as clearly she’s...