Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
↑
23
↓
sloppy standards (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by hsah1rac
recently myself and some other coworkers have been helping out at another Starbucks location about a mile down the street from ours as our location is closed for remodel for a few weeks.
my first shift there they threw me on to bar and I went to make an iced matcha latte - using the shaker - as I'm sure most of you do.
this is when one of the partners from their store stopped me and showed me a method of making an iced Matcha latte using the foaming pitcher
(they showed me to fill milk to the top black line on the cup, dump it into the foaming blender, scoop matcha powder / corresponding size scoop of ice and blend on 3)
while I was shocked at the outcome once the drink was finished, as it did not produce any foam like it does when you shake it, a SVV from my store saw what we did & pulled me aside to tell me not to bring this technique back to our store when we open back up in a few weeks.
i'm curious to hear what other barista's thoughts are or even shift supervisors thoughts. I personally don't see the issue with it especially for customers that demand a shaken latte with ~No FoAm~
BUT I do see the side of the argument that values standard throughout the company when it comes to drink crafting
my first shift there they threw me on to bar and I went to make an iced matcha latte - using the shaker - as I'm sure most of you do.
this is when one of the partners from their store stopped me and showed me a method of making an iced Matcha latte using the foaming pitcher
(they showed me to fill milk to the top black line on the cup, dump it into the foaming blender, scoop matcha powder / corresponding size scoop of ice and blend on 3)
while I was shocked at the outcome once the drink was finished, as it did not produce any foam like it does when you shake it, a SVV from my store saw what we did & pulled me aside to tell me not to bring this technique back to our store when we open back up in a few weeks.
i'm curious to hear what other barista's thoughts are or even shift supervisors thoughts. I personally don't see the issue with it especially for customers that demand a shaken latte with ~No FoAm~
BUT I do see the side of the argument that values standard throughout the company when it comes to drink crafting
Ajskdjurj 18 points 2y ago
My store we put it in foaming blender on 4 but never put ice in it. It does foam better. My store is very high volume and it’s just easier. Customers actually like it better.
asdfjklyss 20 points 2y ago
I second this. It also makes it easier to sequence because you can press a button and do another drink while it’s mixing.
Also the customer gets all the matcha. Half the time the matcha gets stuck in the shaker.
I’m all for standards, but we can always reevaluate and change standards when new ideas come along. That’s how we find the best ways to do things.
Also the customer gets all the matcha. Half the time the matcha gets stuck in the shaker.
I’m all for standards, but we can always reevaluate and change standards when new ideas come along. That’s how we find the best ways to do things.
clumsycalico 6 points 2y ago
Yes this! Standards exist for a reason and it’s great that you can walk into any SB in the country and know you’ll get what you want. But the iced matcha latte is by far the worst drink we have construction-wise and this sounds like a way better idea. When someone orders one of those with no foam it breaks me every time lol
Ajskdjurj 3 points 2y ago
Yes this! Great way of explaining it!!
hsah1rac [OP] 3 points 2y ago
agree - i'm from a high volume DT store so i don't see the issue with it personally it's way easier and finishes so nicely :,)
hsah1rac [OP] 11 points 2y ago
post title to grab attention - & honestly i only asked the question bc i was so shocked by how adamant the SVV from my store was about it not coming back w us :) edit- this svv has been with the company for 16yrs.... that's why she's a stickler for rules but with that - you'd think after 16 years you'd LOVE a lil barista life hack
echowolf9 11 points 2y ago
I used to be a supervisor and would definitely tell a barista to not blend it in the blender. One of the great things about Starbucks is that it’s supposed to be the same at every location but when you deviate from the standards it makes it harder for customers and for other stores. I’ve seen people blend it and it is definitely a different consistency. Even if it is better than the standard a customer may prefer the standard way or they’ll go to other stores annoyed that the drink isn’t the same. As a tenured supervisor I realized how important it was to follow our standards that I wouldn’t have thought about as a barista.
The_Septic_Shock 2 points 2y ago
This, it saves a barista getting eaten by a Karen either right then and there or in future
[deleted] 11 points 2y ago
[deleted]
jklmnopedy 2 points 2y ago
I think it's better and more efficient to put it in the foam pitcher. The matcha never clumps and it ends up being better quality, imho 🤷♀️.
ZestycloseRate7330 2 points 2y ago
At my store we do both but our temp SM is such damn rulebook lover that she’ll tell us it’s not standard and to not do it. But it makes the iced matches so nice haha. She also gave me shit when she was on bar with me during a rush.. I put everything that needed to go in a mocha cookie crumble in a grande cup and all it needed was to be blended. She grabbed the empty cup(cause she put it in the blender) and goes “did you do this?! This is not how we do this”. I’m like really? I saved you all the steps and all you had to do was blend it and move along. Sure, I get it it’s not standard but when there’s a rush and I’m helping you move faster on coke bar, just shit up and make the drinks. There’s no node the constant shot talking and saying shit under your breath and being a bitch. This is honestly a huge part in why no one at my store likes her. She knows she’s not liked and it’s gonna be a party when she leaves and we get our real manager back
hsah1rac [OP] 3 points 2y ago
i feel this SO hard. you sure you don't work at my store?!!
ZestycloseRate7330 2 points 2y ago
You sure you don’t work at MY store?? Ugh I literally hate her. She literally goes around starting rumors to try and tear partners apart. We’re all cool with each other and her games don’t work. She starts shit and tries to get information out of us but we all play dumb and she knows it. She just needs to learn to stopppppp. She also sucks at working with people in general I’ve learned. She’s been with us for 6 months and still can’t tell when someone is joking or being sarcastic. THIS IS WHY YOU’RE NOT LIKED!😤😒😑🙄
nightkat89 1 points 2y ago
There’s a Starbucks near me that literally pours their shaken espressos back and forth between the cup and the shaker and considers it shaken (with no foam mind you)
NervosaNervous 1 points 2y ago
I do this, but I don’t put ice in the foaming pitcher. I fill the cup up to the top line with milk, pour it into the pitcher, scoop the matcha, then blend it on 3 for a few seconds till the matcha is combined. Then I scoop ice into the cup and pour the contents of the pitcher on top.
Nigee_Ogee 1 points 2y ago
I do that when I’m lazy or when a customer asks for no foam
variazioni 1 points 2y ago
i’m confused, you blend the ice with it? thats just a crappy green tea frap lol
hsah1rac [OP] 2 points 2y ago
in the foaming pitcher - it does not chop ice like the Frappuccino blenders do. it doesn't have a blade like that lol
variazioni 2 points 2y ago
oh gotcha! i thought it would at least break the ice a bit. sounds like an easier process & i don’t see a huge issue with it
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.