I’ve known a couple baristas that started at the kiosks, and they’ve all said they are terrible.

You’re alone about 90% of the time so you have to run the entire thing by yourself.

You’re not fully trained as a “true” barista (they’re licensed, so if you end up transferring to an actual Starbucks, you’re not actually a “veteran” if that makes sense).

They’re generally more chaotic because they aren’t protected by corporate.

Take the actual store, not the licensed one.

I work in a kiosk at a Safeway store. Go for the corporate store. It's better in every way there.

I work in a Kroger kiosk. I actually get paid less than what I could at the corporate store outside, but they have terrible management, are always out of everything, line around the store, always understaffed, and I have customers every single day come to ask if I can remake their drinks because they went to the corporate store.

I am rarely alone, we always keep two people on shift, I have an amazing boss, and when we need hours we can always help in the store. We get milk and cleaning supplies directly from Kroger. I am a trainer and was very well trained myself. It is a complete myth that we aren't trained in everything. We get the exact same materials, training guides, and certification kits from corporate. We serve all the same drinks (except nitro, just because we're too small to support it) and I've had people come from corporate who didn't know jack because they got stuck doing only register for 3 months.

My advice is to go with your gut. The kiosk probably isn't too busy, but ask point blank how often you'll be asked to run the place alone, and if that's the norm. It isn't at mine, but I've seen it happen. You'll probably have a small, tight knit crew with one main boss and otherwise be a "jack of all trades".

For corporate, you might have busier days, but specific assignments like "register", "espresso bar" or "cold bar", more managerial staff, and a larger network of crewmembers.

Corporate also gets corporate benefits, like free drinks, discounts and such. However, working for Kroger means I get Kroger benefits, a union, and 10% off all my groceries. (May depend on locations)

I would go to both interviews and ask all these questions. I think corporate is wayyyy too busy for me. I like my bossman and our motley crew of 7-8, (it sounds small but that's the absolute max we need lol)

Hope this helps.

No way in hell I was going to deal with Drive-Thrus. I don't even use them from a customer side. Get your lazy arses out of the car and and interact with others.

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Chose a kiosk. It's great not having a headset.

i’m sure the kiosk pays slightly more, but i wild still take the regular store. the kiosks are going to leave you alone to manage a store by yourself and if you get a huge rush, there’s no one there to take the stress off.

and honestly, the regular store benefits are amazing even if you don’t want to take advantage of all of them. it’s never too early to start putting money in a 401k!