my store is always FLOODED with annoying customers so whenever someone asks for something like this i straight up hand them their seemingly not full drink and when they question this i explain that since they didnt want it made right thATs tHe WAY iT iS! and if theyre especially rude i point out that if they wanted an extra shot its 90 cents thank you! or if they want their iced caramel macchiato with no ice shits gonna be empty or taste entirely like milk its up to you! im DONE

When I used to work for the company and someone would order this I’d make it with long shots so that they don’t see the water getting poured into it. It worked every timeeeee

I had something like that happen to me the other day. Lady orders an iced americano with caramel and extra heavy cream yeah no problem.

As she’s pulling up to the window, I’m putting the water in and I hand it off to DTW. After she drives away he tells me that “oh I guess she didn’t want water in it” I was baffled. He was like she took it but she told me she didn’t want water in it. There’s no way the ticket said no water because I would have immediately questioned an “iced americano, no water”.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it all day haha like uhm just order shots over ice?

I would've just gave them a half full cup 🤷

My guess is that she wanted her americano to be stronger, but still an americano; hence adding less water. I don’t work at Starbucks anymore but someone at the coffee shop I work at orders an americano just 2/3 full because they like their drink stronger.

Starbucks is overwhelming with options. Most typical coffee drinkers before their first time coming to Starbucks have no idea everything we have to offer. Our menu has foreign words to them and offer no description (descriptions like the ones we get on our first day of training). Our menu doesn’t even have close to all we offer including options and customizations. Many people find one thing and stick with it, ordering the same day after day. Not because they know it’s their favorite but because it’s easy. They walk into a busy store. Wait in line, staring at the menu with all these foreign words. They get to the front and see something like americano (American coffee) and order that not fully knowing it’s espresso and water, or even what espresso means compared to the coffee they brew at home. They order it because there’s a line behind them and they see baristas running about busy and don’t want to inconvenience customers or partners and don’t want to feel like an inconvenience. They shuffle away waiting for their order and when they pick it up it’s not exactly what they were looking for but rather than bother any of the busy people they accept it and move on.

Your typical Starbucks customer is not a coffee aficionado, those people are going to niche cafes. Starbucks is trying to bring it to the common person. We get the hours of training and learning in the job and still learn new things 1, 2, or 3 years down the road. It is our job to instill our knowledge on them and help them find exactly what they’re looking for. Explaining the difference between espresso and brewed coffee, they won’t ask for help because they’re intimidated by the overwhelming atmosphere and they don’t want to appear dumb.

We need to sense that and help them (anticipating the customers needs and making the moment right), not judge them. That’s not a culture of warmth and belonging. This particular customer was looking for a stronger flavor to their typical americano, so light water is a reasonable request I have regulars who know what they like and they like a grande americano 2/3 full. I might offer them a triple tall, or maybe they just want the extra space. If they want even less water ask if they want to try a triple espresso with a splash of water to cut it. Give them a couple samples, they will feel special and acknowledged, not judged and condescended. We will feel proud and accomplished, not annoyed by the stupid customer cause how dare they not know the menu in and out as we do. Everyone’s experience is elevated.

Before people go on about labor not allowing this, it absolutely does as I’ve done it at multiple stores in multiple roles and my partners do it. You will become their favorite barista and develop a special relationship as you were the first barista to help them discover their favorite drink and were so kind, patient, understanding, and knowledgeable.

We have someone who orders Americanos with half the water. It’s his fav.

tbt to a customer a few weeks ago that asked for a no water, no milk chai.... we went back and forth for a while before I ended up just giving her a tall cup of steamed chai concentrate. I’ve never been more weirded out by a human in my entire life.

Someone was confused about the cranberry bliss bar and wanted it warm. I was like honey noooooo.

How timely of a post. That’s exactly what I like to order but it often seems to cause confusion!

Can you offer me any advice?

I’ve taken to ordering a “Doppio with a bit of water”. This seems to limit the risk of “too much water” to the volume of an 8 oz cup but I often get crazy responses like “sooo... you want an americano?”

I’ve also tried “a two short americano in a short cup” with varying degrees of success.

I have guests who try to scam and order the holiday drinks but they say "a venti latte with 4 pumps of caramel brulee" as if I'm not going to charge them for a holiday drink.

I once had someone ask for an americano but filled half way, so when handing it to him he goes” there’s more caffeine in this like this right?” And I shook my head no and he almost yelled at me. Like do you know what you’re ordering?!

Shoulda just did light water. During rushes I have no time to elaborate something they should know if they get it often. I remember getting a no foam cappuccino and the bar person was confused and I shrugged and said just make a no foam latte

"I want an Americano. But can you put less water in it?" Is actually not all that uncommon. When I get this request I will generally ask if they then want it in a smaller cup, or do they want room. If they want neither, I generally just figure that they are either trying for a free extra shot, or are just really dumb. They just want to get what they want without trying to understand what is going on. But in the long run it isn't worth YOUR time to mess with them too much. Make the drink as best you can, fix it if they complain, move along with your life.

My favorite is a iced americano with no shots.

**EXTRA ROOM**

Just say you want stronger coffee, goddamit. Wtf is their problem??

I'd just give her an inch less in her cup and let her know that's what she asked for

I get iced americanos no water. I really just want shots over ice, so that by the time it’s all melted I’m still drinking something that tastes good. I discovered it from the idiots that try to save money on iced lattes (I don’t make them lattes from the bar like those monsters).

ETA; I usually also ask for extra ice and don’t care about the room/air because that’s what I expect when I order the drink.

I'm blown away by this post. I'm trying to figure out how to order an americano with less water so I don't sound like an idiot, read this thread and immediately regret thinking about it. Americano = espresso + water. Just put less water in the cup, why is this so contentious? I don't understand what the problem is, could anyone clarify what I should do if I want less water in my americano? Are water servings standardized to the point you cannot put less water in it? I don't want twice the amount of caffeine, I just want a stronger americano.

Old post but can’t not comment. Starbucks, as well as serving distinctly average coffee, does not understand an Americano. It should be 2:1 water to espresso. Perfectly fine for anyone to order what they want.

She probably wanted it with less water so it tastes a little stronger. Espresso with "some" water just not as much as you normally put in. I've gotten a few where they fill it up all the way to the top with water and it doesn't taste as it should. Just my guess ???

I had a regular who would order a hot americano no water. Basically she would want an espresso which would continue pulling until the cup was filled. So like a very long double espresso. Tbh the coffee was amazing and had very beautiful crema on top. Kudos to her!

I guess a relevant question - I like to order a grande Americano in a Venti cup. The first few times I did this it was filled to the top of the cup. So I added extra room in my order notes and say it when I order in store. Now it’s 50/50 that I get the room.

What is the best way for me to order/request a grande Americano in a venti cup without having it filled to the top with water?

Thanks!

Did she want it iced or hot? Because with iced i normally get less water and get more ice because then I feel like it just gets toooo watered down.

However, if she wanted it hot I genuinely can’t imagine what the fuck these people want.

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Venti doubleshot on ice all day!