God forbid customers can be understanding and sweet like you. Sometimes it’s easier to have them pull to the window and try to converse there. “I’m sorry I’m having trouble with the speaker. Pull around and I can finish your order” Of course it would be a great connection moment with a customer at the window, but sbux probably won’t view it that way. Your shift/SM/DM might tell you times are more important. What do you think?

if the folks with thick accents speak mostly the same language, maybe consider trying to pick up a few phrases in that language. english is my first language, i didn’t learn spanish until college, but i find taking orders in spanish is way easier for both me and the customer (usually). they’re more comfortable speaking their mother tongue and there is less opportunity for confusion in the ordering process, as, even if i am not as fluent as they are, i can ask the clarifying questions i know how to ask in spanish and pick apart what they are trying to say. instead of trying to ask them in english and then having to translate, and maybe not always doing the best job of translating, which may lead to them not getting the drink they were hoping for