Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Advice please, baristas - Help a frequent customer make an order / interaction easier? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by 117Pandas
My wife and I have a favorite iced drink. Lowish calories for a nice sweet treat. The majority of the time ordering, 80%ish, it's a prolonged back and forth and frequently it arrives incorrect.
The drink is :
Venti peach green tea. No lemonade. No liquid cane. 3 Sweet & Low.
Is there a better way to ask for this item? It's a combination of trying our best to make the barista's day easier, and mitigating our frustration. Thank you for any help you can give us!
The drink is :
Venti peach green tea. No lemonade. No liquid cane. 3 Sweet & Low.
Is there a better way to ask for this item? It's a combination of trying our best to make the barista's day easier, and mitigating our frustration. Thank you for any help you can give us!
Wonderlandian 8 points 2y ago
Why can’t you just order it exactly like that? It seems pretty straight forward
117Pandas [OP] 1 points 2y ago
That's our usual order, trying go slow and be clear. But it is lot of back and forth clarifying, correcting what's seen on the drive thru screen, and getting frustrated with an incorrect order. Two, in fact yesterday. We each wanted one and they arrived without peach.
lilangel05 7 points 2y ago
dont say no lemonade, it already comes without it.
if and when they try to upsell lemonade to you, that’s when u say no :)
if and when they try to upsell lemonade to you, that’s when u say no :)
117Pandas [OP] 3 points 2y ago
The only reason we started drinking this was after seeing it listed as peach green tea lemonade. That was our reason for asking for it, omitting the lemonade.
lilangel05 3 points 2y ago
oh yeah that’s just a way corporate makes our lives harder for putting up a sign like that :/
117Pandas [OP] 4 points 2y ago
Ugh. Sorry. That really stinks. We want things easier. You all work so hard for the public. Know that there are conscientious folks looking out for, and appreciating you!
lilangel05 2 points 2y ago
yes thank you we love you for that and i’m so glad to be reminded that there are customers like you still out there ❤️ the masks really make social interactions harder (cant see anyones smiling back) so make sure you let your barista know you appciate them verbally or with a tip 💚
official_koda_ 4 points 2y ago
If you order exactly like that then I’ll have to assume they’re new or an idiot for not understanding. It’s an easy order.
117Pandas [OP] 2 points 2y ago
We thought so too. It's comical how many times it's been incorrect. Well, frustrating more than comical.
official_koda_ 3 points 2y ago
I guess the store has incompetent employees
TheBoisterousBoy 4 points 2y ago
No need to specify the lemonade.
Peach is a sweetened juice so the calorie content can’t be reduced too much. Removing the liquid cane takes out about 45 calories, but you still keep the extra calories from the juice.
I would recommend getting an iced peach tranquility tea with your sweet-n-low (although I would also recommend switching to stevia). No sugars, no calories, all delicious.
Fair warning: This will take a little longer to make because they’re brewing a hot tea for a few minutes to make it iced. Not a problem for a veteran partner. If they give you a hard time again, especially over the iced peach tranq, find a new Starbucks.
Peach is a sweetened juice so the calorie content can’t be reduced too much. Removing the liquid cane takes out about 45 calories, but you still keep the extra calories from the juice.
I would recommend getting an iced peach tranquility tea with your sweet-n-low (although I would also recommend switching to stevia). No sugars, no calories, all delicious.
Fair warning: This will take a little longer to make because they’re brewing a hot tea for a few minutes to make it iced. Not a problem for a veteran partner. If they give you a hard time again, especially over the iced peach tranq, find a new Starbucks.
117Pandas [OP] 3 points 2y ago
Wow. That sounds REALLY good. Thank you! So maybe a better order while coming inside and not the drive thru, holding things up?
TheBoisterousBoy 3 points 2y ago
Don’t worry about going through the drive thru. All in all this drink *should* take a maximum of 5 minutes to make. Maximum. Chances are you’ll be in that drive they for a couple minutes. You drink *should* be getting made during that time (they shouldn’t wait for you to get to the window to start the beverage). Going inside may help for the first time just because most people never order a fresh-brewed iced and the baristas may need an extra moment to figure out what to do.
If you go and the barista has no idea how to make it just show them this...
For a venti iced fresh-brewed take two tea bags of the customer’s choice and place them inside a Short cup. Fill the short cup with hot water and set a timer for 5 minutes. Get a venti iced cup and fill it with ice. Once the timer goes off pour the Short of hot tea into the venti. Add ice/cold water as needed to top it off and throw a lid on it. Boom. Iced fresh-brewed.
If you go and the barista has no idea how to make it just show them this...
For a venti iced fresh-brewed take two tea bags of the customer’s choice and place them inside a Short cup. Fill the short cup with hot water and set a timer for 5 minutes. Get a venti iced cup and fill it with ice. Once the timer goes off pour the Short of hot tea into the venti. Add ice/cold water as needed to top it off and throw a lid on it. Boom. Iced fresh-brewed.
117Pandas [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thank you so much for this. We're definitely going to try i. try to ensure we're thoughtful customers, and this helps!
TheBoisterousBoy 1 points 2y ago
No problem! If you don’t mind me asking is the low-cal option for health, weight or a little of both?
randomyucky 3 points 2y ago
It might be easier to just mobile order through the app tbh
117Pandas [OP] 3 points 2y ago
That is a perfect idea. I've never tried it, but definitely will
randomyucky 4 points 2y ago
It's really easy to make your adjustments, I just tried it in the app to see how easy it was. First go to order, go to menu, the go to iced tea, then go down to green teas, select the peach green tea but make sure it's just peach green tea and not the one with lemonade bc they are two separate drinks you can select, select your size which is the first option, then select the flavors option and press the - until it says no liquid cane sugar and press save, then select add-ins and press add and then the + for however many sweet and low you want (it's the one that says saccharin(pink) that's the actual name of it but it is the sweet and low) then save and then add item and it will move to your cart and you can order it and it'll give you an estimated time for it to be ready (be sure to give that amount of time, don't just order it then immediately go through the drive through bc it won't be ready yet) you can pick it up inside or through the drive through. If you do drive through, just tell them at the order box that you have a mobile order and the name that is on your account. If you go inside, go to the hand off area and do the same thing. This is also a good way to make sure you get your stars and it's a lot easier to use your stars through the app. Just remember it's not made immediately when you place it because we get lots of Mobile orders and the app changed the estimated time based on how many mobile orders that store is getting at that time. If you need any other help I'm here :) we can't do refunds in the store for mobile orders though if it is wrong but we can remake it if it's wrong. Just step outside the store and try it and then go back in immediately if it's wrong (make sure to step outside bc you will have to take your mask off to try it and its just to protect everyone)
I also apologize if me breaking it down like this seems rude, i find it usually helps to just break it down for customers like this to be safe.
I also apologize if me breaking it down like this seems rude, i find it usually helps to just break it down for customers like this to be safe.
117Pandas [OP] 2 points 2y ago
No apologies! That's really helpful and we want it easier for everyone. I understand the order isn't crazy or super complicated, but man. Terrible luck at several doffu locations.
randomyucky 3 points 2y ago
Also appreciate that you are taking the time to try and figure out how to make everything easier on everyone involved. Most people wouldn't do that. Customers like you are what help me enjoy my job
randomyucky 2 points 2y ago
I get it. I usually get 15 full pumps in my trenta black tea(i live in texas pls dont judge me) but the pumps for the liquid cane sugar are actually half pumps so when someone newer makes my drink i have to make sure to tell them to double it. But If it's just miscommunication issues, the app should fix that. But if it's just not tasting right, there are different things you could do
randomyucky 3 points 2y ago
Also do you mind me asking how they usually get it wrong? Is it bc the sticker is wrong and they make it based off what the stickers says (miscommunication) or is it they are getting the sticker right but the drink itself is wrong? Bc if it's the second one I could have some other solutions
117Pandas [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Most times it's not adding the peach. And we're good at checking the screen and fixing and mistakes. We've seen both cases - sticker reflecting the correct order we'd like and the drink is incorrect, and also the sticker showing the incorrect drink, which also matches the contents. If that makes sense...
randomyucky 1 points 2y ago
We had a woman come back last week bc her lids on her trenta cups popped off and it spilled on her. We were fully expecting a hug scene but she just came in to tell us about it so it didn't happen to anyone else, she even refused a refund or having us remake it. And we were more willing to help her because of how she handled it.
randomyucky 1 points 2y ago
It makes sense. I'm sorry that's happening, hopefully it get some fixed. An issue i have seen with a lot of people that gets teas is baristas aren't using the shakers to measure stuff and shake it so it doesn't taste right. Another thing you could do is ask to speak to a shift and politely explain what's been happening. Not necessarily cause a huge fuss but just let them know you feel your drinks are inconsistent and you just wanted them to be aware of it. I wouldn't demand refunds or free stuff, just make them aware drinks are being made inconsistent in a nice way (I would go in the cafe to do this) my shifts usually appreciate when this happens bc we are now made aware of it and can fix the problem and make sure everyone knows how to do it properly especially if it's done in a polite way and not a "karen" way. By doing this, you could potentially help them from having a karen cause a scene or call corporate on them. We have had a lot of people separate from our store for various reasons the past few months so we have a lot of newer baristas that just don't know they are doing it right. But hopefully just by speaking to a shift (I wouldn't ask to talk to the store manager, a shift will be good enough) will help solve this all together.
glossysejin 2 points 2y ago
I would skip the no lemonade..the barista taking your order might hear it and with the quality of our headsets they might think you meant to add it in...just a venti peach iced unsweetened with 3 sweet & lows
117Pandas [OP] 2 points 2y ago
That's awesome. We will try this and / or the mobile option. Thank so much. I know it's a simple thing, but it's really helpful.
Millerboycls09 1 points 2y ago
Can I get a venti iced peach green tea?
Break.
No liquid cane. 3 sweetnlow.
"Would you like that with lemonade?"
No thank you.
Break.
No liquid cane. 3 sweetnlow.
"Would you like that with lemonade?"
No thank you.
angeryacorn 1 points 2y ago
Peach green tea doesn’t come with lemonade automatically, thatll throw people off
117Pandas [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Gotcha. Like I mentioned earlier, the only reason I started ordering the drink was after seeing it listed on the menu board as 'Peach Green Tea Lemonade'.
mcsalts99 1 points 2y ago
I think how you order it from what I read is pretty direct as it is, but if you really want to drive it home:
Simply say “Venti Iced Peach Green Tea, the one with no lemonade, sub liquid cane for 3 sweet n low.”
“The one with no lemonade.”
-makes it clear to the order taker that you insist on that
“Sub (substitute) liquid cane with 3 sweet n low”
-this helps the baristas who are listening in make the drink before you even leave the speaker box by throwing in some barista jargon. (Granted, if one of them are free)
Having a polite, yet affirmative tone really helps to build a subtle but effective understanding of “I know what I want, I’m good, no need for recommendations.” Like another user said, if they try to upsell you other versions, just say no.
Source: barista, also a frequent customer
Simply say “Venti Iced Peach Green Tea, the one with no lemonade, sub liquid cane for 3 sweet n low.”
“The one with no lemonade.”
-makes it clear to the order taker that you insist on that
“Sub (substitute) liquid cane with 3 sweet n low”
-this helps the baristas who are listening in make the drink before you even leave the speaker box by throwing in some barista jargon. (Granted, if one of them are free)
Having a polite, yet affirmative tone really helps to build a subtle but effective understanding of “I know what I want, I’m good, no need for recommendations.” Like another user said, if they try to upsell you other versions, just say no.
Source: barista, also a frequent customer
117Pandas [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Whew. We weren't sure and always want to help, making sure it went to the right people.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
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