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She warned her barista friend about a man tipping her about $100 on a $7 coffee every single day — then his behavior took a chilling turn

The barista thought it was great to be receiving such generous tips until she noticed something that revealed the catch.
PUBLISHED 6 HOURS AGO
(L) Man looks intently while having coffee. (R) The barista looks worried while working. (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels| L - FIRAS AMMAR, R - Daksha Kllmov)
(L) Man looks intently while having coffee. (R) The barista looks worried while working. (Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels| L - FIRAS AMMAR, R - Daksha Kllmov)

Receiving crazy amounts of tips as a bikini barista sounds exciting, doesn't it? A woman who goes by Nashalant (@naash.fm) on TikTok found it suspicious rather than fun when her friend, Izzy, received a tip from a middle-aged customer named Larry. He kept tipping her around $100 on a $7 coffee every day. While she was elated by the customer's generous tipping, her friend warned her that there might be a catch. Sharing the story on April 6, 2026, the woman explained how his unusual behavior turned into a chilling nightmare for her friend, and how her warning ultimately turned out to be true.

Asian Female Coffee shop barista writing order on a coffee cup at cafe (Representative cover image, Getty Images | Nitat Termmee
Female Coffee shop barista writing an order on a coffee cup at a cafe (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Nitat Termmee)

The woman mentioned that her friend Izzy worked as a bikini barista in California. She explained the latter is a term used for a barista who wears a proper bikini while preparing beverages at all times. Izzy had one frequent customer, Larry, who, despite the soaring temperature in the state, often stopped by to grab a cup of hot coffee. Weirdly, the man who seemed to be in his 40s, tipped the barista $50 - $100 for a coffee worth just $7 everyday. While the woman was elated at first, her friend knew something was off. Despite her warning, Izzy ignored her. To her worry, the man indeed turned out to be a stalker. At first, it felt like a coincidence to her; however, when Izzy spotted him at her gym, the supermarket, the parking lot, and so on, it was clear he was up to something unwanted.

Man looks slyly while sipping on coffee. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Gustavo Fring)
Man looks slyly while sipping on coffee. (Representative Image Source: Pexels| Gustavo Fring)

The friend warned Izzy to be vigilant and involve authorities as soon as possible. However, the barista suggested following him everywhere so he could get creeped out. The friend rightly explained that for creeps as such, this behavior would be misleading and cause more trouble. She warned her that it could backfire, as he may assume that she is leading him on. In the end, she urged her to be careful and to listen to her gut feeling. According to a case study published in PMC, stalkers often study the patterns of their victims. It also underlined that the stalking duration was mostly anywhere between 1 month and 20 years.

Image Source: TikTok| @ivannifrancois
Image Source: TikTok| @ivannifrancois

(Image Source: Threads | @niners4life08)
(Image Source: TikTok| @niners4life08)

The TikTok user's post was well-received by online users who appreciated her quick thinking. They also criticized her friend for not seeing the signs. @yahles wrote, "Oh, nah, I have the same job, thank god nothing like this has happened to me." @ayana89 wrote, "I'm low-key scared for Izzy... I need to know she's gonna be okay because the situation sounds shady." @rachelquiroz42 remarked, "I pray she listens. You're a good friend." 

For more such informative stories, follow @naash.fm on TikTok.

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