Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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I have a few random questions. Things that I wonder if I’m doing right. I feel like I’ve been at Starbucks too long to still be asking these questions, and when I ask them I feel like I don’t get a clear cut answer. I want to be doing my job the right way, so I’ve come here to ask (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by ellllla_
Iced espresso.... say the person got 3 shots in a grande cup. Would you pull the espresso and add the ice AFTER the espresso is finished pulling? OR do you pull the espresso on top of ice? If you pull the espresso on top of ice, do you add more ice to the cup after, or leave as is?
The Hobart..... I’m gonna be honest, I almost never use it. I still wash and sanitize everything, but I don’t feel like I have a clear understanding of WHEN to use the Hobart, and what all is safe to go in it. I feel like when I see people use the Hobart, a lot of times it’s random. Like they may not use it every time. I’m confused on what the standard is with using that vs sanitizer. Also I feel like I’ve heard that items can go straight in the Hobart from the dish washing liquid (after being rinsed) and you can skip the sanitizer. I’ve heard that the Hobart is basically useless unless something has been cleaned in some form before it goes in the Hobart, like if it hasn’t been washed and/or sanitzed, the Hobart doesn’t clean it at all. But I feel like I’ve also heard the Hobart has its own cleaning agent? Please just tell me everything you know about the Hobart. I’m a sadly confused barista. Lol
The Hobart..... I’m gonna be honest, I almost never use it. I still wash and sanitize everything, but I don’t feel like I have a clear understanding of WHEN to use the Hobart, and what all is safe to go in it. I feel like when I see people use the Hobart, a lot of times it’s random. Like they may not use it every time. I’m confused on what the standard is with using that vs sanitizer. Also I feel like I’ve heard that items can go straight in the Hobart from the dish washing liquid (after being rinsed) and you can skip the sanitizer. I’ve heard that the Hobart is basically useless unless something has been cleaned in some form before it goes in the Hobart, like if it hasn’t been washed and/or sanitzed, the Hobart doesn’t clean it at all. But I feel like I’ve also heard the Hobart has its own cleaning agent? Please just tell me everything you know about the Hobart. I’m a sadly confused barista. Lol
potterlyfe 11 points 4y ago
Well if you follow the standard build, shots would go in the cup first then ice. I don’t understand the cup melting argument it would be no different then making an iced latte. I actually find that shots over the ice shock the shots and make them taste bitter.
realsheeps 7 points 4y ago
however the hobart is only to be used after the dish is thoroughly cleaned - it's a hot sanitizing machine rather than using the equally effective cold sanitizing method in the sink. it is not a dishwasher, as many baristas believe lmao
METAXILLUS 1 points 4y ago
It’s a certified sanitizer.
realsheeps 1 points 4y ago
yup, that's what i said lol
Cariboumoo 6 points 4y ago
I am curious to the Iced Espresso question myself. I worked for a different chain of coffee shops and was always advised to pour the espresso OVER the ice. Hence "Espresso over Ice"
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This prevented the cup from melting and maintained the structural integrity of the cup
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It also made the espresso cold more effectively
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It made sense to ready the cup and ice while waiting for the shots to finish.
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Likewise, for lattes, the syrup and milk would go first as to avoid melting the cup. Then the shots followed by the ice. (Try not to splash!) Still, I only ever see the opposite. Starbucks barista ALWAYS pour the hot espresso shots directly into the plastic cup. (Yum, Plastic!) from what I have seen. I will certainly ask them about this next time I am at Starbucks.
​
This prevented the cup from melting and maintained the structural integrity of the cup
​
It also made the espresso cold more effectively
​
It made sense to ready the cup and ice while waiting for the shots to finish.
​
Likewise, for lattes, the syrup and milk would go first as to avoid melting the cup. Then the shots followed by the ice. (Try not to splash!) Still, I only ever see the opposite. Starbucks barista ALWAYS pour the hot espresso shots directly into the plastic cup. (Yum, Plastic!) from what I have seen. I will certainly ask them about this next time I am at Starbucks.
realsheeps 6 points 4y ago
the cups are designed to be able to handle the brief heat of espresso before milk and ice, so don't worry!
ilovebrandonj 4 points 4y ago
The hobart is my best friend! I wash everything super well then put it directly into the hobart and don’t use the sanitizer. Anything that can’t go in I obviously use normal sanitizer for. It makes doing dishes 3x faster for me and I feel like they come out more clean and sanitary than normal hand washing since it doesn’t miss anything.
ilovebrandonj 3 points 4y ago
I also even had a manger tell me that with the hobart doing a 3 compartment sink isn’t even necessary 🤷♀️
ellllla_ [OP] 2 points 4y ago
So what all CAN we put in the Hobart and what can’t we?
monkeyeighty8 5 points 4y ago
Don't ever put the Mastrena drawer in the Hobart. It will warp the drawer, you may lose the little 'chip/sensor' on the side of the drawer (so the Mastrena won't register that the drawer is in the machine) & it's just bad m'kay?
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The cleaning manual was updated a few years ago to say that we \*could\* put the Mastrena hoppers in the Hobart, but y'know what? I don't put \*anything\* clear/plexi in the Hobart (the heat makes the plastic crack & look gross & foggy).
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The cleaning manual was updated a few years ago to say that we \*could\* put the Mastrena hoppers in the Hobart, but y'know what? I don't put \*anything\* clear/plexi in the Hobart (the heat makes the plastic crack & look gross & foggy).
stagstar 2 points 4y ago
I also notice that pitcher lids warp really bad in the Hobart as well
ilovebrandonj 2 points 4y ago
anything that doesn’t say handwash really! so like no blender parts but metal is always fine, pitchers are fine, the majority of things are good to go in!
P_2_P 3 points 4y ago
I think it’s a standard, shots first. Like the beverage routine order they force down our throats. Steam your milk, queue your shots, pump your syrups, finish and connect. I’ve been scolded by my manager for “saving” shots because anything out of the routine messes with the quality of the shot. Allegedly. She even gets pissy when she catches us putting a little hot water in the cup for our americanos
stagstar 1 points 4y ago
I know this goes against your manager buuuuut putting hot water in the cup for americanos prevents the shots from dying if you have to pull more than two
P_2_P 1 points 4y ago
Her excuse is that the continued pull of the 3rd plus shots save them from dying
stagstar 1 points 4y ago
My machines are so old there’s a big enough gap that I play it off. Plus my manager is veeeery hands off on bar so he just lets us do what we do
Baby_Smokey 1 points 4y ago
I always put the ice in first because bout time the shots finish pulling they’re dead and bitter
mudpuppy245 1 points 4y ago
Don't pull the espresso directly over the ice. You want to let the shot fully develop before you pour it over ice
rlandeb 1 points 4y ago
At my store we lightly wash (scrub if needed), with blue hose, rinse and then put almost everything in the Hobart except:
-decaf carafe lid
-plexis
-new mocha and chai pumps (idk if y’all have the brown bottle ones but the brown bottle pumps are hand wash only)
-blender parts (lid and the rubber parts hand wash, blender pitchers are Hobart OK)
-the new brown caramel bottles
-the big tea/infusion dispensers
-nitro taps/filter
-nitro kegs
-decaf carafe lid
-plexis
-new mocha and chai pumps (idk if y’all have the brown bottle ones but the brown bottle pumps are hand wash only)
-blender parts (lid and the rubber parts hand wash, blender pitchers are Hobart OK)
-the new brown caramel bottles
-the big tea/infusion dispensers
-nitro taps/filter
-nitro kegs
realsheeps 1 points 4y ago
it's personal preference whether you ice the drink before or after espresso in an iced espresso, but the shots definitely taste smoother if you pour them over the ice rather than the other way around.
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