Florida Café Fires Barista After Berating Veteran Over Military Discount

The incident was caught on video, leading to the employee's termination for unacceptable behavior.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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In an incident at a Grain & Berry Café in Orlando, Florida, a barista was seen loudly berating a customer who asked for a military discount. The video of the encounter went viral, leading the company to fire the employee for their unprofessional and disrespectful behavior towards the veteran customer.

Why it matters

Businesses that serve the public are expected to maintain a basic level of customer service, even when dealing with difficult situations. This incident highlights the importance of training employees to handle sensitive requests, like military discounts, with tact and respect, especially for those who have served their country.

The details

The video, posted on TikTok by user @russ_holster, shows the barista refusing the military discount and then aggressively telling the customer to 'get your [expletive] refund and get the [expletive] out!' of the café. Another employee is seen standing by in apparent disbelief at the barista's behavior.

  • The incident occurred on March 11, 2026 at the Grain & Berry Café in Orlando, Florida.

The players

Grain & Berry Café

A café chain that offers military veteran discounts up to 25% throughout the year.

Barista

An employee at the Grain & Berry Café location in Orlando, Florida who was fired for berating a customer who asked for a military discount.

Veteran Customer

A customer at the Grain & Berry Café in Orlando, Florida who asked for a military discount and was berated by the barista in response.

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What they’re saying

“The employee's behavior at the Orlando location is 'unacceptable and does not reflect the standards or values we hold' at our company.”

— Grain & Berry Café (TikTok)

“We have deep appreciation for the veterans and military families in our communities.”

— Grain & Berry Café (TikTok)

“No emotional regulation.”

— TikTok Commenter (TikTok)

“The worker was wrong, she should've gave that customer a discount. It's sad that some people don't appreciate active miltary/veterans.”

— TikTok Commenter (TikTok)

What’s next

The Grain & Berry Café company has stated that the employee involved is no longer with the company, indicating they have taken appropriate action in response to the incident.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder that businesses must train their employees to handle sensitive customer requests, like military discounts, with professionalism and respect. Losing one's temper and berating a customer, especially a veteran, is unacceptable and can have serious consequences for both the employee and the company's reputation.