A café chain owner has slammed the snarky remarks Today Show host Karl Stefanovic made during an interview.
Dan Dick, owner of Born and Raised Coffee and Nigel cafés in Melbourne, appeared on the breakfast show on Monday after he went viral for explaining the surcharge behind milk alternatives.
In the original video, Mr Dick explained most cafés charge a small fee for swapping to alternative, non-dairy milks as they cost almost double what dairy milk costs and theres an added complication to the workflow.
After viewing a snippet of the video, Stefanovic jokingly said to Mr Dick: Bit of a whinger, isnt he, Dan?
While the business owner brushed off the comment and continued with the interview, he made a follow-up video on Tuesday criticising Stefanovics blasé attitude.
I guess Ill cop my fair whack. May as well start calling me the ginger whinger from now on, Mr Dick said.
He also took issue with Stefanovic telling him to not whack any more fees onto his coffees.
Afraid of a surcharge are you, Karl? Mr Dick said.
I wouldve thought with all that money youre saving from wearing one suit all year round youd have plenty of dough to shell out for a couple of lattes, mate.
Dan Dick (ictured) appeared on the Today Show on Monday after he went viral for explaining the surcharge behind milk alternatives
Stefanovic (left) called Mr Dick a whinger, to which the café owner shot back: I wouldve thought with all that money youre saving from wearing one suit all year round youd have plenty of dough to shell out for a couple of lattes, mate
Mr Dick told Daily Mail Australia the video was made for some good banter.
I feel like if Karl Stefanovic calls you a whinger on live TV you should make the most of it, he said.
Wish I’d "champ"-ed him on the spot but it kind of shocked me so I just responded by being diplomatic and professional.
Just a bit hypocritical he calls me a whinger and then says not to "put on anymore surcharges"... who’s the whinger now?
In his original video, Mr Dick explained the extra steps needed to use alternative milks are often overlooked by customers.
Its the complication to the workflow of having six different milks, especially with takeaway coffees which are at the core of my business, it slows down service, he said.
He explained instead of being able to steam a large jug of dairy milk and pour a run of orders, the milk for each drink has to be steamed separately.
I was on shift this morning and made about 12 drinks consecutively that couldnt be grouped because they were all different milks. Slows things painfully, he said.
The experienced barista who has worked in other hospitality venues before going out on his own, said he was considering offering one milk alternative free of a surcharge in the hope non-dairy drinkers would predominantly choose that option.
If you were an almond milk drinker, would you drink soy or oat if there was no surcharge or, taking that a step further, if my prices went up but black coffee was kept cheaper, would you as a milk drinker be inclined to switch to black coffee?
This could help control my bottom line and affect my workflow in a way thats conducive to getting coffees out faster.
Mr Dick, who owns Nigel cafes, told Daily Mail Australia the video was made for some good banter
Many coffee drinkers weighed in with their take on the dairy dilemma.
I do like the idea of having one milk alternative the same as normal milk price, one said.
I think if youre going to have a surcharge on some alt milks it may as well be on them all, often people have a certain one because of allergies to others and wont switch for cheaper, added another.
The consumer needs to be aware of the cost if they want to buy a premium product, said a third.
I drink oat milk usually. I would switch to soy if it had no surcharge, but I wouldnt switch to almond, because almond is pretty watery. a fourth said.