Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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question from a new barista! (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by yuungblud
is it normal that i’m being put on bar and expected to remember drink recipes so quickly? i’ve worked maybe 5 shifts and my supervisors get visibly annoyed if i ask how to make a drink that isn’t familiar to me even though i just started working. i didn’t have that good of a training experience, as me and a new hire were being trained by the same person at the same time so i feel like i didn’t have as thorough of a training experience to begin with, and remembering drink recipes has been the most difficult part of the job for me because we didn’t really spend that much time on it in training. any time i make a mistake or don’t know how to do something the other baristas are super nice and understanding and one of them told me that they didn’t even really know how to make drinks until they were working there for 3 months, so i don’t really get why some of my supervisors are being way less understanding. i’ve even been studying drink recipes on quizlet outside of work so that i can remember them better but the supervisors make me feel like i’m doing a really bad job. any advice?
ashl3395 10 points 2y ago
No that’s not normal in my opinion. I had 3 years of Starbucks experience from a licensed store and they didn’t let me near the bar till I was like 2 weeks in. I had to beg them to let me bar. Lol but no it takes a good 2-3 months to really get comfortable on bar I’d say. And with all the new drinks that just launched none of us know what we are doing. 😂 The only advice I have is to just keep on. The only way to get good on bar is to be on bar. But someone should for sure be shadowing you and making sure you are ok. That’s crazy. I’m sorry. 😬
yuungblud [OP] 2 points 2y ago
okay phew this calmed my nerves so much lol thank you!!
ashl3395 2 points 2y ago
No problem. Happy to help. Just show that you are doing the best you can and they can’t say anything. You are only as good as you are directed to be. It’s not on you if you weren’t properly trained. Just be willing to learn and I’m sure some of the others would help you. Maybe even talk to your store manager about getting some more training. Perhaps by a different trainer. Sometimes people just don’t vibe. Best of luck to you and welcome aboard. 🙂
lovebymistake 4 points 2y ago
Wtf. You should not be thrown on bar like that. My trainer told me that it’d take about three months to be fully comfortable. They are not good supervisors if they’re not willing to help you learn.
yuungblud [OP] 2 points 2y ago
thank youuu i wasn’t sure if i was crazy or something lol!! i legit started crying after an 8 and a half hour shift yesterday bc i was scared they were gonna fire me for not knowing everything already 😭😭
lovebymistake 3 points 2y ago
I’m so sorry :((( that’s literally awful. It’s super unlikely they’ll fire you though all the starbz are pretty understaffed rn
stardreamer00 3 points 2y ago
Honestly my first shift out of training I was placed on cold bar and it was a lot but it is the only way to learn !!! That’s exactly what my shift told me and was super supportive about it and encouraged me. I wouldn’t be the way I am on bar now (every peak) if it wasn’t for going on bar right after my training.
iwantmysharpieback 3 points 2y ago
Let them be annoyed! You are learning, your supposed to ask questions. If they are impatient that's a them problem. This is Official Advice from an SSV with the worst cases of RBF and RBV you've ever encountered. Don't take their annoyance personally, they have lots going on and you are an important thing on that list. (Also, good job you! Being green is tough)
rio8envy7 2 points 2y ago
Maybe ask your SM if they can help or have any suggestions for you. Explain the situation and that you’d like to work one on one with either them, a SSV, or your trainer.
plushiequeenaspen 2 points 2y ago
It takes the average person about 3 months to get comfortable on bar. You're on bar with the expectation of being competent in less time than I spent in training when I first got hired.
Next time someone rags on you for asking a recipe, ask them how long it took for them to learn everything. I have baristas who have been at my store for 6+ months who still ask about recipes on occasion if it's something that doesn't get ordered frequently. It's okay. As a trainer and a supervisor, I would rather someone ask how to do it right, than have them try to bullshit their way through and do it wrong and then have to redo it.
Next time someone rags on you for asking a recipe, ask them how long it took for them to learn everything. I have baristas who have been at my store for 6+ months who still ask about recipes on occasion if it's something that doesn't get ordered frequently. It's okay. As a trainer and a supervisor, I would rather someone ask how to do it right, than have them try to bullshit their way through and do it wrong and then have to redo it.
trippin-in-the-dark 2 points 2y ago
i just started as well and they are letting me do bar little at a time! Like they put me on it for an hour right before we closed, and then today one of the baristas would hand me stickers every now and then to make a few drinks throughout my shift. So yeah that’s not right for them to throw you on like thay
CoffeeNFruit 1 points 2y ago
I’ve been training less than a week and they already have me on cold and hard bar by myself. Any advice? Super anxious.
plushiequeenaspen 2 points 2y ago
Deep breath and don't rush. Take enough time to make things right on the first try instead of rushing and making mistakes. Find your store's recipe cards and try to keep them handy to look over when you have time.
If you follow the correct beverage sequence and teach yourself proper muscle memory by taking your time now, in the end you'll be so much faster and more accurate on bar.
If you follow the correct beverage sequence and teach yourself proper muscle memory by taking your time now, in the end you'll be so much faster and more accurate on bar.
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