i ask them about their drink order or i tell them the tea in my life, idek them and i talk to them like they’re my friend. i’m terrible at remembering faces though, so try to remember there name or face at least. i feel so bad when they pick up the convo we had from a diff day and i don’t even remember them

I always start with “so what are you up to today”

complimenting people helped me ease into things a lot!! our store used to do questions of the day because the usual how are you/good gets tiresome. we’d ask things randomly like “what’s your zodiac sign” “do you believe in ghosts” “what’s your favorite holiday movie” etc. but honesty i feel that most baristas speak in a stream of consciousness once they feel more relaxed into the job, don’t sweat it too much- it’ll come to you in no time!

Ask them if they’re going to work or are working and on a break, if so you can talk about what they do and such. Also I find that although very cliche in terms of small talk, the weather is always a goto.

[removed]