Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Drive thru rant (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by thebaristabarbie
Okay I just gotta vent here. If you don't want to talk to the customer on window, I get it, they might not be in a chatty mood and all. But please TRY and investigate that situation just for a second. Or do SOMETHING. But when I'm on bar and we're consistently behind a couple seconds for hand off STOP. STARING. It won't make it any faster, and then the customer starts staring in. There's a difference between checking the drink status and making sure it's happening for a second, or staring at every single drink because you don't like to talk.
SnugBear 29 points 2y ago
Whenever a customer doesn't want to chat but bar is still working on their drink, I make sure the customer has straws or napkins if they want first. Then, if bar still isn't done I just clean up or pretend to clean up my station. Make sure straws are stocked, everything is wiped, etc. It's really stressful to be stared at while making drinks...
thebaristabarbie [OP] 10 points 2y ago
Yesss you get it though, if chatting them up is just not a thing, at least you're focusing your attention elsewhere and not the barista! Bless your soul
SnugBear 8 points 2y ago
Yeah, and if it's super busy and there's a frappuccino that is finished blending - finish the drink and clean the blender whenever possible. It's just common sense.
thebaristabarbie [OP] 4 points 2y ago
How I wish more people had that 😭
asparagus24-7 4 points 2y ago
New employee here, if I’m on DT window I should be chatting with the customer until their drink is ready?
thebaristabarbie [OP] 9 points 2y ago
If you the customer seems up for talking, and you can think of anything to chat about, for sure! Corporate REALLY pushes the customer interaction thing so you can't go wrong with trying it out! Basically we can't close the window on them!
If it's all too much though, tell your shift leader if you're having a rough day and you need something less social. Lots of good management should understand doing their best to play to everybody's strengths.
If it's all too much though, tell your shift leader if you're having a rough day and you need something less social. Lots of good management should understand doing their best to play to everybody's strengths.
Adorable_Track_827 6 points 2y ago
yes all i do is just a simple how’s your day been to start while their payment is processing and how they respond to that should give you a hint as to if they wanna talk or not and from there you could build conversation talking about random topics like their weekend or the weather.
asparagus24-7 3 points 2y ago
Also just a random question Bc I’m about to start, does the person on window just stand at the window and take orders/process payment/hand out food/drink or does that person run around and help in other places too?
Adorable_Track_827 6 points 2y ago
depending on the time of day and how busy it is there might be 2 people on drive thru(one at the window and one taking orders) or it could be just you if it’s not busy. there will also be times where you are doing drive and food which in my opinion is the hardest. it all just takes time and practice to get used to. my advice if you have not started yet is take pictures of the ordering screen so you know where all the buttons are and can practice. also while taking orders go over in your head how you would make what their ordering so that way your getting familiar on bar without actually being there.
FfierceLaw 1 points 2y ago
It's going to depend on the shift supervisor you have that day. Some (or one in my store) will say that because you have been on the window interacting with often unmasked customers and handling money, you are too contaminated to even grab food from the warming area, fill a glass with ice/water when a customer adds one on at the window. You have to ask for it to be brought to you via your headset. And other shifts are cool with you pouring and finishing a frappuccino (at our bar the blenders are directly behind DTR) grabbing that add-on cup of water, packs of sugar, etc. or running down to the oven to grab that one cheese danish that will move the line.
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