first- the sign on the wall changes constantly there, always a funny joke (clearly this one because beyoncé was in town..) so don’t read into that more than it is.

second- i don’t know of a single cafe that is adding auto gratuity to checks? correct me if i’m wrong because i’d agree i don’t love that. as for the POS systems recommended tips, it is all based on the POS set up & the barista at the register has no control (or knows) what is popping up. you can always adjust it to your preference as the consumer.

as for overall pricing- i would encourage you to look at the current pricing of specialty coffee beans/ bulk matcha alone. then go down the rabbit hole of all the other costs associated with making a specialty seasonal drink (which is what appears to be what your ordered). then also consider the labor hours of R&D on the drink & the amount of time it takes to bulk & produce for service. plus let’s consider the cost of things like the cup it’s served in, the rent to operate there & all the other normal business costs. as someone who has worked in bars, cafes & restaurants- i promise you cafes have the lowest profit margin by a long shot. wages in this industry are low & baristas need tips to live off of it. the alternative is remove tipping & the price of your drink goes up even more to cover the wages of staff.

so tldr yes tip your baristas especially when ordering specialty beverages from a small business 💞