Shedding Clothes And Selling Coffee

In An Effort To Stand Out In A Coffee-Saturated City, Some Are Taking It Off

(CBS)  Seattle is America's coffee capital but there are so many places selling the stuff that coffee shops have to come up with some pretty creative marketing strategies to keep a leg up on the competition.

The latest tactic in the coffee wars could be called sexpresso: scantily clad baristas at the ubiquitous drive-through coffee stands.

"We're trying to find a niche in a market that's flooded with espresso stands and this is what we came up with and it's working," Adrianne who works at a Cowgirls Espresso Stand told Sunday Morning correspondent Bill Geist.

Her boss, Lori Bowdin, started with bikini Wednesdays. She said when people first came to her stand and saw her servers they simply thought "wow."

"They're excited to come back the next time and see what the girls are going to wear," she said.

At The Sweet Spot, Sara and Edi — a bubbly pair — are selling a fresh brew of caffeine and cleavage. They feature tube top Tuesdays, wet t-shirt Wednesdays, fantasy Fridays and offer fast, friendly and flirtatious service. They've given such racy names to their drinks you're sometimes embarrassed to order.

"Nasty erotic pleasure, sexual mix erotic pleasure is pretty good or you could always order a joy ride," Sara said, listing some of the names.

Sarah and Edi are actually two of the more conservatively dressed sexpresso baristas.

"We leave a little bit to the imagination," Edi said.

But according to Seattle police sergeant John Urquhart, no one is committing the crime of indecent exposure.

"I used to be on the vice squad," he said. "I know it when I see it and I haven't seen it."

"You have to cover the breasts and the buttocks you have to cover all of that," Lori said.

Sexpresso stands throughout the Seattle area say they've had few complaints from the public or their baristas. Most are paid minimum wage but their tip cups runneth over. Some pull in between $80 and $150 a day.

"They love it they have fun they smile all day long and they smile all the way to the bank," Lori said.

In a city where coffee is a religion and latte an art, some consider sexpresso a bit of a sacrilege.

"We're trying to elevate the industry" Robert Burgess of the Seattle Barista Academy, said. "People who go there go for entertainment. I think they're ordering a tall risotto non fat milk one pump chocolate no whip drink that is going to take as long as possible for that barista to prepare."

Cowgirls espresso has grown to six stands and Lori said she hopes to franchise all across the country. Sexpresso — a marketing concept drawing customers and bringing them back for more and more and more.

[teracotapi]

I wish we had something like that in Michigan.

[teracotapi]

I wish we had something like that in Michigan.

[frankbowers]

how sick America has become all for a Abe and/or a George. I wll not say the best of good byes just adios Frank Bowers in Austin, TX

[maxine47-2009]

Exploit (According to Merriam Webster):
1. To make productive use of : UTILIZE exploiting your talents exploit your opponent's weakness
2. To make use of meanly or unfairly for one's own advantage exploiting migrant farm workers

I'd say the first definition applies to this story. None of these women looked unhappy about their circumstances and they sure seem to be successful. And I couldn't see anything that's not commonly seen at the beach. So who's being exploited? Maybe the guys who keep spending their money for the coffee. Way to go, ladies.

[southernmom9]

well olebd, we should blame the media too for covering it! I usually leave my tv off anyway, I used to think the news was safe from gratuitous nudity and the constant mention of ***...silly me!!

[olebd]

I sure liked women better when they would strive to dress up, wear makeup, wouldn't cuss like a man, didn't get in street brawls, wouldn't drink until they puked or made a fool of themselves dancing on a table grabbing themselves, had piercings on their ears only and didn't get all tattooed up to look like graffiti on a boxcar.

[olebd]

Blame Brittany, Paris and Lindsay. Oh, and the old Christina and Madonna....Remember, Madonna was touted as the "innovator" who paved the way for all these other ***.

[southernmom9]

I love watching this show, but is this really news? Women have been selling out for years. I am saddened that women are taught to use their bodies instead of their brains. Unfortunately, the corporate world is no better. No wonder we can't be taken seriously, when people will shed clothes for a few bucks. What is sad to me is my six year old daughter is constantly exposed to this attitude that we are only valued for our bodies. thanks CBS for just perpetuating that idea. there should be a parental warning for this show in the future. Bill Geist driving around and around the trailer with a leer on his face made me sick. Grow UP!!!!!

[catherine195]

I was quite taken back by this story shown at 10:20AM on a Sunday - but after I saw it, I told my husband that when I retire May 2007 I'm opening a franchise - what a fabulous concept this is! You go Ms. Lori Bowdin!
Thanks for a fab franchise idea!!!
Susan
[e-mail]

[lily_ayanami]

Hey, where are the male baristas? If they're going to objectify women as *** objects, they gotta go all the way. I want to see a cute man in his briefs making me coffee. I want to see both or not at all. :P

[victoriarum]

If the product "bean" is good it will sale, no need to exploit a human life in a professional establishment.

God Bless.

[whowillfixit]

Notice that those who vehemently object are women, and those who wholeheartedly approve are men...there is a statement about our society and gender roles for sure.

Why should it be that women have to use their sexual appeal to be successful? I haven't seen any coffee stands with men dressed in thongs so they can make a buck or two.

I don't wholely object to the coffestands. But look at the bigger picture: how can women break the glass ceiling, be totally "equal" with men, if men are continually objectifying them and believing it to be okay to do so?

[caldwellptr]

excuse me, i meant
i'm a coffee ***

[caldwellptr]

I'm a coffee ***

[feelfree1]

Is this place 'all you can eat'?

[bwright923]

I wonder if hot coffee spills are a problem?

[skyeghost]

can i have directions please ?

[bobfishinguy]

Get a life dancer. If you don't like it, don't watch.

A football player makes millions a year because he is "gifted" with his body, its OK. Some girl makes a couple of bucks selling coffee in a bikini she is "expoited"?

YOU are a chauvenist because you want to deny women the right to earn money with the talents they have.

All you people who protest Hooters or whatever hide behind the BS that the girls are "exploited" because you want them at home at your mercy on their knees.

If it was up to your type they would all be on leashes walking two steps behind their master.

[bernieb14]

Nothing better than drinking a cup of joe along with a little eye candy. Nothing wrong with that and if it helps them corner a full market, then good for them. I'll bet the last 2 bloggers are just jealous that they wouldn't be able to get a job there. Nothing worse than cottage cheese with your coffee.

wow. how else can we teach little girls that their bodies are for sale?