.Coffee employee took the chance to make feelings known to Laura Roberts
- .Words from cup's warning message were scribbled out so it read: 'Careful you're extremely hot'
- .Laura sent a picture of the cup to her mother Alex Blaine, who posted it on Facebook group S**t London
- .She says barista is a 'lovely boy' but is out of luck as she's engaged
- .Do you know the barista? Call 0203 6151265 or email lucy.crossley@mailonline.co.uk
A Starbucks barista attempted to woo a 19-year-old customer with a message on her coffee cup only for his efforts to be branded 'creepy' by her unimpressed mother.
The amorous coffee company employee had scribbled out part of a warning message on the cup he gave to Laura Roberts, leaving behind the text: ‘Careful you’re extremely hot.'
But his flirtatious message did not win over Miss Roberts's mother, Alex Blaine, who jokingly shared a picture of the cup online with the caption: 'Creepy barista writing inappropriate messages on my daughter’s coffee cup. Looks like son-in-law material.’
An amorous coffee company employee had scribbled out part of a warning message on the cup he gave to Laura Roberts (pictured), leaving behind the text: ‘Careful you’re extremely hot.'
The flirtatious message did not win over Miss Roberts's mother, Alex Blaine, who jokingly shared a picture of the cup online with the caption: 'Creepy barista writing inappropriate messages on my daughter’s coffee cup. Looks like son-in-law material'
And it looks like the unfortunate barista's feelings will not be reciprocated by Miss Roberts, as she is engaged to marry someone else.
Miss Roberts is a regular at the Starbucks branch near her north London home, but is keeping quiet on the exact location so as not to embarrass the member of staff.
'It's my local Starbucks and he's lovely,' she told MailOnline. 'He always does it.
'That day I sent a picture of the cup to my mum, because she lives quite far away and she put the picture on Facebook.'
The cup also had the words 'Lora', written on it as well as a smiley face drawn on, and an arrow pointing to the message, instructing the teenager to 'read it.'
Miss Roberts says the 'lovely' barista often leaves similar messages on her coffee cups - such as this one
Ms Baine posted the snap on a Facebook group S**t London, where it received 509 likes and prompted a flood of comments - some praising the barista, while others criticised him and said the gesture could amount to 'harassment'.
User Tatiana May wrote: ‘Would you like some creep with your coffee ma’am’.
Tim Ward seemed to echo Ms May’s sentiments, saying: ‘I’m sure he’s fallen foul of some harassment laws there somewhere.’
His comment was followed by Ryan James who wrote: ‘If she burns herself you could always sue… There was no warning it was hot.’
But other Facebook users thought the message was humourous rather than creepy.
Cliff Chapman wrote: 'Oh for God’s sake. Does no one have a sense of humour any more?’
His post received 50 likes, with more user Kelli Widdowson agreeing with him.
She wrote: ‘Clearly not. Everyone has to get all crazy and hormonal over a simple gesture! That’s why when you smile at people these day, they think you are weird.’
Another user, Phil Goddard, thought the message was flattering.
He wrote: ‘If someone wrote that on my double espresso, it would make my day. I’d keep the empty cup on my mantelpiece to cheer myself up. What’s everyone complaining about?’
But Miss Roberts, who works in the beauty industry, was not offended by the message on her cup.
'He's a lovely boy, I don't find it creepy and I didn't feel intimidated,' she said.
'I've got a fiance so sadly he's out of luck but I'm sure I'm not the only one he's done it for.
Users echoed Ms Blaine's original sentiment, with a majority criticising the barista for leaving the message
Some users despaired of the reaction, saying that the message was humorous
Users also wanted to know how old Ms Blaine's daughter was before they gave judgement
Phil Goddard posted: 'It would make my day. I'd keep the cup on my mantelpiece to cheer myself up'
'He's a nice boy and he wouldn't have been trying to offend anyone.'
Miss Roberts said next time she goes into the coffee shop she would be apologising to the barista.
'People should just take it as a joke and I want him to know that. He's very nice but sadly for him I'm taken.'
This isn’t the first time a Starbucks barista has divulged his feelings about a customer via the coffee cup
And it seems to be an international flirting tactic as employees as far away as Philippines are using it to convey their feelings.
Nicole Batucan (left) from Cebu City, Philippines, was flattered when she read the message (right) on her cup
Customer Nicole Batucan from Cebu City, Philippines, was gratified rather than offended when she was complimented on her looks.
The 20-year-old creative manager posted a picture of her cup on her Twitter page.
She told FEMAIL: ‘I felt slightly flattered with the message because I just got dumped recently, so the I got a tad bit happy with the message on my cup. ‘
However she does think that the message could be construed as ‘creepy’.
‘I think if you look at it at some perspective, it could be creepy but I have a certain respect for the baristas in Starbucks because I have barista friends at other Starbucks branches who are really good people.’
While Starbucks employees keep their flirting to secret messages scrawled on cups other coffee chains are encouraged to be more open with customers they take a liking to.
Earlier this year it was revealed that at rival chain Pret a Manger baristas are given permission to hand out a free drink to customers they like or fancy.
Clive Schlee, chief executive of the coffee giant, said in April: 'The staff have to give away a certain number of hot drinks and food every week.
'They will decide "I like the person on the bicycle" or "I like the guy in that tie" or "I fancy that girl or that boy."
MailOnline has contacted Starbucks for comment.
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