Putting bare feet on coffee shop seats sparks outrage over poor public etiquette

A coffee shop is not your living room. Yet some customers apparently need reminding that the seats they occupy will eventually be used by other people.

A Threads post by user @fejifilm has sparked an online discussion about basic public etiquette after a photograph showed two women lounging inside a Starbucks branch, with their bare feet resting on adjacent seats.

“Yung inuupuan mo, sinasampahan ng paa ng ibang tao. Partida, kumain pa ng outside food yan sila,” the uploader wrote, tagging Starbucks Philippines.

The post, which had attracted more than 113,000 views in the screenshots, drew criticism from netizens who questioned why some customers treat shared commercial spaces like their private homes.

A matter of hygiene

The practice is more than an irritating sight. It raises legitimate concerns about hygiene, sanitation, and consideration for other customers.

Coffee shop seats are designed for sitting, not as footrests. Bare feet can leave sweat, dirt, and microorganisms on upholstery and other surfaces that may not be thoroughly sanitized between customers.

Imagine paying for an expensive cup of coffee, only to sit on a chair where someone else’s bare feet had been resting minutes earlier.

The issue also extends to customers who occupy multiple seats unnecessarily, particularly when establishments are crowded.

Where is basic decorum?

The uploader claimed to have pointed at the women’s feet and informed the staff, but neither action reportedly produced a response.

Some netizens criticized the uploader for taking photographs instead of confronting the customers directly. Others argued that customers should not have to police the behavior of fellow patrons.

Another commenter questioned the propriety of photographing strangers without their consent, raising a separate debate about public shaming.

Meanwhile, other users shared similar photographs of customers placing their feet on chairs in public establishments, suggesting that the complaint was hardly an isolated experience.

Common courtesy should not require a sign

The controversy also raises questions about how coffee shops enforce standards of customer behavior.

While individual establishments may have different house rules, keeping feet off seats should not require a written policy. Neither should respecting shared furniture, observing outside-food restrictions where applicable, or leaving spaces clean for the next customer.

Customers pay for coffee, food, and the opportunity to enjoy a comfortable environment. They do not purchase the right to disregard everyone else’s comfort.

Ultimately, good manners are not measured by how expensive one’s coffee is or how sophisticated the establishment looks.

Sometimes, they are as simple as keeping your feet on the floor.

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