You will totally pick it up as you go! I didn’t know much either when I started. My best advice besides using whatever training materials you have access to is to try different roasts and a) figure out what you like and b) be able to describe it to your customers

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Honestly, I knew absolutely nothing about coffee and only went to Starbucks twice before applying there :/ First few weeks were stressful because I tried to remember the recipes and learn the buttons on the register; I even have nightmares trying to remember it lol. After 1 month I kinda able to work on my own and ask coworkers if I have questions. 3 months in I was still asking questions but I’m fine on my own most of the time. 5 months in, I can do most work that barista have to do, yet I still have to ask questions when customer ask about coffee. I’m still learning about coffee everyday. My coworkers are really nice and supportive, which helped me a lot too! Good luck!!

Everything is a variation of a Latte lol

Honestly just take it slow and do your best to pay attention to everything your trainer says even when its busy and stressful. Most likely it will take a while to learn and that is OKAY. If people try to get mad at you for not knowing something realize that it is entirely their issue. Best thing to do is become familiar with drinks is to make them and also try them. They should (hopefully will) teach you everything, but this Reddit and also the regular Starbucks ones is super helpful. Don't be afraid to ask questions!

Please get good shoes .

They usually start people off at the register, after you complete training. So you’ll probably have extra time to study the drink recipes

You're training modules teach you so much terminology, don't be afraid to take notes! Also we're all here to help if you have any questions. The only dumb question is one not asked.

They will teach you anything you need to know. Most customers don’t know anything about coffee anyway, honestly. The worst part of the job that makes people hate it are the customers and/or having a bad store environment. If you get a decent location and a decent team you’ll be good to go.

starbucks is my first coffee job and i literally didnt know how to work a machine or anything and its very intimidating and a lot of things to learn at first but it eventually clicks and you get the hang of it!!

You'll be fine. It takes most people about a month or two to get good at the job, but if your store is busy you'll learn fast! I hope you get a store with a good manager, from what I can tell it really makes or breaks the experience.

Starbucks is by far the best job I’ve had. It can be stressful but it’s also fun!

They tell you it takes 3 months to get comfortable there bc it is a lot of information and there’s so many modifiers people can do, it took me longer than 3 months and I’m a quick learner. You will def get the hang of it eventually.

I’ve been at sbux for 9 months and I still don’t know coffee terminology but I know a lot more than I used to! Another thing I had to learn was not to over work yourself, it’s easy to put a lot of stress on yourself when you’re in the floor but just take it a step at a time.

What others have posted about reading stickers and rude customers is true but at my store my shifts make sure that we don’t get ran over by rude customers. If a customer verbally or physically abuses a partner they are banned from the store. Trust your team will be there to back you up.

I applied at Starbucks and I don’t drink coffee ever. Learning about how to make coffee and the different types of drinks was one of the most rewarding experiences for me. Hang in there, and you’ll do great!

Following this thread because I start the 27th and I'm in the same boat!! I only really drink tea, not a coffee person at all.

I have been a customer for many years though, and I've passively learned a lot over time, especially since my coffee-lover mom started liking Starbucks a lot. Try to study the menu as much as you can (I think the app is really good for this).

You said you know people that work at Starbucks already, why don't you reach out to them? One of my friends since I was little had been a barista for around 4 years and she's been an AMAZING help, for everything from the application to the dress code to dealing with customers.

You learn itnas you go, just like everything so don't worry.

Make a study guide and study it

I knew nothing about coffee when I first started and learned it all on the job. It takes time and they won’t expect you to know everything right away. Asking for help is okay! Heck, I encourage that you ask for help rather than struggle. I always let the people that I train know to ask as many questions as they want. Helps you guys learn better

I started just over 2 years ago, with absolutely no knowledge about coffee. None! I knew what a latte was, and that’s it. My baristas, shifts, managers and district managers have helped me! Don’t be afraid to ask for help. That’s what I tell all my baristas (now that I’m a shift), don’t be afraid! We’re all here to help each other. Before I worked at sbux, I worked in a self storage company. I had NO knowledge about that stuff. None! Before that, I worked at Home Depot as a flooring associate. Again, with no knowledge. I asked questions and I tried to learn as much as I can. If I didn’t know something, I asked someone!

When it comes to the store, some stores are hit or miss. I’ve been through a few stores now, and they can either be amazing, or suck. When I transferred to my current store I was burnt out and thinking about quitting. My current team is amazing, and I love them all! They reignited my love for working at Starbucks. Your coworkers can really make or break the job sometimes (that includes the manager, because some managers don’t know how to be leaders).

I don’t drink coffee or tea. When I started training at Starbucks, it was like another language. But you will pick it up, don’t worry. I trained as much as I could using the internet when I was at home. If you want to learn, you’ll do fine.

Starbucks wasn't my first coffee job. I worked at a local coffee shop first - and I don't actually drink coffee, so I knew nothing about brewing coffee, let alone espresso beverages. I managed to learn the entire menu there in a day and a half - from what it was to how to make it to how to troubleshoot any issues I was having. It was a much slower environment, but the thing that got me through was practice and studying it.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you're second guessing yourself, ask. It's easier to answer your question than to fix your mistake. If you don't know how to do something, admit it and work on learning it. Be open to trying new things,

Most importantly, though, don't prioritize the job over your own wellbeing. It's strangely easy to get sucked in here, but your store is not your sole responsibility, and this company will fire you in a heartbeat if they think it covers their own ass.

You’ll learn it all! Everything I knew about coffee before working here is that drip coffee exists, didnt know anything about espresso and that stuff. Training is there for a reason! Good luck on your new job :)

There are some great cheat sheets for green beans (newbies) on this sub, just search em up :) I only knew super basic drinks from getting them or making shitty versions at a gelato shop I used to work at with like zero training lol, but your trainer, the online modules and experience will get you going pretty quickly!

When making drinks, it helped me to remember the number of pumps of syrup by saying: Short, Short (shorts get 2 pumps), Tall (3) Grande (4), Venti, Iced Venti, Trenta.

Number of shots generally goes 1-1-2-2 and 3 shots for iced drinks like iced macchiatos and iced lattes. Some exceptions, but they’ll teach you!

Chai and matcha lattes do not get shots! My first week I kept putting them in until a partner told me lol

Strawberry and matcha fraps get Classic syrup!

There’s a difference between a blended Strawberry Açaí Lemonade and a Blended Strawberry Lemonade.

You will come across lots of rude, grumpy customers. Do not be afraid to stand up for yourself or another barista, even if your shift lead won’t help you out. Respect is earned, not demanded.

Always check stickers before handing out a drink!

Ask before trying to help out your bar partner with drinks. It can seriously mess up their flow if you don’t.

Remember to have fun, don’t take things personally or too seriously, and if you really hate it, take care of yourself above all else!

I can assure you they will teach you all the coffee terminology and how to make it—yes there’s a lot to learn but it’s ok if you forget, a good store will be happy to remind you. Even years long partners forget sometimes and need to check recipe cards!

This job is dumb easy. Don't stress about it.

You’ll pick it up right away in the training! I didn’t know SHIT about coffee before I worked here, besides the sugary Starbucks latte flavours! Plus, they’ll put you on the register before you get flung on to bar, so you can see all the buttons for everything and ask people what the stuff is if you don’t know!

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Yo make a friend that works there that you can say recommended you and then split the money that they’re giving out

Nobody knows what they are doing for at least a month. Training is only meant to introduce you to everything but you won’t be good at any of it for at least 3 weeks. Keep that in mind, ask a lot of questions, tell the customers you are new for at least 6 months 🤣 have fun!

It's called training lmao... You don't need to know anything, that's what training is for