hello! i’ve been working for almost six months, so i’m still pretty much a green bean. it gets easier. i promise!! i did not take extra time to memorize the drinks, but if you do you will definitely get the hang of it faster. my biggest advice is PLEASE don’t act like you know everything. we have people that come in knowing nothing(as did i) but they act like complete jerks and like they own the place. you will get the hang of bar eventually, it just takes a minute! it’s a new skill to learn. just be cheerful and don’t forget to ask for help if you don’t know a recipe

Yes. Absolutely. I’ve been with Starbucks for 5 1/2 years and I still have those days. It may be the lamest piece of advice but breathe.

I have a tendency to go too fast on bar and that’s when I start making mistakes. After that it used to be all downhill from there. It is now much better but I still try and go too fast sometimes. Take it one drink at a time. My last manager before I transferred rarely put me on bar because I would get flustered.

Ask questions. We have someone who recently finished training and she’s improved since first being on the floor but she still forgets some things so she’ll ask me or other partners how many shots go in an americano? or this gets vanilla right? I still ask questions. I forget things. I legit one day forgot how to make a frap. I must’ve made it 2 or 3 times with waaayyyyy too much ice and it kept feeling like something wasn’t right but I asked if I could get help and my partners helped me out. Then mocked me in a joking way.

Ask/accept help. This is something I struggle but am getting better with. I feel like I have to prove to my coworkers that I’m a competent barista. I put pressure on myself and that just creates even more anxiety. You have NOTHING to prove to anyone but yourself. It’s ok to ask for help and it’s ok to have people help you.

Your partners are there to support you. What you’re feeling is completely normal. Ask how many pumps or shots go in a drink. It took me about a year to really be on bar in general. Starbucks has recipe cards for drinks. Maybe test yourself or look over them in your spare time. Talk to your shifts and SM and maybe they can work with you. You’ll be ok. I keep a worry pet in my apron because sometimes things do get too much and it helps. I also apologize for the novel.

here are some tips i wish i knew when i started.

if you ever have any questions on recipes and everyone is busy. just go to the cafe register and tap what the order was. and then you can see the shots. syrups. etc. are in the drink.

also constantly ask questions. that’s the only way i got better. if you ever have a question before starting a drink just ask. it makes things easier for everyone.

now is your absolute best time to ask questions because i still don’t know how many pumps of vanilla syrup go into a vanilla sweet cream cold brew and i’m too afraid to ask at this point 😭😭

lastly. be patient with yourself. mistakes are going to be made. don’t beat yourself up when you do make one.

A good thing to remember is you dont need to worry! We are all human and make mistakes, so when it happens, you're all good ☺️ I didn't get the hang of everything for a few months.

Honestly the best thing I think you can do is to not take your work home with you. If you get stressed about bad customer interactions, making mistakes, having conflict w other partners, etc, that’s just gonna make you feel burnt out and make it harder to learn. At the end of the day it’s just coffee. Do your best and take time to unwind after every shift if you can. A rested mind is the key to success

My best advice is if you’re out on bar and you don’t remember a recipe, just ask on the headset while you’re doing it. For example, when I first started if I got a drink (say pineapple matcha)—
Me on headset: “hey guys, how many scoops go in the venti for a pineapple matcha? And it has what kind of milk again? Okay thanks”
Some stank ass baristas might be rude but the rest get it. We’ve all been there. Just do your best.

Hi lovely! It is totally normal to be overwhelmed and not get the hang of it right away. Take your time and think about the recipes so that you can get faster over time by taking the time to really think about what goes in each drink. And remember your routines are there to help! Also my biggest thing I tell new people especially since the pandemic started, if I seem frustrated with you I promise I’m not. Customers being difficult or making complicated drinks are almost always my frustration, seasoned baristas definitely understand how new you are! You’re doing great, and never be afraid to ask questions.

Breathe! I’ve only been working with Starbucks for 7 months and my location is near Disney so it’s a constant non-stop rush. I’d just recommend to familiarize yourself with how similar all the drinks are. For example all fraps have basically the same amount of everything, same with lattes. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and BREATHE

Hi! It def gets easier later don’t worry. I learned many of the recipes outside of work by looking over them on the Starbucks app. I would recommended asking questions to your partners if you don’t know how to do something. It’s better to ask and do something than do it wrong and either have to do it again or never actually know how to do it. I’m a trainer so if you ever have any questions I wouldnt mind answering any. I’ve written diagrams with all the drinks separated into categories for my trainees and can send them to you if you need it. Also if you stay calm during your shift and try not to freak out you’ll make less mistakes and feel more comfortable in a shorter amount of time. Good luck! I remember what it’s like to be a green bean and it was def hard bc it’s a lot to remember.

I highly recommend saving the drink guides on Reddit and studying them before your shifts! They've saved me quite a few times

Everyone seriously thank you so much...you guys are way too freaking kind definitely eased my nerves!!

Fellow green-ish bean here! I've been working at Starbucks for almost 6 months and yes! It does get easier. It takes about 3 months before you're comfortable anywhere, trust me. I'm still having to ask what seems like silly questions.

​

You can memorize drinks if you want and this subreddit has a lot of resources for it, but you'll memorize them as you go and as you get on register more! Don't be scared to ask questions and always remember: it's just coffee. It'll be alright, you got this, I believe in you!

Don't be afraid to ask for help, either from your fellow partners or people here (I admittedly went on here almost constantly my first month or two for help.)

Honestly I’ve only been at my store for two months and I totally get how you feel. Just remember to breathe and do what you need to one step at a time. Everyone was new once, and your coworkers understand and are probably delighted to answer any questions you have. Peak is definitely scary when you’re new and everyone is busy and you’re unsure if you’re doing it right, just remember what you can, ask a coworker quick questions when you need to (because it’s better to get it right first than have to fix it), and seriously just breathe. Rushes are a lot but they end! And I’m gonna stress again, your coworkers understand. It’s a lot to learn especially if you’re new to food service and at a busy store.

i've been working at starbucks for only 2 months so i completely understand how you feel lol. i still have trouble remembering everything but it helps to just take a deep breathe and slow down for a sec, just to let your mind catch up while you're trying to get tasks and orders done. I'm just now starting to be on bar more and i still need help with a lot of the drinks. i promise you'll be absolutely fine, n there are a lot of things you won't be prepared for bc they're situations that aren't common. don't be afraid to ask questions too. you're going to get the hang of everything real soon 👍🏾

it’s just coffee!!!

Ask questions! Don't expect to feel like you know what you're doing for at least 3-6 months. And remember above all else, it's JUST coffee. ☺ Cheers!

Just be patient:) it’s gonna take a while to get everything down! You will make things wrong and get stressed, it will seem overwhelming sometimes during a rush, just stick with it and eventually it will be easy! Just don’t overthink and take your time

I just started like 3 weeks ago. I would say just keep calm and ask questions. Your fellow baristas will help you out. I still forget how many pumps of this and how many scoops of that all the time. I ring up drinks wrong too lol. I try my best to make sure I’m perfect but hey it’s all part of learning. You’ll get the hang of it and it will start to work its way into your mind without even thinking about it. Good luck :)

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Mid drink and you don’t know what’s next? Ask a ssv, trainer, or a partner you know is making things right. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions :)