I’m going to start a three-week long sit, soon, and asked the host if there was a coffee machine available to use. He said no, he doesn’t drink coffee. I mumbled something about buying one once there.
But I feel that this should be something a host has on tap. And if they don’t have it, it’s easy enough to get a cheap one, especially if one has sitters regularly (and coffee drinking is common!). This host definitely has the ‘means’ to provide such an item. I wouldn’t care but it’s a very essential part of my day— the coffee— before I go anywhere, lol.
What do you think? I’m honestly afraid to ask for it, because I’m wary of poor reviews, now… but, I feel it’s something I should be able to ask for… right? Or am I off base?
(The more I think about it, the host hasn’t asked me about any personal needs during my stay, so I wonder if it’s just indicative of a broader level of not inquiring/caring— not that host is bad person, just perhaps not on same level as I am regarding all of that).
To be honest, no. Sitters don’t get to decide what owners should have in their homes.
But not the owners’, they don’t drink coffee.
May I suggest that you check the amenities list and don’t apply for a sit if they don’t have a coffee machine or that you buy a cheap, easy to pack one?
Different hosts and cultures mean different attitudes to coffee. We’ve been bitten once too often @Jcat33 so now travel with our own French press (plastic 100gms max as we’re 8kg cabin bag only kids) & at least one pack of decent filter coffee. So far so good over 30 countries! In fact just used it in Oman for breakfast!
Personally I think you have a bit of a nerve, expecting an owner to provide a coffee machine. You can always use a kettle, or a saucepan if wanting hot milk. I am somebody who does not own a coffee machine and would never dream of buying one.. I do have a small cafetiere though.
We’ve been full-time sitters since 2012, and we’ve learned not to assume any particular appliance will be in a home. We’ve stayed with coffee lovers who have every gadget imaginable, and with hosts who don’t own a coffee maker because they never use one.
If coffee is an important part of your morning, it’s perfectly reasonable to ask politely if there’s an alternative or whether they’d consider providing one. If not, I’d simply pick up an inexpensive French press or drip coffee maker for the stay if it’s worth it to me.
I wouldn’t take it as a sign that the host is uncaring. Most hosts are sharing their everyday home, not setting up a holiday rental, so they often don’t think about preferences they don’t have themselves.
One important distinction with TrustedHousesitters is that a house sit isn’t a hotel or an Airbnb. Sitters can certainly ask, but expectations are generally based on the host’s normal home rather than amenities being provided for guests. Good communication before the sit usually prevents misunderstandings and keeps everyone happy.
Coffee machine??? That’s not a basic, it’s definitely a luxury purchase! I think you perhaps live in a different world to the one I do.
It’s taking a liberty to expect an owner to buy when they don’t even drink coffee.
An instant jar of coffee would be nice, but I wouldn’t even expect that if they didn’t drink coffee themselves. But we carry our own decaf coffee around anyway, just in case.
No it definitely does not indicate a bad person or anything like that. Some ask, most don’t, it doesn’t mean there’s anything at all to be concerned about.
Just a thought, but perhaps you’re thinking me, me, me, instead of being grateful they picked you, in a thankful way, in an outward giving way.
Please don’t ask for it. Personally, if I was a host and you asked me to buy a coffee machine whether I drank coffee or not, I’d be having second thoughts about whether we were aligned or not. It’s a hugely extravagant thing to ask an owner to do.
You’ve very high expectations of others, it’s not an airbnb, it’s not a hotel, it’s not a holiday cottage, b&b, guest house. The owners aren’t there to serve you, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.
Seems unreasonable to expect hosts to provide you with one if they don’t drink coffee. And as you say, some are inexpensive, so you could buy your own. Maybe buy secondhand if you’re not willing to pay full price.
Oh, the coffeemaker thing! It’s usually one of the first things I look for in the amenities list, LOL. But like Cuttlefish replied, I’ve also bought my own French press that comes with me everywhere, and it’s a lifesaver. Sometimes even when the owner has a coffee machine, it’s so darn complicated to figure out, you need an engineering degree or something.
Another thing I often miss on a sit is a microwave. A lot of people don’t have one.
@Jcat33 It would be rather uncool to request a host to buy a coffee maker for your use when they don’t even drink coffee themselves!! We never rely on what a host may/may not have in their home and anything really essential to we carry with us. We have an expresso pot, like the ones pictured, which travels all around the world with us. Plus several packs of our favourite coffee to get us started. It doesn’t take up a lot of room & we are guaranteed the best coffee ever! Plenty of hosts do have fancy coffee machines but most of them I would not have a clue how to operate!
An expresso pot or a French press would be a cheap investment for you and worth it for a 3 week sit!
Nope. The host doesn’t drink coffee. End of. Your query is unfortunately just a perfect example of the results of THS’s ill-conceived ‘Air BnB with pets’ marketing strategy.
I also require coffee to function but I can get by with instant if I must. For a 3 week sit I might consider purchasing a lower tier coffeemaker (or a secondhand one as @MaggieUU suggested). And then I would donate it to a charity shop when I left. After all, the HO doesn’t drink coffee.
We’re hosts, and no, we don’t have a coffee machine, nor a microwave, washing machine, tv or other luxury devices. We’ve lived off grid for years, so we did not even had enough power to run these devices. Now we have a light grid connection but are used to living the way we do, and are not going to change that. And we still drink nescafé like we always did. (@Cuttlefish proved one can survive here with a French press ) Of course we’re clear in our listing. It’s paradise if you love living in the middle of nowhere, but will be a struggle if you are addicted to coffee machines and other electronics. At least we’re not going to buy these kind of devices.
I always travel with my own instant coffee and tea bags.breakfast bars for morning .i never expect ho to provide anything but if they leave some milk eggs and cheese in fridge that’s nice .
If the sit was for two weeks or more I would ask the sitter if they drank coffee. I would buy an inexpensive coffee maker for them knowing it is a popular am drink. Especially if I plan to have other sitters. Everyone is different. I would be grateful for having this sitter and want to make their stay comfortable. At this point you will just have to provide yourself with one or do instant for the time you are there. I don’t think your expectations are unreasonable. I come from a generous family who want our guests to feel comfortable and you are a guest.
for breakfast!
like we always did. (
) Of course we’re clear in our listing. It’s paradise if you love living in the middle of nowhere, but will be a struggle if you are addicted to coffee machines and other electronics. At least we’re not going to buy these kind of devices.