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Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind

Full History - 2021 - 10 - 09 - ID#q4t6kt
70
What do you like to make when someone orders a surprise drink? (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by grumpysnail755
LilKaySigs 119 points 1y ago
A water
grumpysnail755 [OP] 9 points 1y ago
😂😂😂😂
throwaway2825272 3 points 1y ago
exactly , surprise !
Markedsoultheif 102 points 1y ago
Grande ice water blended with base and whipped cream
59625962 57 points 1y ago
Low cal WATER FRAPPUCCINO 🥵🥵
LilKaySigs 19 points 1y ago
Keto friendly
Swordxxxx 85 points 1y ago
A grande pike place
grumpysnail755 [OP] 35 points 1y ago
These cynical drinks are killing me 😂 I’d love to see the customers reaction
Swordxxxx 6 points 1y ago
But honestly I would do most likely a whatever size they choose, cotton candy Frappuccino. That seems to do the trick. I used to pick some combination that involved the iced teas and peach.
lewabwee 2 points 1y ago
I said pike too but the honest answer is I would make them order something. Every time I or anyone I work with made a surprise drink or suggested something the customer doesn’t want it.
Agartha33 85 points 1y ago
Iced white mocha with brown sugar.
TheCapriSunWaifu 9 points 1y ago
I just make this for myself on my breaks
grumpysnail755 [OP] 3 points 1y ago
That sounds good!😊
heprice1998 65 points 1y ago
Iced chai with brown sugar and oat milk
helpmeplz219 9 points 1y ago
i always recommend that too everytime that’s so weird 😂 they always love it
BananiiUoU 8 points 1y ago
Iced chai with oat milk and caramel syrup is to die for🤗
heprice1998 1 points 1y ago
That sounds amazing 🤤
grumpysnail755 [OP] 8 points 1y ago
This actually sounds really good! I’ve heard iced chai’s with pumpkin is good too.
laughingashley 10 points 1y ago
We always called it the chumpkin
frappeyourmom 10 points 1y ago
Iced chai with pumpkin is my fall drink of choice.
heprice1998 3 points 1y ago
Thank you!! I think it tastes like a cookie. I’ll try the pumpkin on my next shift!! 😋
FfierceLaw 62 points 1y ago
I feel that when they do that they are looking to get something really sugary, more like a dessert without having to feel responsible so I order them a venti iced white mocha with VSCCF and caramel drizzle but for a child it would be a tall vanilla bean Frappuccino with dragon fruit blended in
Shantzy_ 53 points 1y ago
Hot: Grande pike, black
Iced: Grande cup of water
SpeedWagonRequiem 13 points 1y ago
Chaotic Evil
grumpysnail755 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
😂😂😂
moonsickangel 40 points 1y ago
I like to call it the cookie dough latte! Oat latte with half brown sugar syrup and half vanilla.
dexterwolf1 3 points 1y ago
i do this too, but i call it the oatmeal cookie, and add cinnamon!
GrafixCard25 30 points 1y ago
I give people a suicide (one of every syrup) because the surprise me shit is super annoying
corncob999 4 points 1y ago
Omg I’m doing this next time
GrafixCard25 3 points 1y ago
Hell yeah lmao
adventurelyfe 3 points 1y ago
I’m sooo stealing this idea
GrafixCard25 4 points 1y ago
Go for it :) happy hunting
Basic_Journalist_673 1 points 1y ago
Please say you make them pay for every pump too😂
GrafixCard25 1 points 1y ago
Nah i don’t go that far lol
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
[deleted]
Impossible-Degree-52 26 points 1y ago
Iced chai with two pumps brown sugar inside, pumpkin cold foam with cinnamon blended in, oat milk base
grumpysnail755 [OP] 10 points 1y ago
This sounds amazing actually. I’m jotting these down for me to try too 😂
Impossible-Degree-52 7 points 1y ago
Im addicted myself so I want to share the joy
grumpysnail755 [OP] 21 points 1y ago
Back story: I’m a new barista and someone ordered one my last shift and I was so caught off guard. I had no idea it was a thing. So I’m looking for ideas on what to make next time it happens 😂😬
SelocAvrap 3 points 1y ago
Please don't indulge these customers. It's not other baristas' jobs to come up with random drinks and actually surprising people can mean that whoever's on bar will have to remake whatever drink the customer wants after they don't like a surprise me drink. You also don't know allergies/dislikes

I definitely recommend asking what they like and making an actual recommendation (that's easy on your bar partners) based on what they like
grumpysnail755 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Good to know! I did ask about allergies, but I’ll try to narrow it down if it happens again. I didn’t know people did this 😬
SelocAvrap 1 points 1y ago
Thank you for taking feedback!
BusyLeek2351 20 points 1y ago
I took a piece of ham out of a croissant and put it in a cup once. It was great.
[deleted] 19 points 1y ago
[deleted]
stringtherapy321 4 points 1y ago
Psh but iced matcha with peppermint (before it was gone), Java chips, and a double is fantastic. More fantastic WITH MOCHA DRIZZLE.
Aliciarox11189 2 points 1y ago
No peppermint maybe raspberry. Do a green tea frap with chips and the double shot
ivyadalena 3 points 1y ago
i do a mango dragonfruit w matcha💀
[deleted] 3 points 1y ago
[deleted]
snarky_fireball21 16 points 1y ago
A hazelnut white mocha. Though I should make them drink a hot green tea latte and shame them for ever ordering a surprise drink with no parameters.
Agartha33 3 points 1y ago
I love when people order. What's the harm?
snarky_fireball21 8 points 1y ago
I work at a Tarbucks. They do it after we finish a rush and are struggling to recover, when there's one of us. When we're staffed, I love creating new drinks that they might love. That's all really. Also I don't want to create super complicated drinks that other places can't recreate and I tend to do that sometimes...
Agartha33 2 points 1y ago
Me too dude. I still love it.
Brgnbo 12 points 1y ago
I used to make white mochas with toffee nut but now I just do a brown sugar something or other
Megaman3220 12 points 1y ago
Quad iced espresso with 2% milk. I don't like surprise drinks hahaha
Able_Ad2652 9 points 1y ago
When pineapple ginger was still a thing, I used to make the pineapple matcha in frap form with strawberry purée in the bottom, it was almost like a pina colada and everyone who got to try it loved it!

Now I do a frap that’s half lemonade half coconut milk with vanilla. Kind of like that drink that was trending a while ago that “tastes like Malibu” but frozen. It’s actually soooo good!
grumpysnail755 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Those sound delicious. And happy cake day! 🥳
gabnormal 8 points 1y ago
A cold brew with white mocha, and either cinnamon blended into the cold foam, or mocha blended in with cookie crumbles. We call them a cinnamon bun cold brew and cookies and cream cold brew respectively.
eckinz 8 points 1y ago
Chai latte, sub oat milk with cinnamon steamed in. 2 pumps apple brown sugar with apple drizzle. Tastes like fall!
couchpillowmuppet 7 points 1y ago
Everyone in these comments are so negative. Surprise drinks are supposed to be fun and as long as you know what the persons preferred size, hot/iced, and their preferred milk that’s exactly what it will be. Every person that I’ve given an iced chai with brown sugar and oatmilk has loved it. We’re supposed to be experts on the drinks and we know what flavors work well together for the most part. If you don’t want it to be a total surprise, build a drink with the customer and give recommendations to see what they like. No need to be rude in these comments. To customers: I say keep getting surprise drinks. They are always fun for my baristas and I.
grumpysnail755 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
My partners didn’t seem bothered by it at all. I was just really caught off guard and kinda grow up haha.
Ashesremindme 4 points 1y ago
The absolute best cold foam ever, hands down, is salted toffee nut cold foam. So a nitro with that. No more difficult than any other cold foam drink, and so delicious. (2 pumps toffee nut, 2 salt packets, sweet cream to about 150.)
Professor_Profane 3 points 1y ago
You guys are so much nicer than me. If you ask me to surprise you, Im giving you a white mocha, vsccb, or a mdrl
youdontsayeh01 3 points 1y ago
I usually start with 2 questions. Hot or cold? Sweet or Bold? Sweet= Caramel white mocha. Bold= Vanilla sweet cream cold brew, vanilla flat white, or one of the new shaken espressos if we are not slammed!
Kmsss 3 points 1y ago
I’m so tired of people being upset over this. Chill out. People want to try something new.. it doesn’t have to be crazy just get an idea of what they might like, coffee or no coffee, hot or iced, any dairy preferences. It’s not complicated and it’s a great way to connect with people. Have none of you ever tried something a customer ordered because you were curious. Dang.
kqs13 3 points 1y ago
I usually ask them a category, like coffee, tea,frap, etc. Then if they like sweet or less sweet drinks. Then ask if they have any allergies. Then I pick something after they have helped me narrow down the options.
melodiic_ 3 points 1y ago
✨tall iced chai ✨
YorkTownBratty 3 points 1y ago
White mocha Frappuccino with a pump of brown sugar, caramel drizzle and salted honey topping. It’s delicious!
offbrandvodka 3 points 1y ago
Cold brew with brown sugar and oat milk- delish, easy to make, “off the menu” so they feel good
Babs9220 3 points 1y ago
Half dark carmel, half white mocha
rmelonioi 3 points 1y ago
Apple juice shaken w/ HC and caramel syrup. Tastes like a cheesecake.
normaldud 3 points 1y ago
White mocha with honey blend!
Canadiansbux 2 points 1y ago
I usually just recommend caramel macchiato's because they are popular and easy to make lol
shiftyclub 2 points 1y ago
iced black tea w oat milk and brown sugar syrup!
Nicckles 2 points 1y ago
Iced chai. If you want me to make you something I’m making something that benefits me and my time
AdamAce3 2 points 1y ago
Gr Vanilla bean crm frap with heavy cream, 2WM, 1M, cookie crumble topping
ExcitementClassic728 2 points 1y ago
TBH, depends on the time of the day.

If it's super busy, then a iced chai (maybe with a alr milk and a sauce for flavor) quick to make, but kinda fun or a sweet cream nitro, If it's slower, I'll get more creative, like a shaken espresso, or pink drink with flavored cold foam.
canidieyet_ 2 points 1y ago
strawberry açaí lemonade with raspberry for no coffee, a cold brew with pumpkin sauce, oatmilk , salted foam (no caramel in foam!), and extra cinnamon if they want coffee, or a cream based frap/flavored hot chocolate/passion tea lemonade with raspberry if no caffeine at all ❤️
audrey_mae_ 2 points 1y ago
hot chai w oat milk, brown sugar, and two shots. such a good fall drink and it’s not a pain to make!!
ohamilkshake 2 points 1y ago
coconut milk mocha macchiato! it was one of my favorite drinks back when it came out
lewabwee 2 points 1y ago
Pike
saddestgirl1995 2 points 1y ago
Iced chai
RareLingonberry 2 points 1y ago
Ice water
Coffeeaftersex 2 points 1y ago
Iced chai with oatmilk & blonde ristretto shots
Accurate-Bumblebee14 2 points 1y ago
Grande Pike. Black.
iwmwsccbaecd 2 points 1y ago
Iced chai with pumpkin
Phoenix-1973 2 points 1y ago
Raspberry black and white
LilacFlores 2 points 1y ago
What does this mean?
DraconidZinnia 7 points 1y ago
Latte with half mocha, half white mocha, and raspberry
LilacFlores 2 points 1y ago
Thanks!
DraconidZinnia 1 points 1y ago
No problem!! :)
lilpanita 1 points 1y ago
Venti Dragon drink with peach juice & light inclusions! One of of our regulars who sadly doesn’t go to out store anymore used to order it everyday and I really like it the first time I tried it !!! Or an iced black tea, no water, add cream and classic syrup!! Also super good !!
nevernot613 1 points 1y ago
one time my shift gave them a 10$ drink, it was a venti iced chai with oatmilk, 2 blonde shots, pumpkin sauce, pumpkin cream cold foam, and pumpkin topping, they were really surprised when they got to the window 😂😂
mama_bibi 1 points 1y ago
Iced chai with Apple syrup, salted cold foam with apple drizzle blended in. It's my personal favorite at the moment
accidentalove 1 points 1y ago
pikes place, black
jjaaccoobb16 1 points 1y ago
Black Tea Lemonade with a splash of mango dragonfruit refresher base. Half pumps of classic
CountBorn1031 1 points 1y ago
Chai frap with brown sugar :)
misskatthebrat 1 points 1y ago
i have 2 questions. Tea or coffee? How sweet do you like your drinks?
hookahpop 1 points 1y ago
Strawberry açaí lemonade w matcha powder
StormTheParade 1 points 1y ago
I used to either make them a simplified version of whatever I was obsessed with at the time, or I'd ask a couple questions to get a feel for what they'd like. Sweet Vs bitter, coffee Vs no coffee, caffeine Vs no caffeine, then I'd ask hot iced or blended.

For frappuccinos without coffee I tended to get people addicted to the "cookies and creme" which was just a vanilla bean with white mocha and java chips lmao
CapableCardiologist7 1 points 1y ago
Ice water, with no ice or water or quad americano no water💀
JustOneMoreChapter04 1 points 1y ago
Iced caramel macchiato
Due-Most-1763 1 points 1y ago
I also freak out and make somebody else tell me what to ring in lol, but for myself when I need a little flavor pick me up an iced apple juice with chai!! So good haven't tried it with any syrups yet...
goodtombs 1 points 1y ago
I hate it only because I’m picky and would give them my drink but I don’t want their judgement
ZacW94 1 points 1y ago
What is your drink?
goodtombs 1 points 1y ago
It’s not even that bad in my opinion, my go to shift drink was a venti iced quad blonde oat milk latte with 12 pumps of brown sugar syrup because our store had cold bar half pumps on our bottles of brown sug. Really sweet and super caffeinated, exactly what I needed to CS all day and avoid customers

A lot of people get off put by the ‘amount’ of syrup which is just 6 full pumps. (Yeah it’s a lot of syrup but I’m trying to justify) and I’m also in an area where our boomers get really weirder out by oat milk.

I think if when I first started working in coffee shops surprise me drinks we were more common I wouldn’t hate them as much because I used to try a lot of different coffee drinks. Now I have my favourites and don’t branch out and get stressed at the idea of thinking of something that a total stranger would like. Someone asked me for something that had coffee but didn’t taste like it and I felt like saying ‘anything with syrup?’
ZacW94 1 points 1y ago
Sounds like it would be pretty tasty. I would totally order that.
goodtombs 2 points 1y ago
Thanks! It is! I love brown sugar syrup
meloscav 1 points 1y ago
I usually ask what flavors they like and whether they want a hot or cold coffee, or if coffee isn’t their thing, if they’d want a tea or refresher. Then I go based on that bc I want it to be something they’d like. That’s one of the little things I miss tbh
bibbleskay 1 points 1y ago
Iced white mocha with toffeenut and oatmilk
Comprehensive-Tax124 1 points 1y ago
matcha latte with vsc foam
Dazzling_Cut_6862 1 points 1y ago
Depending on the day, I’ll go for either an iced chai with oat milk or an iced caramel macchiato.
domotastic 1 points 1y ago
I ask if they have any allergies, then if not- iced chai with almond milk and pumpkin cream cold foam. If it’s not pumpkin season, I put a pump of brown sugar and some cinnamon in the cold foam instead
the1noir 1 points 1y ago
Usually make then what I usually make for myself or a simple tiktok drink
fishesaymoo 1 points 1y ago
For Iced a Iced chai with pumpkin and vanilla sweet cream foam with apple brown sugar blended and a hot drink I do a white mocha with brown sugar syrup and apple drizzle
Kaylushhh 1 points 1y ago
Blonde Shaken Espresso sub classic with vanilla bean and top with a lil sweet cream.
catarinavanilla 1 points 1y ago
No coffee: pink drink with VSCCF, expensive and delicious

Coffee: 3 blonde shots iced with white mocha and topped with the milk of your choice, simple but effective
C0ffeeCoffeeC0ffee 1 points 1y ago
A mocha with toffee nut and caramel drizzle. So basically the salted caramel mocha but without the salt, and I halve the pumps cause it's think it's too sweet with full pumps of two syrups.
lilcherry02 1 points 1y ago
the easiest drink to make for my baristas on bar HAHA, if I'm on bar then I'll ask what the customer usually likes and go from there!
Venussayhi 0 points 1y ago
A iced shaken espresso with 3 pumps of white mocha and 6 pumps classic with 4 pumps of vanilla and 1 pump of brown sugar
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