Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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CS Help (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by TJW351
Hey, this is like the end of my 3rd week at Starbucks and I am still struggling to figure out what to do on customer support. What order do y’all do things? They handed me a card and I try to follow it but mostly I just feel like I am in the way and probably being more of a hindrance than a help.
It took me ages to understand the brewing process of pike because none of my shifts have the same standards. (Where one doesn’t have me brew any, the other will have me brew every 30 minutes, etc.) I think I have that down finally, but I feel like I have cleaned everything before that 30 minutes is up. By the time the cycle starts again I am just redoing what I’ve already done. Any tips?
It took me ages to understand the brewing process of pike because none of my shifts have the same standards. (Where one doesn’t have me brew any, the other will have me brew every 30 minutes, etc.) I think I have that down finally, but I feel like I have cleaned everything before that 30 minutes is up. By the time the cycle starts again I am just redoing what I’ve already done. Any tips?
TheFriendlyFeminist 5 points 2y ago
Brewing should be your first priority. If your cafe is open your next priority is the cafe, making sure your customers are good, trashes and good, napkins/cream sugar restocked. Then your next priority should be your bar baristas, they should be able to tell you what they are needing restocked. Check backups. Then clean clean clean. TBH you should never run out of things to do on CS, and if you find yourself absolutely having nothing to do, you can flex onto order support, just helping making mobile drinks or whatever. Good luck you’ve got this!
TJW351 [OP] 4 points 2y ago
Thank you for your response! I’m one of those people that can’t stand just standing there twiddling my thumbs, but I was so worried I would start working on the wrong thing. Thanks again!
TheFriendlyFeminist 4 points 2y ago
Ofc!! I get it, I’m the same way. Don’t worry there is always plenty to do! Or as we ~jokingly~ say in my store mocking an old manager “if you’re leanin’, you could be cleanin’“ 😂
Ashleybux 3 points 2y ago
Here’s what I have CS do:
Stock milks, Cups/lids, Trash, Every 10 min-timer-brew coffee, 30 min timer-wash hands/change sanitizers, Load of dishes, Stock warming bags/any food items needed, Check bathrooms, Stock RTD+E, Back ups, Repeat on a cycle
Stock milks, Cups/lids, Trash, Every 10 min-timer-brew coffee, 30 min timer-wash hands/change sanitizers, Load of dishes, Stock warming bags/any food items needed, Check bathrooms, Stock RTD+E, Back ups, Repeat on a cycle
TJW351 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you!!
kanybol 2 points 2y ago
I am late to this but I considered myself to be THE BEST CS ever. And here is my routine:
AM (Brewing all 4 coffees):
BLOCK 1:
Set timer for 8 minutes: brew pike
STOCK: Espresso, Ice, sleeves, cups, lids, milk, juices, inclusions, stoppers, straws, syrups, pretty much anything that your partners would need and that you can grab in less than 1 min.
BLOCK 2:
Set timer for 8 min: brew Dark
Go do a lobby for the entire 8 minutes. You will ALWAYS have something to do in the lobby or you are doing it wrong. Stock/clean the condiment bar, bathrooms, wipe down tables and chairs, stock your RTD fridge, sneeze guards, sweep, spot mop, heck even drive thru sweep falls into this block if you somehow find the time. ANYTHING that is front of the house.
BLOCK 3:
Set timer for 8 minutes: Brew blonde
This one and block 4 are more loose and depends heavily on what’s going on but the key things I try to do here are declutter: empty 1-2 trash cans, do a small load of dishes, change sanitizer, DECLUTTER your partners mess lmao (good block to do a trash run)
BLOCK 4:
Set timer for 8 minutes: brew decaf
This block is closely related to block 3, but instead of clearing stuff out (dishes, trash, clutter) I try to focus on prep. Make sure you have mocha, sweet cream, make AT LEAST 3 whips, fill a sleeve’s worth of caramel, iced coffee, etc.
When this last block’s timer runs out you are going to start this same cycle all over again with block 1. In the afternoon when we only brew 1 coffee I do everything EXACTLY the same except for the brew part. But I keep my 8 min timer all the time so I don’t spend too much time on one task and no part of the store is ever neglected for too long.
AM (Brewing all 4 coffees):
BLOCK 1:
Set timer for 8 minutes: brew pike
STOCK: Espresso, Ice, sleeves, cups, lids, milk, juices, inclusions, stoppers, straws, syrups, pretty much anything that your partners would need and that you can grab in less than 1 min.
BLOCK 2:
Set timer for 8 min: brew Dark
Go do a lobby for the entire 8 minutes. You will ALWAYS have something to do in the lobby or you are doing it wrong. Stock/clean the condiment bar, bathrooms, wipe down tables and chairs, stock your RTD fridge, sneeze guards, sweep, spot mop, heck even drive thru sweep falls into this block if you somehow find the time. ANYTHING that is front of the house.
BLOCK 3:
Set timer for 8 minutes: Brew blonde
This one and block 4 are more loose and depends heavily on what’s going on but the key things I try to do here are declutter: empty 1-2 trash cans, do a small load of dishes, change sanitizer, DECLUTTER your partners mess lmao (good block to do a trash run)
BLOCK 4:
Set timer for 8 minutes: brew decaf
This block is closely related to block 3, but instead of clearing stuff out (dishes, trash, clutter) I try to focus on prep. Make sure you have mocha, sweet cream, make AT LEAST 3 whips, fill a sleeve’s worth of caramel, iced coffee, etc.
When this last block’s timer runs out you are going to start this same cycle all over again with block 1. In the afternoon when we only brew 1 coffee I do everything EXACTLY the same except for the brew part. But I keep my 8 min timer all the time so I don’t spend too much time on one task and no part of the store is ever neglected for too long.
TJW351 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Hey, thank you for this great response! I work evening/close shifts so the morning brew stuff doesn’t really apply to me but everything else is super helpful. Since the initial post I’ve been mostly focusing on making sure behind the counter, the cafe, and the bathrooms are swept, stocked, and mopped (mostly just tidied behind the counter until later in the night). I love a good checklist lol so your response is awesome. Thank you again!!
For the stocking bit, I have been told a few times not to touch the whips or caramel bottles because the DT people do those. I thought it was weird since they’re usually super busy but whatever. Leaves me with more time to clean before that gosh-darn coffee timer goes off.
For the stocking bit, I have been told a few times not to touch the whips or caramel bottles because the DT people do those. I thought it was weird since they’re usually super busy but whatever. Leaves me with more time to clean before that gosh-darn coffee timer goes off.
kanybol 2 points 2y ago
DT people making whip sounds weird to me too but hey! Every store does it’s own thing. I’m glad you enjoyed the list I gave you I’m more than happy to help with anything else you might need.
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