There are just some drinks that are always going to slow you down and with customizations getting more out of hand every day we all feel like we are getting slower at times. Just go at a healthy pace for yourself. You’re doing great.

Prep your other drinks during downtime, especially while shots are pouring or the blenders are blending. Make sure to at least glance at the stickers for the next 2 or 3 drinks but so you have an idea in mind for what your next move will be. If you’re on hot bar, prep the next cups with syrups if they’re needed or fill an extra pitcher with milk. If it’s an iced drink like a c. Macchiato, prep it by filling the cup up with the syrup milk and ice, just do the little things and take baby steps and you’ll get much faster. Best of luck!

Batch blending is gods work.

try to not panic when you’re on bar. staying calm helps so much. i know that’s easier said than done. i always emphasize this when i train people because i find that we make more mistakes when we’re panicking. if you’re feeling overwhelmed take a second fo calm yourself down and then get back to it.

i know taking a few seconds sounds counterproductive but its a lot easier to work efficiently when you’re mentally prepared.

also sequencing!!! really try to work on that skill. when i first started on bar i had the same problem until i figured out sequencing. also important to note not everyone’s sequencing looks the same. you may prefer a different method than the standard. i usually sequence cleaning which means i make a drink and clean the one i was working on before. then start the next and so on.

so instead of starbucks standard sequencing do finish drink 1 —> start drink 2 —> clean drink 1 equipment —> prepare drink 3 —> finish drink 2 —> start drink 3 —> clean drink 2 —> and so on. (prepare means put sticker on cup and pour milk into pitcher ,syrups in cup, grab shaker if needed, get cold foam going, and other similar tasks)

everyone at my store has a slightly different sequencing method and it really depends on your preference. also if constantly switching from cold bar to hot bar slows your momentum try doing your cold drinks together and your hot drinks together (i know this isn’t always possible when on drive thru bar but if you can it helps)

and lastly remember that it’s just coffee and that karen can wait 10 more seconds for her latte

and shortcuts:

shaker lids are the perfect size for grande and venti cups so you don’t really need the shaker for those.

for fraps if you’ve been on bar long enough you know what the milk to ice ratio looks like and so don’t measure out milk instead do ice and syrups then milk till it looks right.

batch steam milk

batch fraps

batch cold foam

you can fit three tall refreshers in the shaker

Batching drinks if you can