It's easy in theory, but hard because of corporate stress and manager pressure.

We don't really complain because what we actually do is difficult - fuck i could make lattes in my sleep, 0 modifiers or 20 modifiers. But having my SM breathe down my neck over drive times, my partners shouting at me for stupid shit, customers glaring at me from across the bar, corporate planning on rolling out yet another fucking spark bev, the oven begging to be opened before another fucking cookie catches fire, and the Mastrena sneaking in "please rinse" right before I remake Cameron's 5-drink mobile order because all the fraps separated... *That's* what makes this job hard

I would say it’s a hard job. I’m a part timer student and having to deal with education as well as learning everything at sbux is hard. Especially cos a lot of my friends work at supermarkets where all they do is sit at till all day, we have to learn till, the codes for drinks, how to make them, how to day dot, make preps, deal with customer service, all these responsibilities people at other jobs don’t have half of but they still get paid more >_< lol

I haven’t closed and don’t have as much experience at Starbucks (less than a year) but (compared to my other 4 jobs over the past 14ish years of my life) working as a barista is probably a bit tougher than most. At least compared to the jobs I’ve had but that is my own viewpoint.

For frame of reference:

I worked 2 years as a valet/parking attendant which overall I felt was easier. It was really monotonous and more about who you knew than anything else. Didn’t require too much skill: I felt that as long as I showed up and did what was asked I couldn’t lose that job and I left it for personal reasons.

Afterwards I worked a summer in a warehouse which was another same day same shit job which required almost no thought. Just the same monotonous repetitive tasks daily with few changes. It was only a seasonal job which is why I only had it for a summer.

My next job was working as an after school day care teacher for 11 years, which for me ranked just a bit tougher than Starbucks. The unpredictability of kids along with being responsible for their safety/happiness with often little thanks led to some stressful times but I found it rewarding and fun enough to keep that job for all those years.

The last job I had before Starbucks was at a medical device manufacturing plant on the assembly line for about 5 years. I considered this an easy job because it was another job that only required learning monotonous repetitive tasks to do day in and out with very little variation. It was simple enough that I was able to work this job alongside my day care job since I needed the extra income. The tough days at this job had more to do with co-workers than anything difficult about the job.

Starbucks has its routines too but,at least at the store I work, at there’s some big rushes that I feel complicate the job alongside dealing with people in a customer service role. I feel that the people make the job that much tougher.

Not the hardest job I've done, it's pretty easy once you know the shortcuts and work with a good team.