[ulber]

The argument the article makes is indeed a bit blunt.

The idea here is that tipping enables better price discrimination, which in turn allows a higher "quantity" of coffee to be produced. With coffee shops that "quantity" will translate to things like 1) higher density or 2) more attractive placement of coffee shops, both of which increase coffee consumption by making it easier to pick one up, or 3) higher quality (think small batch) coffee being produced, which increases the quantity of labor being sold in a cup.

I still don't enjoy this tipping culture, but the argument being made makes sense when you fill in the details.

[KptMarchewa]

Places without enforced tipping culture still seem to have decent amount of coffee places.