What Is a Bikini Cafe?

After the story of Arizona man Nautica Malone went viral, many people have been wondering what, exactly, a bikini café is.

Earlier this month, 28-year-old Malone visited the drive-thru of Bikini Beans Coffee in Tempe, Arizona, and reportedly exposed himself to an employee of the café. Malone was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound shortly after a video of him at the cafe went viral on social media. The story has picked up national attention, but it's also shined a light on "bikini cafés" and "bikini baristas."

Bikini Beans is one of a few chains across the United States that feature women baristas in revealing outfits. As the official website for the chain, which was founded in 2014, reads, "Why the bikini barista concept and what is a Bikini Barista? The bikini represents empowerment, freedom, functionality, and togetherness. The bikini concept is a bold initiative to do what we want and love what we do— and to never conform to anyone’s standard of what defines a successful uniform."

So, it's sort of like Hooters but for coffee. But Bikini Beans Coffee isn't the only place that offers such an experience. As reported by the Los Angeles Times in 2019, Bottoms Up Espresso landed in hot water with the American Canyon City Council in California because of the risqué outfits the employees sported at the cafe. The chain has existed since 2011, but the Canyon City location caused controversy.

Eater reported last year that Portland has seen a rise in these types of cafes, with some examples listed including Beans and Buns and Klymaxx Espresso. Some of these locations, meanwhile, with their drive-thru kiosks, offer coffee and a show, such as Beanies Bikini Barista. "Not every stand does it, but a lot of them do because that’s where the money is made," said one employee of a bikini café in Portland, revealing that Beanies offers customers the opportunity to be flashed for $20.

As reported by the Spokesman-Review in 2014, activists attempted to get bikini cafés banned. There's been safety concerns, too, as the Auburn, Washington police department released disturbing video footage of a man attempting to abduct a barista in 2023.

These types of establishments have been around for quite some time, but many people have just found out about them because of Nautica Malone, who recently had a vigil hosted for him.