Can we hide the coffee break rider from the unsuspecting rider whom they latch onto? Or have a config where we can opt in or out on allowing to be latched onto? I find it very annoying to be latched onto and I do not see why the person latched onto need to be aware as they are not part of the other person taking a break. To me it is the number one most annoying featutre in Zwift, especially when it happens during a climb or when you’re ridinig all by yourself. Where is the group they are trying to keep up with?
One possible answer would be a private ride mode where you just ride in the world alone and are not visible to other riders.
Yes you can do a private club event but that is extra steps and you have to pre-plan it. You cannot just fire up Zwift and go.
Yes you can disconnect your internet too, but that is also a pain.
Sometimes people just want to be left alone for any number of reasons, maybe being stalked online and IRL for instance.
You can also just stop for a few minutes and let the others ride away.
Maybe just let them coffee break whenever they want and even if no other riders exist, they just maintain whatever speed they were doing.
I think it’s fun towing people on coffee break. I try to give them an untouchable PR on a segment if I can. Not annoyed by it in any way.
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try turning off wi-fi on the device running Zwift for about 20 seconds.
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I understand how Coffee Breaks can frustrate folks. I would think the intended use case for it is to be able to not lose the group you’re riding with when some life issue comes up (forgot water bottle, need to go to the restroom, someone comes to the door etc.). That said, it is currently used primarily as a way to take a break on climbs in any non-race which I would ‘guess’ is not the primary intention - but who knows, maybe Zwift wanted it used this way too.
It was designed in a way that there is no in-game reason not to use it this way - they could have designed it differently, but it is what it is at this point, so there’s no point calling out others in rides etc for using it.
Today I was doing the Group Ride: Stage 1 - Zwift Unlocked - Long on Tropic Rush in Makuri Islands can you guess the number of people going for a coffee break the moment the Festival Harbor Climb CCW started? Too many!. It is not a race, but still you get shown how well you finish in your group and that climb is quite punchy and energy saved there is very welcome on the second half to the finish. I’m just disappointed how people abuse it.
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This is exactly where people need to it help them on a climb or they might get dropped. its the complete opposite of abusing it.
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I don’t really care how or why people use them I just wish I didn’t have to know about it.
People gliding along really bothers me, i know it is a me issue but just distracts me too much and irrationally annoys me! I wish people would still pedal while on the coffee stop!
I also wish i could opt out of seeing the big coffee stop symbol, if others want to see it, great for them but let me turn it off.
But the second point is true of almost everything that gets added to the in game screen while riding!
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Reading through this, and some of the other coffee break (and power-ups, in general) threads, one common theme I notice is that while the ‘abuse’ of coffee breaks is annoying to some, the screen becoming ‘overwhelmed’ with floating coffee cups seems to be an even bigger annoyance.
Considering that Zwift can put a special jersey on a specific rider when earned, perhaps it would be possible to put the power-up icons onto the back of the jersey of the rider using it, instead of floating in the air above them. Everyone would then still be able to see who is using them (maybe even better), but they wouldn’t clutter the screen so much. 
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I find it funny when riders take a coffee break on a climb the suddenly ride again at the bottom 
More so on events lol
Why not just a menu toggle for the user to hide the icon, then also have the same for dirt clouds and the aero socks toilet paper streaming effect?
Cars have these settings menus in their infotainment systems to control many things, so it must be possible to do this. 
Your solution seems better, but I think my suggestion is more likely. 
(Of course, still not likely enough to ever happen.)
I have to say that I always send a message on screen to say Thank You for the tow, when I use the Coffee Break.
Would be great if other people would do it.
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Send it privately to the person if you must but I don’t want to see 1000s of thank you messages.
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I agree. I cannot stand the feature allowing someone to latch on. It’s rude and people do it during climbs and sprint stages. It’s ridiculous when they set new PRs as they get pulled along with your work. Now, I’ll either flip a U or just stop and let their coffee drain. A simple setting of ‘Allow Coffee User Yes/No’ would be fantastic. Actually, I wouldn’t care if it’s removed altogether. It’s hilarious though when you ride with the red bot group and the majority of the riders shouldn’t be there. Coffee cups everywhere LOL,
I don’t understand why coffee breaks bother anyone or why you would alter your ride in any manner.
How do you know if someone is latched?
Do you get upset if someone drafts and never pulls?
Does it make a difference if it is indoor or outdoor?
Outdoor wheel sucking is one thing, indoor does not really matter, we are all still cycling in the same spot .
I think thanking for the tow is a good idea.
If you want to encourage others to do the same, then it needs to be visible.
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Easy, sudden increase in watts/kg as you go past while they frantically try to catch up, then following you with 0.0w/kg up steep gradients, and if you speed up, they magically speed up.
Pretty obvious, you don’t have to be too observant to see that.
I can see the solution, hide watts/kg for all riders? That would also give breakaways in racing more chance of success because they might get the initial jump.
I don’t see coffee breaks too often, usually only one user misusing them in conjunction with another feature (in a particular way) to get entire 50km+ rides without even turning a pedal. That person has been doing that for at least a month or so, daily.
With the routes I’m on generally the other people have no interest in coffee breaks, they are there to ride the entire route.
I don’t understand why this bothers anyone. A rider latched on does not slow you down in anyway. As a Herd sweeper, I encourage newcomers to latch on me when the gap is out of control so I can tow them back at much higher pace, literally giving them a second chance. I think a group ride is more about self fulfilment than showing off sth. If you have a performance to show off to others, join a race.
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I was with the low paced red group in a ride today, and I had six little ducklings attached. Love it. 
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Well, I and others do get annoyed when it is someone using it along with another feature to get 50km+ daily without doing any riding at all, not even on a bike. That’s not what it was supposed to be used for.
Zero watts, zero everything, but hours of “riding” daily.
It’s as bad as the folks using bots.