Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Honey Citrus Shortage Question. (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Drewbabymoore
Hey Starbucks Reddit. I got a question for baristas, shifts and managers.
I am a barista myself at a Starbucks location and we’ve been experiencing shortages like the rest of the stores across the country. One of the syrups our store hasn’t seen in weeks it the Honey Blend for Honey Citrus Mint Teas and the other Honey Blend lattes. We do however have honey packets.
I know it used to be standard to use the honey packets before the honey blend, but it isn’t the current, standard, recipe.
Last week our regional manager came to our store and saw we had been using some alternative syrups like off brand raspberry and hazelnut to keep making some of our regulars happy. The regional manager appreciated the effort, but understandably referenced that we should only use the ingredients listed on the recipe to make the drinks and that we could no longer use outside syrups and we must followed the recipes.
My question is does the Honey Citrus Mint Tea continue to be served with honey packets or get removed from the menu until honey blend comes back?
I am curious on how to go about it from the rule book and recipe card format. I know many people will say to use honey packets and make the moment right by the customer, but does that happen at the cost of the consistency and flavor of the drink? I know it’s semantics, but since our regional manager just aligned us with the rules; my personal lean would be to not make them until honest blend is back. (Of course the shifts and managers are already aware and discussing this, but in the mean time, feedback would be nice.)
I’d love any thoughts and feedback! Thank you!
I am a barista myself at a Starbucks location and we’ve been experiencing shortages like the rest of the stores across the country. One of the syrups our store hasn’t seen in weeks it the Honey Blend for Honey Citrus Mint Teas and the other Honey Blend lattes. We do however have honey packets.
I know it used to be standard to use the honey packets before the honey blend, but it isn’t the current, standard, recipe.
Last week our regional manager came to our store and saw we had been using some alternative syrups like off brand raspberry and hazelnut to keep making some of our regulars happy. The regional manager appreciated the effort, but understandably referenced that we should only use the ingredients listed on the recipe to make the drinks and that we could no longer use outside syrups and we must followed the recipes.
My question is does the Honey Citrus Mint Tea continue to be served with honey packets or get removed from the menu until honey blend comes back?
I am curious on how to go about it from the rule book and recipe card format. I know many people will say to use honey packets and make the moment right by the customer, but does that happen at the cost of the consistency and flavor of the drink? I know it’s semantics, but since our regional manager just aligned us with the rules; my personal lean would be to not make them until honest blend is back. (Of course the shifts and managers are already aware and discussing this, but in the mean time, feedback would be nice.)
I’d love any thoughts and feedback! Thank you!
Few-Tax-1647 9 points 1y ago
We haven’t had honey blend for months, and no honey packets for about one month. Last week we ran out of Jade Citrus Mint bags and agave. But we had several people order the medicine ball anyway, no honey or agave, and sub Mint Majesty for JCM. I was honestly just impressed by the dedication to this tea.
FfierceLaw 3 points 1y ago
We’ve been out of HB and honey packets for weeks, we have been using agave in that beverage instead and customers are ok with it
jelizt 3 points 1y ago
I think as long as you’re telling the customer “this is as close as I can get you to the original but it may not taste quite the same” and they agree then it’s fine. At my store we offer honey packets first then agave and if we’re out of both we just ask the customer what syrup they want to use.
ghetto-skooter 3 points 1y ago
lol our store is out of honey blend, honey packets, and agave. when people ask we say.. sugar??
adventurelyfe 2 points 1y ago
We have no honey syrup, or honey. We tell the customer we can do it with agave. 99% of the time they’re cool with it.
_abbycadabby_ 1 points 1y ago
I'm sorry, your RD is dumb as hell. We modify the fuck out of every single recipe, to the point that drinks sold as "lattes" or "macchiatos" are actually no longer lattes or macchiatos. I absolutely hate making HCMT and would love an excuse not to sell them, but simply offering a substitute sweetener is a no brainer here.
Damn. I gotta warm lemon loaves and donuts because I'm not allowed to tell a customer no, and your RD is like oh sorry guys, no honey no HCMT.
Damn. I gotta warm lemon loaves and donuts because I'm not allowed to tell a customer no, and your RD is like oh sorry guys, no honey no HCMT.
salaciainthedepths 3 points 1y ago
From a legal point of view, you can get what they’re saying - using outside syrups is not something I would be comfortable with in my store or if I was ordering drinks - allergen and nutrition guides are no longer accurate, if anything happened you’d have no cover!
For the honey substitution, as long as you inform the customer at point of order, it should be okay. The RD didn’t specifically say no honey instead of honey blend, they said to follow the recipes. If a customer orders it subbing the honey blend for honey, you’re following the recipe for that order and using approved Starbucks products, for which nutrition and allergen information is available.
It’s totally different to guessing recipes or buying a random syrup from a shop and passing it off as Starbucks hazelnut. Genuinely can’t believe no one saw anything wrong with that until the RD pointed it out.
For the honey substitution, as long as you inform the customer at point of order, it should be okay. The RD didn’t specifically say no honey instead of honey blend, they said to follow the recipes. If a customer orders it subbing the honey blend for honey, you’re following the recipe for that order and using approved Starbucks products, for which nutrition and allergen information is available.
It’s totally different to guessing recipes or buying a random syrup from a shop and passing it off as Starbucks hazelnut. Genuinely can’t believe no one saw anything wrong with that until the RD pointed it out.
_abbycadabby_ 1 points 1y ago
Oh, sorry. I totally misread and didn't get the part that it was actually not Starbucks products. I thought he was coming down on them for using other ingredients that we have. Yes, that makes a lot more sense now. Thanks!
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