Cafe owner calls 911 over customer's brutal insult comparing expensive latte art to "sad blobfish" - tensions escalate when officers arrive

Cafe owner calls 911 over customer's brutal insult comparing expensive latte art to "sad blobfish" - tensions escalate when officers arrive
Source: FOXSYLVANIA

What started as a simple coffee order ended with police at the scene and a community divided.

A Morning Brew Gone Wrong

The incident occurred last Tuesday at Artisanal Brews, a high-end cafe known for its meticulous attention to detail and premium pricing.

What should have been a routine transaction quickly spiraled into a situation that has since gone viral across social media platforms.

According to witnesses, the confrontation began when a customer, 34-year-old marketing executive Jenna Reynolds, made a casual comment about her $8.75 specialty latte.

Interior of the upscale coffee shop where the incident occurred
Source: Inside Jaquval, Oak Cliff's newest brewery, and Trades

The cafe, which opened just six months ago, has quickly gained a reputation for its artistic presentations and exclusive bean sourcing.

The Comment That Launched A Thousand Memes

Reynolds had ordered the cafe's signature "Swan Lake Latte," which typically features an intricate milk-foam design resembling a graceful swan.

What happened next has been recounted by multiple patrons who witnessed the exchange.

"I just looked down at my drink and said something like 'Hmm, this looks more like a sad blobfish than a swan,'" Reynolds told local news. "It was just a joke. I even chuckled after saying it."
A blobfish, the deep sea creature referenced in the customer's comment
Source: Profoundly Hideous Blobfish Is Latest Animal to Score Its

For those unfamiliar, the blobfish is a deep-sea creature known for its gelatinous appearance and downturned "frown" that has made it an internet sensation.

The comparison, while perhaps unflattering, seemed innocent enough to everyone in the cafe.

Everyone except cafe owner Marcel Dupont.

A Barista's Pride On The Line

Dupont, 42, is not just any cafe owner. He's a three-time regional latte art champion who trained in Milan before opening Artisanal Brews.

According to his staff, Dupont takes immense pride in every cup that leaves his counter.

Example of high-quality latte art similar to what would be served at the cafe
Source: BRIG O'DOON COFFEE HOUSE

Fellow customer Diego Martinez recalled the owner's reaction.

"His face just went completely red. He started saying how she'd insulted his artistry and his establishment. Then he went behind the counter and picked up the phone. We all thought he was calling a manager or something."

But Dupont wasn't calling management.

When Coffee Disputes Become Police Matters

To the shock of everyone present, Dupont called 911.

The transcript of the call, obtained through a public records request, reveals Dupont claimed he was dealing with a "hostile customer who was harassing staff and disturbing other patrons."

Two police officers arrived at the scene approximately 12 minutes later, finding a confused Reynolds still sitting at her table.

By this point, several customers had begun recording the situation on their phones.

Officer Sarah Jenkins, who responded to the call, appeared visibly annoyed upon learning the nature of the dispute.

According to body camera footage released yesterday, when Officer Jenkins understood the call was about latte art criticism, she turned to her partner and said, "Are you kidding me right now?"

The Resolution No One Expected

Close-up of a beverage similar to the contested latte
Source: Debate over perfect Guinness bubbles up again

What happened when officers finally understood the full situation stunned everyone present.

Rather than issuing citations or removing anyone from the premises, Officer Jenkins took one look at the contested latte, which was still sitting on Reynolds' table, and made the call that would send the story viral.

"Ma'am," she said to Reynolds while trying to suppress a smile, "I'm going to have to side with you on this one. That does look like a blobfish."

Her partner, Officer Miguel Sanchez, then pulled out his wallet and refunded Reynolds the $8.75 from his own pocket, saying the police department would consider it a "community relations expense."

Dupont was issued a warning about misuse of emergency services, and the officers departed after suggesting he might want to "practice his swans a bit more."

Reynolds declined to press charges for the false report, stating she just wanted to finish her coffee in peace.

Local residents have since flocked to the cafe, specifically requesting "blobfish lattes," much to Dupont's continued frustration.

The cafe owner has yet to comment publicly on the incident, though a sign now hangs in the window stating "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who disrespects the art of coffee."

Read more