Barista leaves 'secret message' for customer on coffee cup

A woman has been surprised by a 'secret message' left on her coffee cup by her local barista.

Ashley Wilkins, who shared the encounter on TikTok, says she was picking up her favourite brew when she saw the words 'secret message' written on the side of her takeaway cup with an arrow pointing to the coffee collar.

In the video, in which she refers to her barista as "Starbucks Steve", she says she saw the message and underneath the cardboard collar discovered 'Steve' had blacked out some of the words of the sentence that is printed on all cups that reads: "Caution, the beverage you're about to enjoy is extremely hot."

He had blacked out some of the words with his Sharpie, leaving it reading: "Caution... you're... extremely hot."

The video has since been viewed 1.5 million times, with TikTok users delighted at the 'message'.

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While words such as this being spoken face-to-face may not have had the desired effect, many of Wilkins' followers think they were a cute play on words and worth a date.

"Smoother than the coffee itself," says one TikTok user.

"Steve shooting his shot!" said another.

"I'm sorry but he deserves a date," suggested another of Wilkins followers.

The story becomes more complicated however, when it is revealed Wilkins is married. Instead of being jealous, Wilkins' husband says he was amused by the barista's bold move but a little put out he didn't get his own secret message.

"He was like, 'I even gave Linda (he made her name up) a dollar tip when we ordered [and] you get special treatment,'" wrote Wilkins of her husband's reaction.

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