Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Do Starbucks baristas get trained on how to grind coffee for customers' various coffee makers? I don't think they do. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by tamanawas
Hi Baristas. This is a question for those who run the scoop bars I suppose (and the occassional barista) I have gotten my coffee from the NYC Roastery on several different occasions. They have asked me what type of filter I have. I said I have and "AUTOMATIC DRIP COFFEE MAKER WITH A METAL FILTER" --- FULL STOP.
Every time, I get back a fine, pulverized coffee which clogs up my machine.
The same thing happened yesterday when I got a bag of Verona ground up at a core store.
It's a though corporate doesnt really care about its product in the bag and wants you to only consume the liquid that is made in the stores bc its so much more profitable. But I have to say I'm rather shocked. With all the coffee-training that baristas receive you'd think something as simple as getting coffee ground for my cheap-o coffee maker with a flat-bottom metal basket wouldn't be that difficult.
I had to hand them back the bag and say something to the effect of "No. This is for an espresso maker or some other method. Grind it somewhat medium-course. It's a drip coffee maker. Pretend I said "paper filter"....
And if this is posted in the wrong place please let me know where to post it. I think its important.
Every time, I get back a fine, pulverized coffee which clogs up my machine.
The same thing happened yesterday when I got a bag of Verona ground up at a core store.
It's a though corporate doesnt really care about its product in the bag and wants you to only consume the liquid that is made in the stores bc its so much more profitable. But I have to say I'm rather shocked. With all the coffee-training that baristas receive you'd think something as simple as getting coffee ground for my cheap-o coffee maker with a flat-bottom metal basket wouldn't be that difficult.
I had to hand them back the bag and say something to the effect of "No. This is for an espresso maker or some other method. Grind it somewhat medium-course. It's a drip coffee maker. Pretend I said "paper filter"....
And if this is posted in the wrong place please let me know where to post it. I think its important.
bro-neil 37 points 3y ago
Found the Karen
pickyeater47 16 points 3y ago
Man ur a customer none of us want.....
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
[deleted]
NotMyElephants 16 points 3y ago
Tell them the filter you use, not the coffee maker or basket. If paper filter is not too fine, ask them to grind it for paper filter. No, we aren't specifically trained on what coffeemaker uses what filter. At least at my store, and its things Ive had to pick up over time. It makes my customers lives, and mine so much easier when they tell me what they use as a filter vs what machine they use. The only time telling me the machine helps is if it's a French press, or Keurig.
Instead of complaining about baristas not knowing by rote what every machine uses, simply tell them paper filter if that's what works for you. Its really not hard to say paper filter vs the machine and hoping they know
Instead of complaining about baristas not knowing by rote what every machine uses, simply tell them paper filter if that's what works for you. Its really not hard to say paper filter vs the machine and hoping they know
tamanawas [OP] -17 points 3y ago
Ok. I'm not putting the onus on baristas. Its on corporate. With the multitude of charts and training materials available its not that hard to Seattle to put out something like this next to the grinder, right?
$1
I'm guessing its a calculated move to make the home product more inconsistent and less of a predictable, profitable, tasty experience. Starbucks is assuming (and baristas as well), that Starbucks is the only coffee merchant in the universe and that I go back week after week for my favorite coffee. This is not that case.
I walk into a Starbucks store (or at least the Roastery) with the expectation that I will be walking into a place with COFFEE EXPERTISE and that it won't take me figuring out how to speak to the baristas over the course (ha) of a couple of transactions to get a bag of coffee prepared properly for me.
I get it. Its a tough job. You guys have to deal with so much. I completely empathize and appreciate what you guys do. But I'm posting the question in a civil way. I don't think it unreasonable to ask in the coffee making community of the #1 coffee global company.
$1
I'm guessing its a calculated move to make the home product more inconsistent and less of a predictable, profitable, tasty experience. Starbucks is assuming (and baristas as well), that Starbucks is the only coffee merchant in the universe and that I go back week after week for my favorite coffee. This is not that case.
I walk into a Starbucks store (or at least the Roastery) with the expectation that I will be walking into a place with COFFEE EXPERTISE and that it won't take me figuring out how to speak to the baristas over the course (ha) of a couple of transactions to get a bag of coffee prepared properly for me.
I get it. Its a tough job. You guys have to deal with so much. I completely empathize and appreciate what you guys do. But I'm posting the question in a civil way. I don't think it unreasonable to ask in the coffee making community of the #1 coffee global company.
PurpleTIEFighter 18 points 3y ago
I'm not gonna study up on every coffee machine in the world on top of everything else I have to know. Get outta here with that.
tamanawas [OP] -7 points 3y ago
There's a little chart in the supermarket if you buy whole beans which is pretty simple. Also, my broken burr grinder has little icons. It wouldnt have to be STUDY material. It's so funny and genius how the "partner" mentality has the workforce triggered when customers deviate from the prime mission of the company -- which (in the idealized setting) is to be told/illustrated/shown a little story about coffee (through branding or storytelling) and order some marked up beverage day after day.
I'm trying to buy a bag of coffee. If I could afford to by another burr grinder, believe me, i would.
I'm trying to buy a bag of coffee. If I could afford to by another burr grinder, believe me, i would.
somebasicho 10 points 3y ago
If you understand the little chart the why don't you understand what number grind to ask for?
PurpleTIEFighter 10 points 3y ago
What you're asking for is unrealistic. It's easier for you to tell us what you want than for us to find a little supermarket chart and know all of that off the tops of our heads when some stores rarely grind coffee at all. And I have no idea what you're going on about re: 'partner' mentality. Like what?
NotMyElephants 15 points 3y ago
Not to be rude, but you're essentially asking minimum wage employees to memorize by rote every grind for every machine possible on top of the 80+ core drinks that we are expected to memorize the recipes for, as well as bend over backwards in customer service, and maintain the health and safety codes, and keep everyone happy. Truly, I am not trying to sound rude, but its alot easier for you to say "paper filter" than it is for us to add every type of machine with the corresponding filter and grind to our list of things we have to recall on the fly.
Yes, it would be totally handy to have an easily accessible guide on filters, machines, etc. Im all for a laminated post or something.
But since we cant keep really any kind of booklet out on our floor (due to it just getting coffee on it and damaged within .5 seconds) it boils down to us having to memorize it by rote. Potentially other stores have better luck with stuff not being ruined on floor, lol. But at our store, between the likelihood of damage and our DMs dislike of anything on walls, or machines that didn't come with the machine, we cannot. So it'd end up in some obscure folder in the back of house, that we'd never find or take way too long to get to.
Yes, it would be totally handy to have an easily accessible guide on filters, machines, etc. Im all for a laminated post or something.
But since we cant keep really any kind of booklet out on our floor (due to it just getting coffee on it and damaged within .5 seconds) it boils down to us having to memorize it by rote. Potentially other stores have better luck with stuff not being ruined on floor, lol. But at our store, between the likelihood of damage and our DMs dislike of anything on walls, or machines that didn't come with the machine, we cannot. So it'd end up in some obscure folder in the back of house, that we'd never find or take way too long to get to.
somebasicho 12 points 3y ago
Transversely, it wouldn't be that hard for you to learn your preferred grind number and ask for that number every time. Instead of trying to describe your coffee brewing situation every single time.
somebasicho 7 points 3y ago
So...the material of the filter is not as important as the shape. Flat bottom filters/cone shaped filters should get a different grind. I believe flat bottom is a five and cone shaped is a seven. (I'm not a barista anymore.) You should probably learn what number you prefer and ask for that every time.
Dir7y_dan 5 points 3y ago
It’s not a main focus other than asking the customer is there a specific grind youd want it on and if not I was told to do paper filter
PleaseFeedTheBirds 2 points 3y ago
If you said metal filter and it's too fine, then they probably weren't trained properly.
A lot of these responses are super defensive about something that's their own fault.
But also, no, starbucks does not purposefully mistrain their employees in a conspiracy to get you to buy coffee in store. We use grinding machines that are commonly used throughout the industry, and they are clearly labeled for different filters.
A lot of these responses are super defensive about something that's their own fault.
But also, no, starbucks does not purposefully mistrain their employees in a conspiracy to get you to buy coffee in store. We use grinding machines that are commonly used throughout the industry, and they are clearly labeled for different filters.
beanTHEbarista 1 points 3y ago
Scoop bar
mjtrapp 1 points 3y ago
what about the scoop bar? that's where i got the coffee from.
beanTHEbarista 1 points 3y ago
Scoop bar
tamanawas [OP] -8 points 3y ago
It seems to be clear from baristas that its not a main point. It's more important to tell the story of the coffee origin than to get a bag of ground coffee out the door. Point taken. So if I say paper filter I will get the medium/coarse grind that works for the ubiquitous coffee machines that are in most american homes?
mango_drango 8 points 3y ago
Yes, if you tell them which setting to grind it on they will grind it on that setting. At my store there is only someone who buys coffee and wants it ground like once every two weeks. It’s just not a very popular thing so we’re not trained on every coffee machine that’s ever been made. That’s pretty unrealistic if you ask me.
somebasicho 7 points 3y ago
Oh my God. There is no "ubiquitous coffee machine used in most American homes". Some people use a French press. Some people use a one cup pour over. There is even a variance in what you see as the "standard" home coffee Brewer. If the Brew basket has a flat bottom, that's a five, if the Brew basket is come shaped, the grind should he a seven. So there is no standard grind for the "standard" coffee machine, because there are variations in "standard" coffee machines.
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