caithream | I feel unclean talking this much about work when I'm off.

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I feel unclean talking this much about work when I'm off.

The end of September marks my three year "anniversary" of working at Starbucks. I was never a customer before I starting working there, and even now I don't really drink anything while I'm on or off work. I can tell you this: behind the counter, we gossip about customers a LOT. If you're a regular, you tip often, and are generally really nice, we'll bend over backwards to do pretty much anything for you. If you treat us like coffee robots, don't acknowledge us when we greet you, talk down to us, or are just plain rude, you're more than likely getting decaf'ed.

But because I've been behind the counter for three years now, and never really a customer, I want to know what it's like, for you, being a customer. What's your drink of choice? How often do you visit? When you walk in, do baristas say hey and start your drink for you automatically or already have it ready to go? Do you want to punch the register person in the face when they try to up-sell (asking to add an extra shot of espresso, buy a pound of coffee, etc)? Have you had any really bad experiences at Starbucks? Any really good ones that stand out in your mind? Is there anything that really bugs you about some baristas? What do you absolutely LOVE about certain baristas? Or anything else you'd like to add. (Keep in mind that Starbucks in Targets, airports, grocery stores, or anyplace else aren't really "ours," as they're franchised out.) I'm just honestly curious because I never really get any feedback from anyone who isn't my boss, heh.

SPEAKING of work, I was told this morning that I pretty much gonna be promoted to a shift manager. Heh. Raise = good, acting like I think this company is the end all, be all = ungood. Oh well. I'll make it work. I've even had managers from OTHER stores recommend me to be a shift manager, so it was high time for the jump up, I guess.

Also, pumpkin spice came out two days ago, UNGGHH. If you like your drinks pretty sweet, try a pumpkin spice soy chai. So UNFalicious.

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Well I don't get coffee from Starbucks, but we do always go to the same coffee shop, Zarraffas at Chermside. We go there so much, our store manager, Luke, knows what our usual drinks are by heart, and how to make them with the special things we like by memory (Sam is a masai triple shot skim latte and I'm a grande Ivory Rough... except when that ends, i'll go back to having my usual Grande Skim Cap in winter and Grande creme cocoa de menthe with no cream and white chocolate shavings in summer).

We know the baristas by name, we know who makes the best coffee and who to avoid. We don't tip here in Australia by nature, so whenever we have change, we put it in the tip bowl. But they get our return business because they're good at what they do, their coffee is great, and they treat their customers like friends.

Ooh, that's awesome! And fun new words! Masai? Ivory Rough? OH NOES, now I kind of want to learn about other "coffee cultures"!

But they get our return business because they're good at what they do, their coffee is great, and they treat their customers like friends.

That is EXACTLY what we (baristas) and managers want to hear. That's awesome! Before I started working at Starbucks I thought tipping baristas was stupid because it's not like you're in a restaurant, but it's honestly more like tipping a bartender who makes good conversation and a damn good drink. Which is definitely what I specialize it. ;D

Zarraffas has an african theme... so their cup sizes are short, tall, grande, masai. The Ivory Rough is a white chocolate mocha with hazelnut and coconut - SO GOOD. Doesn't need sugar or anything. Their cold fusion version is so delicious too!

Oh they have a website.

OHHH COCONUT. They discontinued coconut, umm... two and a half years ago, I think? So saaaad because ANY kind of mocha + coconut = sooo delicious.

And that website is awesome! Next time I find myself in Australia, I am SO going there. ;D

HEHEE you totally should! Y'all should come and stay with me and Sam for a week or two.

Swear to God, one day I will MAKE IT overseas to some place like yours! As soon as I can make myself some good money and GET OUT OF COLLEGE (finally!!!!) I am SO saving up for a big 'round the world trip! JUST YOU WAIT.

free accommodation for as long as you like right here :o)

So I love Starbucks more than should, I also have been a barista in two coffee shops (neither The 'Bucks)

I order Venti Latte Extra shot, EVERY TIME. I am not SUPER regular at either of the 3 I visit often, and too be honest I don't think any of them keep staff very long.

Never really have people try and upsell me, maybe since I order extra. At least not beyond the "is there anything else?" Once in a while they may ask if I need a bag of coffee, sometimes it's nice (mostly when I forget that I need it)

The most annoying thing baristas do? Being too extreme in either direction. I think I am more critical since I have done it.

Worst experience... http://www.yelp.com/biz/starbucks-coffee-glen-cove (I am the only review there)

Fall lattes are nothing, BRING ON THE WINTER ONES!!

Edited 2009-09-03 14:48 (UTC)

Oh, cool, I had no idea you had been a barista! And oh MAN, your review! MY MANAGER DOES THAT SOMETIMES. And we're like, ??!!! SERIOUSLY, STFU. YOU'RE PISSING OFF THE CUSTOMERS. We've actually given out our District Manager's number to some customers who were really peeved. >:(

(I'm sure you're probably aware, but you do know you can get peppermint mochas anytime of the year, right? RIGHT? *Clings to PMs!!!*)

I am waiting for the Gingerbread and EggNogg lattes. YUUUMMMMM!!

But honestly it's a good thing they are seasonal or I would have bigger problems.

That visit was the day of my grandmother's funeral, so I was in a mood. BUT SERIOUSLY!! Don't fight with me!! I just took the tall latte and left, I would have started a big scene if I didn't.

I worked for Seattle's Best and a little cafe the video store I worked at had upstairs. I think total I was a barista & manager for about 5 years. Before I came to Comcast I was offered a assistant manager job at the 'Bucks and turned it down, I HATE getting up at 4 am and the location was kinda hard to get to.

AH YES, the extremely delicious, extremely fattening eggnog lattes, haha. And I'm not too much a fan of gingerbread, though I know a lot of people who are!

OH WOW! That's so cool! Yeah, ASMs are actually paid LESS than shift managers, because I think they only are scheduled 37 hours a week or so and get paid salary. So I think you made the best choice, ha.

Too funny this post. My husband gets his drink pretty much free because he's been going to the same Starbucks for years and is always super nice to everyone. And his drink is stupid:

Iced
Quad
Venti
Non-Fat
No Whip
2-pump
Mocha

He is ridiculous

you can only get away with a drink like that if you are super nice ; )

Exactly ;)

HA! That's nothing. Yesterday morning I had this older lady come in ~~who I wanted to punch in the face~~ and order a venti seven pump soy no water extra hot no foam extra stirred with cinnamon chai. Seriously, if you're that particular, you should be making your own damn drinks.

(Though if you're really really nice about it, which it sounds like your husband is, it's not a problem. Oh man, I feel like I'm some fickle middle-schooler who chooses best friends just on how they treat ME.)

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MMMmmm green tea frappuccinos. Some people really hate matcha and I don't know why! I loooove it. And I definitely understand about not liking the small talk! We have a lot of customers, especially during the morning rush, who want nothing more than their coffee and to get out. Some of my coworkers will go overboard in trying to make conversation with people who look like they REALLY don't want to participate and I feel kind of bad, haha.

My Starbucks is our school coffee shop, so it's a franchise. I think the baristas there are a little different than in regular stores. I love those crazy kids, though!

I don't often go to Starbucks around town; I can't afford it. But when I do, I go to the one by my house where the baristas are nice and friendly and un-pretentious, as opposed to the one near my hair salon where a bunch of malcontent art kids stand around pouting and gossiping and then sneer at you when you don't speak Starbuckease.

Since I spent so long in customer service, I guess I expect people to treat me the way I treated my customers: friendly, helpful, and chipper, but not fake, aggressive, or condescending. I'm a pretty easy going customer, because I know the crap they have to put up with.

mm coffee.

You DEFINITELY have to go to a Starbucks where the baristas aren't pretentious, UGH, I HATE THAT. I myself have been a customer at other stores, told them I was a partner, and they STILL give me the stink-eye. So uncool.

Omg you would be my favorite kind of customer. And some coworkers (my manager, for one) are so overly chipper and gratingly annoying it's a wonder some people haven't reached over the counter to punch her. And yeah, exactly, I can't stand it when I'm treated like that at other places, so why would I treat my customers that way? (It's probably why I'm one of our customer's favorites. Shh, tell no one. ;D)

I generally have good experiences at Starbucks, and I've been going there for quite some time. I adore those sweet sweet baristas who go the extra mile, chat it up, and take the time to ask about your day. The standoffish ones tend to rub me the wrong way. My one pet peeve though is when the frapps are made too liquidy. I know some may like it that way, but I prefer mine to be frappy, not soupy. :)

I wish I could come to your store... I'd be a regular just for you!

Hmm! If you like it a little more icy, just ask them to put in a little extra ice. Unfortunately with the frappuchinos, they need to be made just a certain way or they will turn a bit soupy, alas!

AWW, I wish you were my regular too! So much! We could sit and gossip together for HOURS. :DDDD

I don't drink coffee so I don't go to Starbucks a lot, but I am an absolute WHORE for two drinks: Shaken Green Tea Lemonade, and Peppermint Mocha (although that one tends to make me feel ill. BUT IT HURTS SO GOOD *___*)

I've always had very good experiences with the baristas. In fact, if anything, I would say that they are sometimes too accommodating. Like, if they happen to screw up my drink a little, they always just bend over backwards trying to offer me free drink coupons and making me a new drink but letting me have the messed up drink for free etc etc like I'll devour them whole if they don't. It's CRAZY. I'm always like, "lol, it's totally OK, guys. REALLY" and they never believe me. I will drink the accidental drink instead! It's a just as good, if not BETTER, alternative to what I actually ordered! It just makes me laaaaaugh ♥

MMMM I love both of those! Green tea lemonades are so refreshing during the summer and peppermint mochas make me so happy inside, even though I can only drink a short (8oz) when I make myself one, 'cause I feel so guilty haha.

Haaa, yeah, that happens quite a bit. I think 'cause they drill it into our heads to be a "just say yes" company and whatnot. Mostly if I make a mistake or if the customer just orders wrong, I'll give them a Look and say "Are you suuuuure?" and just try not to hound them and stuff. I know that can get awkward, haha.

OH. And my drinks of choice are:

Carmel Frapps (no whip, extra caramel sauce)

Nonfat Vanilla Lattes

Soy Toffeenut Latte

UNGHGG, well, you already know my love of toffee nut, hee. YUMMMM.

I've never ordered from a Starbucks--not a coffee or tea drinker--but good luck and a possible early congratulations on the promotion! :-)

Have no fear, I am not a coffee snob, so I do not judge you, hee! But thanks so much! :D

I don't drink coffee at all (hate the smell/taste--no amount of caramel or chocolate will cover it up, I've tried) but I have had the strawberry non coffee fraps or whatever else that isn't actually coffee. And I like those.

But I can honestly tell you I hate it when people try to make sales on me ANYWHERE, at any store. I hated it when I worked at Blockbuster and I'd have to try to sell something on someone. It's just business. I just say no thank you, politely. I try to be the nicest at all times, give an affirming smile and say thanks a lot because I think as long as you're nice, maybe you'll make someone's day a little better. You never know.

Nothing sticks out in my mind about service I've received, they all seem busy and well enough, not mean but I mean nothing overly superb, idk. My aunt used to go to this one location a lot on the way to work and apparently the drive thru guy was super nice and all 'Hey gurl, I got your muffins!~'. I think he was a gay black guy but that doesn't really play into anything, he was just really good with everyone, I think.

Whoo, raise!

Aw, that's too bad! It's really kind of grown on me, I guess. Pretty much everyone who works at Starbucks starts out drinking really sweet drinks and ends up drinking the least amount of sweet/creamy down the road, haha!

UGH, I KNOW RIGHT?? I HATE HATE HATE trying to sell to people (unfortunately, our managers push it on us to do so) and I hate being SOLD to, so it's just a lose-lose situation everytime, SIGH.

I think as long as you're nice, maybe you'll make someone's day a little better.

This is so true. I can go to work in a pretty good mood and then have that ONE customer who just ruins my day. Though the opposite is definitely true too. :D

HEY GURL I GOT YOUR MUFFINS. Hahaaa! That's awesome.

THANK YOU! :D

I've been to Starbucks only three times. The first they made my order wrong. I ordered a plain something (don't remember what) but got an orange thing. I didn't complain since the second was more expensive, and they were quick. The other two were times people treated me to drinks, and I got what I ordered.

If I did go to Starbucks (or when this happens in other stores), I don't mind when people try to upsell me stuff. I know it's part of their job, and sometimes they do have great suggestions. Like the time an associate from AE recommended a body cream that was a steal when I purchased a hand lotion. I usually don't go for it unless it's a steal, though.

Congrats on the promotion.

Yeah, we gossip about customers too. I think everyone in public service does that. *blush*

Aw, that's too bad! I know it's also SO hard to decide what to get when you have no idea what anything is either.

Thanks so much! :D

HA, yeah, I definitely think so too! It's the best way to let out aggravation and make the day go by a little faster. ;)

Go you for getting (finally!) promoted! :D

And coffee...well, I have actually decided I don't really like the beans that Starbucks uses lol. I only started liking coffee a year ago & I only drink it when I feel like it, and I don't usually get the same thing lol - so no one knows my drink when I walk in. I usually get an Americano with chocolate and maybe something else & add a dash of non-fat. Depending how many shots the place includes, I usually have 2 in a tall and 3-4 in a grande.

I LOVE when baristas ask if, because they have two shots anyway, would I like the extra for free haha. I don't really care if they suggest I buy something else, so long as they take the "no" and don't keep trying.

Sidebar, I REALLY wish that Starbucks still had the molasses cookies because those were freaking amazing :-P

Generally, I like baristas (or anyone in customer service) who are friendly and not too abrupt (by which I mean say "what would you like" instead of "what do you want". Just little things like that)

Thanks babe! :D

Ohh, yeah, you can only get that extra free shot of espresso if the store still has the older machine; it's forced to dispense two shots at a time, so if someone asks for three shots in a drink, we have to throw one away anyway. But we have the newer machines, which allows us to pull one single shot or three shots without wasting one.

Molasses cookies! I haven't seen those in years. They weren't too popular at my store. I don't know if they've been completely discontinued or that we just don't get them in this market!

Yeah, def. The snobby baristas just need to be punched in the face, QUITE HONESTLY.

Ohhh the molasses cookies only disappeared last year here. When I asked someone about it, sounded like they were discontinued.

I have this thing for hazelnut in EVERYTHING. I heart it. Last winter I started having a venti hot chocolate with 3 pumps mint, 3 pumps hazelnut. I asked for it on the fly and the baristas were like- well, okay. The next time I went in and asked for it, the cashier guy called it out and the one who was going to make it was like--"OMG, really? That sounds gross!" And I was like--I like it? It was funny at the time and it still is but like, yeah. They felt bad and the cashier was all, "Um, she ordered it so she must like it."

And I rarely go through the drive-thru, unless I'm getting something straight forward, like a frap without any extras or something. I fear mangled drive-thru messages.

That probably doesn't help you with anything or answer any of your questions but this post just reminded me of that.

DUUUDE. That sounds really good! They're on crack. I love hazelnut too, and the with peppermint and mocha that just sounds delightful. Have you ever tried toffee nut? It's a bit stronger but it's SOOOO good.

Haha, I always tell people not to go to the drive-thru stores, 'cause they tend to mess up a LOT of orders, especially during rushes. I'm SO glad I don't work at a drive-thru store.

Grats on the promotion, pretty lady!

Let me know if you have any questions. Thinking you know what it'll be like is usually pretty different than how it actually is.

K.. well I know I'll talk to you about it tomorrow. lol

THANKS! My manager kind of sucks ass at the moment, though, but hopefully I can work around that.

Oh, I probably will. I'm a little terrified of the money-counting, quite honestly. Though everyone says you get the hang of it really quick.

Yay! We're here playing Dutch blitz. :p

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I feel unclean talking this much about work when I'm off.

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