Just remember. “It’s just coffee”.

If you’re ever talking to a customer and make a mistake, the “Sorry, I’m still new here” card is pretty valuable

always remember your job should NEVER be more important than your health and safety! also matcha and strawberries and creme fraps get classic😂

Get your sequencing down on the espresso bar and you'll be set.

1. Steam milk
2. Queue shots
3. Pump syrup
4. Combine everything

This will all make sense eventually.

I'm not that good yet but getting better one day at a time.

hey bud i’ve been working for just over three months now, not long i know but i still have some advice on how to pick things up quicker. just remember to always ask if you don’t know and don’t rush an order if a customer is rushing you and their drink doesn’t turn out correct that’s their fault. also always try keep coffee running or milk steaming you don’t wanna get booked with drinks

Don’t hesitate to ask if you have questions abt drinks, protocol, etc.!

Between coffee, espresso, teas, refreshers, fraps…hot, iced, blended…flavored and seasonal…alt milks…shaken or otherwise… short, tall, grande, venti, trenta… there are probably 133,000 possible drink combinations (…as my DM likes to say :-) BUT they all follow the same six or seven recipes/prep methods, so don’t get overwhelmed by the sticker!

Realistically, you’ll just be making the same four drinks anyway:

- Caramel Macchiato (hot and iced)
- Iced white mocha, no whip, vanilla sweet cream foam, with caramel drizzle
- Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
- Strawberry Açaí/Pink Drink

🤣

It's just coffee, working extra hard doesn't get you extra recognition. Be kind, voice travels farther than we think sometimes. You won't get all of it immediately and it's not because YOU aren't good, it's because our training is very short for the learning curve Starbucks has.

Good luck 😃

Most of the drinks are just a latte with extra steps

Misspell as many names as possible

i have no advice as to my first day is actually the day after yours;; but goodluck !!! i hope you enjoy it :)

1) coworkers may seem annoyed, but I promise it’s just at the situation, not you!! 2) at the end of the day, it’s a glorified fast food job making coffee. you are worth more! 3) as with anything, all in good time. 4) you can do this!

Please do not stand around while all your fellow partners are running around in the dumpster fire. Take initiative and ask your shift what you can do to help if you are unsure. I guarantee you they will very much appreciate it. No one really expects you to just know what to do right away.

I say this because one new girl would literally stand with her hands in her apron pockets and just stare at us. 😣

Starbucks expects you to know everything in 2 weeks. Unless you've worked in a fast food place or restaurant, realistically you're not going to learn everything in 2 weeks. Take your time and practice at home.

Don’t take anything personal. Take your time, don’t rush. and most importantly, take care of yourself outside of work.

My first days also tommorow ! We both got this!!!

I actually am a barista trainer. My favorite thing to say to new hires is: "Never be afraid to ask questions or to ask for help."

Your team is always there to help you. They were once in your position too. They will gladly help walk you through something or answer any questions you may have.

Also, don't beat yourself up if you don't pick up on things as quickly as you would like. Everyone learns at their own speed. It might take you a few weeks or a few months to feel completely comfortable in any given position. Thats okay. Just remember to keep working on your weaker points.

And a final piece of advice. Have fun. Starbucks can be a really great job. Yes, it's stressful and messy at times, you hear about it all over this subreddit. But if you come into work with a positive attitude and remember to have fun, you'll enjoy your job.

The first thing I tell all my trainees is that they are just drinks, and they will get done. It is just coffee and it is not that deep - both for us to stress over, and for the customers to treat us poorly over. You are going to make mistakes and that is okay, and in fact, good, because it tells us what you need to work on. As long as you approach things with an open mind and a willingness to learn, you’re going to do a great job.

Sometimes it helps to have a physical cheat sheet to remind you of how many shots or pumps of syrup go into the different types of drinks until you get it memorized. I’d say that’s what my trainees have the most trouble getting (and what I did as well), but it comes with practice. It’ll be a little overwhelming at first, but keep in mind - it’s just coffee, and we all started somewhere.

Best of luck!

Explore all the register thoroughly when you have down time in front. It can be super confusing to newcomers. So familiarizing yourself with the locations of all the drinks and customizations on it will help immensely.

Cold bar is simple and straightforward. Like I said your sequencing down and you'll be set for life. Don't worry about everyone else. Your pace will come and increase. I'm still waiting for mine to increase. 🤣

[deleted]

Know your learning style and let your trainer know! My trainer asked me (I am very visual) and made an extremely thoughtful effort to accommodate me. It made learning all that information less overwhelming and made me feel more welcomed!

Good luck & yes, as it's been said, it's just coffee :)

It’s just coffee. Breathe, relax, have fun, keep your bar clean (clean as you go). Be kind, voice yourself sooner rather than later, be assertive in your hours requests, time off requests, availability changes etc, and do not let this job take your health and happiness away from you. Make friends in your partners but keep them at a certain distance. Starbucks internal is incredibly cliquish, so be on Everyone’s good side. Take pride in making coffee and have fun with it. You will soar!!!

hi! i’ve been working since september, so not very long, but trust the process! it all seems like a lot at once, but i promise it gets so much easier with the right trainers and positive mindset.

everyone understands that you’re new, no one cares if you have questions or move slow or anything. i’m 4 months in and i still regularly ask questions, no one’s ever annoyed by it, it’s a hard job and everyone understands that. don’t worry about thinking you’re annoying coworkers or anything like that lol

There's a lot of pessimism in this company. Don't let that get to you. Remember at the end of the day you do cool stuff, making coffee is cool. Take pride in yourself.

I just started about 3 weeks ago... it can be so overwhelming! Here's my advice...take a deep breath, it's just coffee. 2nd, make a set of flashcards (I used 3x5 cards) with info like # of shots for hot/cold/iced drinks, what gets whip, what get's classic...stuff like that and then keep it in your apron pocket, that's been a life saver for me. And most of all, have fun with it...customers respond to a smile better than a stressed out barista. I find that customers are willing to give you some grace if you are simply truthful with them...I've said, "Sorry, I'm new..." about a million times now and most are very understanding.

It’s just coffee, you’re going to make mistakes don’t worry about it.

The learning curve is steep but if you can get through it it’s a genuinely fun place to work but sometimes it’s gonna suck.

If you make a mistake early on tell the customer you’re new. They’ll understand.

I just trained someone last week. Understand that you’re considered “new” for a few months. There will be rough shifts, but you’ll meet friends you’ll keep for a lifetime, so stuck in there! Eventually, work turns into fun, and it’ll be the best part of your day!

Remember you can only go as fast as you can. You're gonna start off with people who have been working there for years and are super quick making drinks with flawless bar routine etc, but that takes a lot of time and practice. You're new, cut yourself some slack and enjoy yourself.

If anyone gets mad at you, say it’s your first day. I used that card until I had been there for four years and was the manager. Only ever got called out once by a regular.

Just know it’s gonna take months before you feel super comfortable. Express interest in working bar or you’ll most likely get stuck on register/ customer support. When on bar, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, but take it one drink at a time. While one drink has the milk steaming & shots pulling, start your next drink. Keep your bar clean, and call things out (such as cups, lids, ice, etc.) for CS before they’re completely empty so it gives them time to get to you. You’re gonna do great!!

Iced chais have no water, that seems to be a big one with my store’s recent hires for some reason.

Also, just breathe. You’re new, those drinks might not stick with you until you’ve practiced bar for a while after training. Both of my trainees took about a month and a half to fully be comfortable on bar, and that’s totally okay.

You might get frustrated because standards are different based on hot or cold bar, or cold brew, and it honestly didn’t make sense to me as a green bean. I wrote my trainees cheat sheets for this and they both said having it written down really helped, so consider doing that.

Lastly, your trainer is there for you, any questions you have they will be happy to answer. If for some reason that’s not the case, I’m sure either your shifts or fellow baristas will want to help out. In the end, they most likely just want you to succeed.

Good luck, and I know you’ve got this!

Always ask questions. You will always learn something new or reinforce your knowledge when you ask questions. It also may help others review important things. You’ll be expected to remember a lot of information so it’s great to always make sure you’re on the right track. You got this! :)

You’re going to get taught everything, and then you’re going to forget all of it, and then relearn it through the process of working. Don’t get stuck in the loop of “I swear I was taught to do this,” because it’s a steep learning curve. Give yourself time.

Try to have fun and remember it all comes with time so don’t be too hard on yourself!

Don't feel dejected if you don't have the skill level you were hoping to by a certain time. It takes around 4 months to get comfortable with the job. The senior baristas are there to guide you. Don't ever be afraid to ask questions. My biggest pet peeve is when I politely correct a barista and they say "yeah, I wasn't sure so I just did this." If you're not sure please ask! There's a lot of protocols for a reason. Be relaxed and willing to learn. The job is basically memorization and muscle memory, all of which takes time! If you're also not confident in something and need help/more training/shadowing communicate that to your manager and shift supervisors. Starbucks doesn't provide nearly enough training hours, but managers can remedy that in some ways. I remember after a couple months I felt inadequate because I was still making lots of mistakes and hadn't picked up the job as quickly as I had hoped. I lost confidence, but I felt too embarrassed to keep asking questions I knew had been answered before, which in turn ended up taking me longer to get accustomed to the job and worked against me. Everyone learns at their own pace. Some people pick it up faster than others. Focus on your own achievements and milestones. If a barista corrects you, it's not because you're not doing well, they just want to help.

Congrats on the job btw. You'll do great. ☺️

In the end, it's only coffee, so don't stress if you're feeling rushed or you get something wrong.

It’s okay to say no.

Would say, “welcome, don’t sweat it, we all learn and make mistakes.”

Another thing, it’s easy to speed up the pace a lot and rush things when you’re in, well, a rush. Just make sure if you’re overwhelmed with drinks, focus on that one order and that one drink in your hand. Taking a few extra seconds to make sure you’re doing every step accurately is better than having to stop to clean or restart (or even remake) a drink.

of it won’t matter in an hour, it doesn’t matter now

Don't take it personally if a customer is mean to you. Just remember they're only a very small interaction in the whole day. Whatever they've got shoved up their ass was done by someone else before you. Just let them pass by and don't let them affect the rest of your day! Also, don't be afraid to ask questions. You'll get better way faster if you ask more things instead of struggle silently and find out a year later. That being said, also be patient with yourself! It can be a little overwhelming to get all the info at once, so don't worry if you don't get something right away. Also, I saw in your comments that you already were a barista! A tip for transitioning from a small or local coffee ship to the bux is: Starbucks is like a local coffee shop but on triple speed, at least from my experience. So expect to do your normal barista things, but just a lot faster, more automated, and premodified or in a different order than youre used to.

If you’re making a drink and don’t feel 100% certain of the build, ask another partner. If they hesitate at all, assume they’re going to tell u the wrong thing/guess and ask someone else. I learned the hard way that most of the partners don’t give a heck and just throw shit in the cup/hope for the best (no judgment…it literally is just coffee 😂)

just a few tips, remember that you do not have to learn/remember everything right away. i feel like most green beans overwhelm theirselves by saying “this is all so much to remember.” it comes with time. a helpful tip that i was told when i first started is to use the barista quizlets (just search up starbucks barista quizlet and try to find the most recent one) or you could always make your own flashcards! one of my managers wrote everything down from the app and made her own recipe book for starbucks that she keeps in her manager box!

i know somebody already said this but when things get bad remember that its fast food not surgery. its not deep.

When I work the food I like to think I am on the grill making amazing dishes

TAKE NOTES!! I just finished my training and my trainer gave me a notebook and pens, which come in SO handy 😭

Don't worry if you take a while to take good notes, because it's not about rushing your training to get paid, it's about doing it RIGHT so that you're informed and not really knowing what to do when on bar or support.

ASK QUESTIONS!!! Don't be afraid about reading questions, or asking your trainer to redo something they're showing you, like how to make a frappuchino or even a flat white.

I just started Last week on Monday and that's what helped me. :)

Double Blending Frappuccinos dosent do anything and it’s ok to not shake refreshers

remember to sequence and don’t be afraid to ask questions

A casual conversation goes a long way. You'll probably be on front or window for most of your first shifts, so it's a great opportunity to get to know the store and the people that come by. Talk to them, even if you're not the most talkative person, you can make some really good connections and form new regulars this way. Plus conversation makes a long time feel much shorter, because let's face starbucks is bound to be slammed at some point lol. Have fun and, it is just coffee.

I started last Monday! It’s been totally fine! Good luck!

Just give the customer whatever they want

chips get drips

Ask questions to your partners! Even if it's the same question, it's never bad to ask. Also, if you need a cheat sheet for drinks, the ordering screens have the components for the drinks if you forget how many shots/syrup/etc

You're going to be intimidated at first. That's okay! It takes a little while to gain confidence but one day you're going to be killing it on bar and realize hell yeah I got this. It won't take as long as you think it will either.

The floor will be so stressful the first few times that you’re on it, and you won’t be perfect whatsoever. But hey! It’s just coffee, and even if it doesn’t feel like it, you really are improving with every move you make.

you’ve got this! remember that you’re there to learn; and that it’s ok to ask questions- better to ask than to not ask and get something wrong :)

Don’t rush, people are gonna bitch regardless if they get their shit in one minute or an hour.

I’ve been working here for about a month now and a few things that helped me when it was my first day/week:

• As the first comment says.. It’s JUST coffee.

• Everything may seem confusing and overwhelming at first but you’ll learn something new after every shift.

• Taking time to understand the POS will help you gain knowledge on how to make drinks as well since the ingredients are on the side of the screen!

• Always repeat the order back to the customer, especially if it’s a big one, and always ask hot or iced. I messed up a bunch for not asking if a customer wanted their beverage hot or iced 😭

• For customers ordering regular hot coffees, make it as you’re processing the order or after the transaction. Do not move onto the next customer until they have the coffee. I did this too and forgot how many hot coffees to make and how much/many cream and sugar to add. Coffees don’t print out a sticker and don’t require a name to be given.

• Take advantage of asking AS MANY questions as you need to, no question is ever too dumb, even if you have to ask it twice.

• You’re more than likely to have some rude regulars, let them know you’re new and try not to let them make you feel pressured. You’ll learn their order in time :)

• Your shift will be so much easier if you have preps made for coffee. I have struggled so much in a rush due to there being 0 preps and having over 10 people waiting for the same coffee to be brewed… So if no one else is doing it, do it on your free time :)

If I think of anything else, i’ll comment again but these things have helped me since I started. I hope they help you too. GOOD LUCK and always make sure that your mental health is taken care of! 😊

dont be afraid to ask lots of questions! quizlet may just be your best friend for remembering drink recipes. always remember it’s just coffee and a customers bad mood is not your fault. good luck! 💚☕️

Drinks are simple to make relax and breath as it gets swamped with people a lot. Most drinks are the same just with different syrups.. same with cold brews and fraps just different syrups or powders. Take your time as the store will probably have you learn window or dto (drive through orders) and the front register first before u start making drinks.. but u will get it as time goes on and u will be able to make up to four drinks at the same time like I do just start slow and don’t expect to much from yourself from the start

Don’t let bar intimidate you. There’s a lot to memorize, but it will all come with repetition & eventually you’ll be able to do it without thinking. It’s totally normal and expected to ask questions for the first few months. Look up drink cheat sheets online. They helped me a lot at first. If you don’t remember a drink, go ring it in on the POS to see what’s all in it. Instead of saying “I’m sorry about the wait.” say “thank you for waiting” or “thanks for your patience.” That subconsciously removes blame from the customer’s mind. Smile on speaker. It shows in your voice. Good luck!

There’s constant nagging/harassment from those in place of authority and even other fellow baristas( let alone customers) at times, you sort of have to have thick skin and/or let things brush off of you like water on a ducks back or it can get a bit maddening.

Don’t overwork yourself either. Some people will try to do that to you. It’s good to have personal boundaries.

On another note: make flash cards or diagrams or whichever study strategy is most helpful to you to memorize how to construct drinks. It’s really helpful to organize that information and must be understood before you can truly be comfortable sequencing.

Idk if you’re in a drive through store, but go back and forth between drive register and drive order. It’s will be easier on you and you can keep track of where you are if you end up in a “pay it forward” .

Don’t think you have to be fast with making drinks, take your time and read everything. It’s perfectly fine informing the customer you’re new. They will more likey or not, be patient with you.

Utilize the Starbucks app to know what goes in what drinks :^) ignore any coworker getting short with you- some people are unnecessarily miserable on some days. Don’t stress! I work at the busiest store (and a dt store) in my district and it was my first job as the youngest there, it seems tough at first and a lot to remember but before you know it it’s muscle memory

not super helpful while you’re brand new, but once you get into it more its helpful to have a headset on if you’re warming/bar if things are slow (if your store even has a drive thru). it just helps things move a little faster cuz you don’t have to wait for the sticker to even know you have something to do.

taking orders, don’t be afraid to (politely) ask a customer to repeat their order a bit slower if you dont get all the customizations at first. if you’re still unsure, just be like “alright, just to make sure i got everything correct ___” and read the order out

[removed]

"Dont put Twinkies on your pizza"

[removed]