Former Google employee reveals 'coffee shop' interview question that stumped most candidates

A former Google employee has revealed the mind-boggling question that interviewees are reportedly asked — and it's enough to confuse even the smartest of people.

As of 2023, it was thought that Google had a whopping 182,500 employees, most of whom will have to have gone through the tech powerhouse's gruelling interview process.

Many companies have their own interviewing techniques, with some interviewers having the same question for everyone.

And it's the same for Google, claims a former HR employee.

According to this social media user, called @hrbitch on TikTok, this question would separate the good from the great.

She explained: "There’s a coffee shop in San Francisco. It has unlimited supply and demand — meaning it has all the coffee beans, coffee cups, teas in the world, and the customer line wraps around the block.

"The coffee shop is roughly 500-square feet. So, how many cups of coffee can this coffee shop produce in one day?"

I'm not sure about you, but I don't even know where I'd begin to work out an equation like that.

With that in mind, the TikToker hailed it as Google's 'toughest interview question'.

People were quick to share their theories on the correct answer, and there were a few different ones.

"42. If you know, you know," someone insisted.

A different person wrote: "It takes 30 seconds to pour a cup of coffee. So that's 120 cups every hour. If you're open 8 hours that's 960 cups of coffee."

Another suggested: "1500 brewed coffees. 6 baristas, one just brewing. 2 min to serve each customer. 5 cups X 30/hr. Open 10 hrs, so 1500."

Elsewhere, someone else quipped: "Based on my latest experience at Starbucks I’m gonna say 10."

The TikToker has responded to dozens of comments, but hasn't actually confirmed if any of them are correct.

She did, however, reveal the answer in a follow-up video.

She said: "There are no right or wrong answers, the interviewer's just trying to figure out your thought process. That's why they made it vague, to understand your decision making skills."

According to its careers website, Google no longer employs the brain teaser during interviews.

The company explained: "Our data showed that brainteaser questions didn’t predict how well someone would do on the job so we no longer ask them. Instead, we do work sample tests and ask structured interview questions. In the end, we want above all to assess your skills and see if you and this role are a match (there aren’t any brain teasers, and who knows, you might even have some fun)."

Basically, don't let that scary coffee shop question stop you from applying for a job there.