The genuine and down to earth care that often characterises the hospitality industry in Northern Tasmania is a far cry from my hometown of Melbourne.

A flat white with a side of eye-rolls and holier than thou pretension is par for the course in many inner-city establishments.

Needless to say, I was very unimpressed when I got the same kind of attitude at a Launceston coffee shop last week.

When trying to order myself a flat white I was treated to a display of sneering belittlement and condescension by the fellow behind the coffee machine. 

A simple question about the sizes of takeaway cups was treated as if it were the most uninformed query possible, while apparently my jacket was something of mild amusement.

While being used to this kind of attitude from baristas, it’s especially disappointing to see it here and it’s exactly the type of attitude that hospitality workers should stay well away from.

A part of Launceston’s charm for visitors is the refreshing honesty and openness of its inhabitants, especially when those visitors come from urban centres.

Trying to act trendy by looking down your nose at customers who pay $4.50 for a cup of coffee at your shop is not the way to successfully manage or operate a business. 

Let's not copy the Melbourne model and create tension between our customers and servers.