Like I feel your pain that you don’t feel like they think you’re strong enough in other positions. I’m a new bean, and honestly I’d rather chill at the window all day. Not because I’m lazy but I also get anxiety doing bar or something and I also hate customer support. I’m just not fast enough for CS because I suck at trying to remember 50000 things they need stocked or etc. so I just find peace at the window talking to customers

If you can, try to speak to your shift supervisors about this. Their job is to make sure that everyone is able to work their position on the floor to the best of their ability, among other things. If you’re uncomfortable or unhappy always ending up in one position, maybe even just asking if during slow hours you can support on bar or try warming in the morning so you can watch how the rest of the store functions and get a break from the customer service part of it. You will naturally improve over time but only where you flex those barista muscles, and though being good at window/handoff/reg is important, it’s not your entire job.

My last day of training is always drive thru. We spend 6 hours dto/dtr. Getting comfortable with the window. I always warn the newbies that unless they are working mids that DT will be their life. I try and deploy new people to bar support after peak on mid when it slows down, but at my store that's literally a 2 hour window, 10 to 12, and I might not have the labor to have someone there helping, especially right now. It's not intentional. I really want everyone to learn bar. It isn't convenient for me as a shift to have 2 strong bar partners, 2 weak bar partners, and 6 people who don't know how to make a Starbucks double shot on ice. Unfortunately most of us are short sighted and only concerned with today, running today's meals and getting out of close on time.


Don't worry, flexing away from the DT will come in time. You have to ask when you are ready. Next time its a holiday or weird day that is slow or y'all are hella overstaffed ask to try it out.

Everyone felt that way starting. Right now it's gonna be really hard to train or get bar time bc of how busy it is. Most stores can't afford to have a new barista on bar during rush times but, like my store, all day is a rush. You can try talking to shifts and SM about getting more training though and how you feel. Just try to understand that it's nothing against you personally, it's just if window time isn't below a certain point, managers lose hours to give so if you aren't super fast on bar or warming, there isn't really anywhere to go until you can get to that point but i get its frustrating that you can't practice to get better rn. Drive through bar partner and cafe/MOP bar partner is absolute hell rn just bc of the amount of drinks they have to make plus remember all the new drinks that just came out. We have all been there being stuck on window for a while. It can suck but I always try to make the most of it and do great customer connections bc it brings in more tips and makes it feel more fulfilling