# The iced coffee job interview debate

> A recruiter's TikTok sparked a viral argument about whether bringing your own drink to an interview looks unprofessional.
- Title: The iced coffee job interview debate · Bon Appétit | Shortify
- Summary: A recruiter's TikTok sparked a viral argument about whether bringing your own drink to an interview looks unprofessional. Bringing an iced coffee to a job…
- Keywords: job interviews, professionalism, gen z, recruiter etiquette, workplace culture, caitlin wehniainen, tiktok, career advice, iced coffee, first impressions, food, lifestyle
- Source: Bon Appétit — https://bonappetit.com/story/maybe-dont-bring-your-iced-coffee-to-a-job-interview
- Author: Sam Stone
- Published: 2026-09-22T21:07:37.357+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: job interviews, professionalism, gen z, recruiter etiquette, workplace culture, caitlin wehniainen, tiktok, career advice, iced coffee, first impressions, food, lifestyle
## Recruiter sparks coffee debate
Caitlin Wehniainen, a recruiter with 16 years of experience, posted on TikTok that Gen Z candidates arriving with iced coffee look unprofessional and like the interview is just another errand.

> When you show up with an iced coffee or an iced latte, it makes it look like this interview is just like a stop on your list of errands for the day.
## The internet pushes back hard
Commenters argued that interviews are just one stop in their day and called the rule outdated and unfair. One person pointed out that some health conditions require constant hydration.

> An interview is just a stop on my day.
## Experts say it depends
Career coach Erin McGoff says some recruiters might see an iced coffee as a red flag while others won't care at all. There's no universally right answer.
## Container matters more than drink
If you must bring a beverage to an interview, skip the disposable takeout cup. Use a sleek, low-key container like a black Yeti thermos instead.
## It's really about power dynamics
McGoff says the debate isn't about coffee at all. It's about unspoken rules between candidates and employers that penalize people who don't know them, whether fair or not.

> People aren't debating coffee, they're debating the unspoken dynamic we accept between candidates and employers.
## Key takeaway

Bringing an iced coffee to a job interview might signal casualness to some recruiters, but opinions vary widely. If you must bring a drink, use a discreet container rather than a disposable cup.