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Travel mug. Yes or no?

hunsta

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
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OK. Hey all.
Now this may sound like a very frivolous topic question to ask. But its kinda important to me. In a medical sense.
Now I've done the Camino Frances back in 2015. All the way. And I struck this problem with this topic. When asking it way back in 2014. When researching my up coming Camino.
I'm preparing to go back in 2023, and I`d like to ask if cafes and bars would allow the use of travel mugs for when one orders their morning cafe con leche?
Now please don't go off on a rant about being the wrong kind of pilgrim who needs his "Joe-on-the-go". And if I'm not prepared to do things their way. I shouldn't be there. I copped quite a bit of abuse back then. When I asked this question back in 2014.
See I have a condition called Essential Tremors. And I have it in my hands. So if I have coffee at a cafe. I always get it in a mug to go. As it has a lid. And I don't wear most of it. Instead of drinking it.
I was lucky to meet a great bunch of people in 2015. That helped me get my coffee`s from counter to table. But there was a couple of times that that didn't happen. With messy results.
Now from memory last time there in 2015. I don't think I saw a "To go" cup anywhere. And to be honest. The litter I saw on some parts of the trail. I'm glad they were not part of it.
So to the heart of the question. Would a travel mug be acceptable to present in a bar or cafe when ordering a coffee? It can be an embarrassing and debilitating disability at times. But little things like lids on a coffee cup make a hell of a difference.
Thanks for your understanding.
Cheers
Craig
 
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Hi Craig. Don’t know if you speak Spanish. But, if not, perhaps prepare a sentence or two to say when you are presenting your travel mug. Even if it’s not their usual practice, I’m sure if the cafe owner understands they will be happy to use your travel mug.
 
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I do speak a little Spanish. I learned before going last time. Helped greatly. And I know the Spanish appreciate the effort. I have contemplated a "spiel" for when ordering. Couldn't hurt to have one on hand. And hello fellow aussie.
 
I will add in that if they aren't keen to use your lidded travel cup, is to be able to ask them to carry the coffee cup to were you are sitting (I am pretty sure many bars are used to doing that for some of their regulars who might struggle)
 
I also have benign essential tremor (dominant hand). Unfortunately I was unable to travel this year due to an unexpected heart problem. I probably have the same cup as yours which includes a sippy cup lid. The location of the handle is different and that adds balance. I didn’t realize that for awhile so it is a helpful thing to have. I’ve found that I can drink well enough from a standard cup if I use both hands. My planned alternative was to pour the contents of the cafe’s cup into mine (if the tremor isn’t really bad) or translate the situation, print it out, show it to wait staff. Or show your cup, sit it on the table, show the tremor, and hand your cup to the person serving coffee. Buen Camino!
 
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hunsta said:
It can be an embarrassing and debilitating disability at times.
Click to expand...
I have Parkinson's, so my tremor is at rest, not during activity. If I let my hand rest touching something though, or hold something for too long without moving, my tremor starts up. I have spilled a lot of coffee by touching a regular cup while talking, or thinking about something else. I carried a travel mug. No questions were asked. Most of the time they would make the coffee in their cups and pour it into mine.
 
I hope you get all the help needed to enjoy your Camino. My first one will happen this summer, so I do not have any experience how this might work on the way, but wanted to share my support and blessing to you! I know about the condition you told about and find it important that you could ask for such service in any cafe on the way! Could you just show them your hands and give your mug to go with a friendly "Muchos gracias!" ?
 
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My partner likes big coffees but not overly strong I am bringing a collapsing travel mug to assist in buying her coffee
 
I don’t think it will be a problem. You may need to pour it in your own cup at some places.
 
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I would say no issue but make sure you either know the words in Spanish or have them written down with the reasoning. I say this as I have never seen travel mugs used in my travels in Europe so to them it may be a foreign concept. Also due to previous COVID issues a lot of places in Canada did not permit non company cups being used, I don’t know about the Camino though
 
As several have said, the answer is Yes.
But I would add that on the chance the barista is grumpy, being able to tell the reason for your request when you ask it might avoid an angry response.
 
Most cafés in Spain make the espresso right in the serving cup and then add the steamed milk from a latte pitcher. However, they can also make the espresso in an espresso pitcher and pour its contents into your mug and then add the steamed milk. You could say, "¿Me puede hacer un café con leche en mi taza?" (Could you make me a café con leche in my own mug?") as you show them or point to your travel mug (I would probably also make the gesture of pouring both the coffee and milk from their pitchers into the travel mug to make sure they understand you don't want to try to pour a cup of coffee into your mug). You are the one to decide whether to show a trembling hand or to make the gesture of trying to drink a cup of coffee with a trembling hand. I would be astounded if anyone complained or refused to serve you coffee in your mug.

By the way, coffee to go is not uncommon. If you see styrofoam cups, ask for "un café (con leche) para llevar, por favor". If you don't see cups, ask "¿Hay café para llevar?" If so, "Un café (con leche), por favor."

In case you don't know Spanish, you should be able to type those Spanish phrases into an online program that can read them aloud so you can hear the pronunciation and learn them if you want to learn them.
 
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Schamber said:
I don’t think it will be a problem. You may need to pour it in your own cup at some places.
Click to expand...
Thats a great thought. But I dont think you realise what Essential Tremors are. If only I could pour things.
 
Thanks so much for your reply. Yes I do speak a little Spanish. And will definitely have my request ready at hand. The real problem with Essential Tremor is the anxiety that goes with the tremor. Its a vicious circle.
 
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