Inside LA’s first bikini coffee shop — as baristas reveal how many ‘weirdos’ show up

Skinny lattes come with a side of curves at this new coffee shop.

Tanlines Coffee, a Los Angeles bikini barista coffee shop in the industrial hub of Commerce, has drawn quite the buzz thanks to its scantily clad staff.

But employees are spilling the tea on the worst kind of clientele you might expect to find at a bikini coffee shop.

While the vast majority of people are just looking for a caffeine fix and friendly chat, the job does require thick skin.

“For every hundred cool people, we get like one weirdo,” one barista shared in a TikTok interview posted by @mystery_house, breaking down the reality of working when wearing next to nothing.

The baristas revealed that the “weirdos” are usually easy to spot, especially the ones trying to sneakily film them using smart tech.

“You can always tell when it is Meta glasses,” one employee explained. “Because when you ask them, ‘Hey, could you take off your glasses?’ they’re like, ‘Why? There’s nothing wrong with them.’” Staff noted that these customers are usually trying to stealthily “record every angle” of the baristas.

Online reactions have ranged from amusement to skepticism.

One Reddit user who visited a similar bikini shop described it as “exactly what you expect: Starbucks with the baristas in bikinis,” while another customer insisted the coffee was “actually pretty good.”

@mystery__house bikini coffee shops are rare but what makes tanlines even rarer is here you can hang out with Babylon and ruby since they’re almost always drive-thru…why not support this very unique local buisness that’s owned by a brother and sister now THAT is wholesome @tanlinescoffee 4300 E Washington Blvd, Commerce, CA 90023 #creatorsearchinsights #hiddengems #lathingstodo ♬ Promis – ideasforconversations

Despite the occasional uncomfortable encounter, employees say the job is a massive breath of fresh air compared to traditional employment.

“I spent so much time trying to be so serious [in the corporate world],” one barista laughed while making an espresso shot. “Now I’m just working in a bikini and having fun with the girls.”

Beyond the eye-catching uniforms, the shop has chairs and tables set up inside where customers can hang out, order pastries and even chat with staff — the business opened on Jan. 12.

The baristas even joked that they are “Michelin star eligible” for how perfectly they prep their giant cinnamon rolls.

As for whether the unique gig is worth dealing with the occasional creeping customer?

“Great tips,” the baristas smiled. “Yeah, it’s worth it.”

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