No, there is no misinterpretation on my end. I know the sort you are talking about, even the cheap ones are a luxury item, most of our hosts haven’t had coffee machines, probably only about 20% of them, maybe even less.
The rest have a kettle… which makes coffee as well as tea, hot chocolate of the instant sort, or whatever you fancy.
You boil the kettle, you let it cool slightly for coffee, and you use instant coffee. Hey presto you’ve got your coffee.
A key distinction for me: It’s one thing for a host to offer to get or buy X for a guest’s or sitter’s use. It’s another thing for a guest or sitter to expect it. One is graciousness or hospitality. The other is entitlement.
The host spending $25.00 at Walmart is cheaper than 100.00 a night for a paid sitter. Some sitters have no car, travel a long way. Common courtesy in my eyes.
It’s even cheaper not to buy any extra item and invite a sitter who is happy to accept what the host does have and shares. That’s in financial terms, which are not the most important to me.
In terms of
It works both ways. I also
But this same family did not only teach me to be a generous host but also an accommodating, grateful guest.
As @Maggie8K said,
In the vast majority of my sits, I have been told “please let me know if you need anything at all” I have interpreted that as a sign of hospitality and generosity but I have never asked anyone to get anything for me, I have occasionally asked something like “where do keep X”
I will ask about coffee set up so I know how to plan; should I bring whole beans or do they have a grinder, do I need to bring filters? If they do not have a coffee pot, I bring an insulated stainless steel (more travel friendly than glass) French press, portable Nespresso or moka pot. The french press is great for a solo traveler because it doubles as a mug and keeps coffee hot for hours. A standard press would be more practical for couples
As a host in a country where coffee drinking is as common as drinking tea is in other countries, I would not be offended by a sitter asking me to provide a coffee maker. I suspect hosts in tea drinking countries would not be offended by sitters asking that a kettle be provided. Switch the ask in either country and some offense might be expected.
I think you’re fine asking hosts what they have for coffee makers. If they have none, bringing your own pour over or aeropress kit are cheap alternatives for meeting your needs without undue drama.
A coffee maker is hardly an essential item. I love coffee but bring my own or go to a cafe. Essentials in the kitchen are cutlery, crockery, pans, etc. Hopefully a dishwasher too.
Just to clarify this thread
The frustration is not the coffee, it’s the sitter’s entitlement. As a host you can have coffee, you can supply it, you can even buy a machine but you also don’t have to. It’s your home and as sitters we are coming to look after your home and pets.
As a sitter, you shouldn’t feel entitled going into someone else’s home, expecting them to buy you a coffee or a machine. Yes, it is nice if it is there, but it’s not something that you should expect the HO to do for you.
An Olympic size pool ONLY.
@HappyDeb Agreed.
Thread locked.