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- Barista Beatdown: What Would You Do?
Barista Beatdown: What Would You Do?
This week’s threat is messy. Improvised tools, close quarters, and a lot of bad decisions.
Paulo Simoes
May 12, 2025
In partnership with
Hey Warrior,
It’s finally here…
…the new Fight or Flight.
You’ll notice we’ve changed things up.
Less theory, more training.
More “real life,” less “textbook.”
Every week now starts with a real-world threat scenario — something pulled from actual footage.
Something that forces you to think, “What would I do?”
This week’s situation?
A quiet café. A man with mace. An old guy’s backpack. And a barista who clearly had other plans for his dessert cart.
Let’s break it down…
But first a word from out sponsor
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A Barista behind the counter. Quiet café. Mellow evening.
An old guy is sipping coffee by the window…
…then a man walks in and goes straight for him, pulls out a can of mace, grabs his backpack, and starts backing away.
The tension’s high, but the trigger hasn’t been pulled. Yet.
There’s a cart nearby… and maybe five seconds to act.
🟨 Operator’s Call
Alright — you're the barista now. What’s your play?
Do you step in and try to stop him?
Close distance and risk the spray?
Stay back and let it play out?
🎯 You’ve got one move — what is it, and why?
Hit reply to this email and send me your answer or…
👉 Drop your call in the Operator’s Lounge (Facebook Group)
We’re unpacking this one. Let's hear your take.
No right answers. Just mission mindset and real-world logic.
🟧 Download This Week’s Op-Snapshot
Here is your one-page visual of this scenario with labeled stills and your Operator’s Call?
Something you can save, print, or bring to your next training session?
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🔒 Inner Circle Gets the Full Briefing
If you want the full tactical breakdown — alternative response options, technique critique, training prompts, and mindset debrief — that’s all inside this week’s Confidential Mission Briefing.
🟦 Scenario Footage
You’ve made your call. Now see how it played out.
▶️ Watch “Barista Beatdown” on FightOrFlightNewsletter.com
or
▶️ Watch & Discuss in the Facebook Group
✅ Before You Go...
This is the very first edition of the new Fight or Flight format.
Was this useful? Did the scenario make you think?
Shoot me a quick reply or drop a comment in the group — I’d love to know what hit, what missed, and what you want more of.
Let’s make this the kind of weekly intel you actually look forward to reading.
Stay sharp,
– Paul Simoes
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