Barista Serves Coffee with a Side of Kidney

When one of Starbucks barista Sandie Anderson's regulars said she needed a kidney, Anderson offered up her own. Now is that customer service, or what?

Plenty of companies pride themselves on providing excellent customer service, and the ubiquitous Starbucks Coffee chain is no exception. But, no matter how much they may encourage a friendly smile and a pleasant greeting, we’re pretty sure organ donation isn’t listed as one of the mandatory rules in Starbucks’ employee handbook.

But in November, Sandie Anderson, a 51-year-old woman who works as a barista in a Starbucks in Tacoma, Washington, decided to take her relationship with a regular customer, Annamarie Ausnes, to a level far beyond the typical pleasantries and the occasional free scone. Along with Ausnes’ daily dose of “short-drip, double-cupped” coffee, Anderson offered her a bonus gift: her own kidney.

Ausnes has polycystic kidney disease, and none of her family members or close friends were a match as organ donors. Ausnes had given up on finding a donor on her own, and expected to be placed on a waiting list for years to come, dealing with dialysis and poor health in the meantime. But one day, while placing the order for her coffee, Ausnes casually mentioned her predicament to her barista. To her surprise, Anderson immediately responded, “I’m going to get tested.”

And she did. As it turned out, Anderson’s kidney was a perfect match for her caffeine-craving customer. When she broke the good news to Ausnes, both women burst into tears at the counter. The transplant will occur next week, and both women can expect to bounce back to perfect health after a six week recuperation period.

Anderson plays down her generous deed, claiming that most people would do the same if they were in her position. We hope she’s right – and next time a customer’s in need of an organ, we also hope that she gives another barista a chance to step up to the plate (or hospital bed, as the case may be).

“My husband said, ‘Next time someone comes in and says they don’t feel good, don’t give away another body part,” she told The New York Times.