bc you cant know the secret menu since there isnt one 😭

Unless it's just a simple customization, we hate those drinks. You aren't required or taught secret menu drinks. Even if we know what's in a "butter beer" or "cotton candy" frappuccino we really aren't supposed to respond to those names because so many baristas don't know them. It's a kind of a running joke that the secret menu is a secret from the baristas. Stick with menu items or something that has little customizations. Change a milk or a syrup for sure! But most secret menu drinks have a paragraph longer than this one for a recipe

Be nice and eager to learn

just be nice and have a good work ethic, that’s really it!

Just don’t order until they offer. The hiring manager will offer and tell the barista making it that it’s for you and you’re interviewing. It’s bad form to ask for free things at an interview. They will offer but please for the love of god don’t do any of the things you’re saying that you might do.

Yes, I got water. I always get water at interviews because hydration is important and something to sip on is good for my ADHD. I also don't want to be distracted by "is this cool enough to drink yet" or "do I have a foam mustache" or "crap I dripped some on my slacks".

I was asked what I typically order or what my favorite drinks are or something like that. I think I talked passionately about how much I loved steamers while working the night shift and needing a hot decaf drink in the early morning.

The actual questions are going to be different depending on the person interviewing. They don't have a predetermined list of things they must ask or can only ask. My interview focused more on culture, attitude, and experience than products -- partially because I had several previous jobs in the industry and partially because I was interviewing for a leadership role. And my manager is less concerned about coffee knowledge and more concerned about your attitude and approach -- we can teach you about coffee, but we can't teach you to like people or treat customers well.

I wouldn't ask for two free drinks. Feels a tad tone-deaf. Get the thing you want and don't worry about the appearance of it. Your taste in drinks has literally no bearing on whether you're hired.

Would not recommend

if you get hired they’re gonna make you do a coffee tasting anyway, so just order what you want if they offer. the free drink isn’t meant to be anything other than a kind gesture, so don’t overthink it. if you *are* trying to “impress” though, make sure you order it as a “frappuccino” and not a “frappe” because the former is trademarked by starbucks and it’s what they prefer that we use

Good luck! I hope you get it!