Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
↑
19
↓
Cleaning Steam Wands? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by asalyers
I just transferred as a shift to a new location. Third day there, on cafe bar for peak. The steam wand is slooooowwww and sad. After peak I go to clean it, the most nasty black crusted shit I have ever seen is coming off of and out of this thing. The other shift tells me “We read something about not scraping them anymore, so they don’t really get cleaned”. I’m sorry WHAT?! Someone tell me I’m not crazy and they need CLEANED daily!!!
muertemami 27 points 3y ago
Don’t care what anything says about not scraping, I will continue to whip out an old gift card and scrape the crust off to my hearts content.
If they don’t want us to properly clean stuff, they need to implement better solutions/give us actual tools to clean the wands.
Wiping doesn’t do it any justice, even when done periodically.
It’s like they don’t know what these wands look like at the end of the day, just in the test bars after a few drinks are made.
If they don’t want us to properly clean stuff, they need to implement better solutions/give us actual tools to clean the wands.
Wiping doesn’t do it any justice, even when done periodically.
It’s like they don’t know what these wands look like at the end of the day, just in the test bars after a few drinks are made.
ilovebrandonj 11 points 3y ago
Eww... You’re technically not allowed to scrape and can just use rub it off with a blue sponge or rag, but in this case I’d say scrape all that crap off asap that’s nasty
yeahcanigetuhhhh 13 points 3y ago
YES. the blue sponge is a godsend, but i scrape and i use the breakfast sandwich metal stabby thingys (or a paperclip) to poke into the steam wand holes, they’re supposed to be clear of any milk so you might have trouble getting it in at first, but then get a trenta cup of water, submerge the entire steam wand, and all of the junk and the floaties come right out. you won’t believe how many dried milk floaties you find if you do that just once.
i know im probably not supposed to do any of this, but my machine is fully functional, my milk steams properly and i can remain in my bev sequence instead of waiting double the time, letting my shots die, while my sad clogged steam wand suffers.
i know im probably not supposed to do any of this, but my machine is fully functional, my milk steams properly and i can remain in my bev sequence instead of waiting double the time, letting my shots die, while my sad clogged steam wand suffers.
[deleted] 5 points 3y ago
>breakfast sandwich metal stabby thingys
partner here... is it bad that i IMMEDIATELY knew what you were talking about? hahaha
partner here... is it bad that i IMMEDIATELY knew what you were talking about? hahaha
yeahcanigetuhhhh 1 points 3y ago
LOL at least someone did!!!!
cloudsgone 9 points 3y ago
Cleaning the steam wands gives me such personal satisfaction. Afaik you can't scrape them with metal, but a plastic gift card does the trick. I know we aren't supposed to I guess, but I love getting up in the holes with a paperclip too.... then when you blow it out in a cup of water and all that chunky stuff shoots out? Aaauuurrrrrhhgh
black_mamba866 7 points 3y ago
Are these the mastrena ones you're using? The twos have a detachable part for the steam wand that we wash every night when we break down bar. No slow streaming in my store!
furry_anus_explosion 2 points 3y ago
we just got em like a week and half ago. pretty much the same, but still sooo much better. no need to ask the other bar partner to queue blonde shots for me!
jessicalauw 1 points 3y ago
When I have to pill the machines, I get a trenta cup, put a cleaning pill in it with hot water, take apart the wand, and let it soak. I wipe the wand with a cloth when it's done, so that way I'm not scraping anything. I also get the holes with a paperclip.
I also make sure that I steam some cold water to get all the little bits out. It seems to work!
I also make sure that I steam some cold water to get all the little bits out. It seems to work!
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
[deleted]
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
[deleted]
colonade17 1 points 3y ago
Don't scrape them because that's how you can bend and damage them, but you can still use a blue scrubbie. If you just follow the directions they get clean.
asalyers [OP] 2 points 3y ago
What directions?! Where are these magical things located?! Help me please!
colonade17 2 points 3y ago
They're on partner hub. Look for mastrena cleaning and maintenance and you should find a pdf.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.