I'm still new and frantically working on sequencing, too, so grain of salt, but here's what's sorta working for me.

For fraps - prep the first until the point where it's in the blender, then prep the second and get it in the blender, finish the first, prep the third, finish the second, finish the third. For hot drinks, if you're super slammed, I'd start steaming milk first, then syrups as the milk steams, then shots - by that point, your milk should be done. Start a second drink while the shots are pulling, finish the first, finish the second. Rinse the espresso machine whenever you're not having to use it so you don't have to wait between shots when you actually need them - maybe while you're doing fraps, if you have to cover multiple bars at once. Shaken drinks totally kill my flow at this point, unfortunately, but hopefully you have other folks who can step in for refreshers etc.

i like to pull 2+ stickers at a time because it gives me an idea of my future drinks. For instance, if i have an americano and a chai latte i can make them at the same time. Also queueing the shots right after steaming the milk if super important. It saves you a lot of time and i promise you’ll always have time to pump your syrups before the shots actually start pulling :) Also always swap like for like. For example, swapping the finished pitcher with fresh milk etc..

i’m a new barista… but, one thing that’s helped me is… steam the milk, queue the shots (if your drink doesn’t have any pumps, if it does, get that first), get the next drink, look at it, try and get done what you can while drink one is getting ready.
before handing off drink one to the customer, start drink two and while drink two is starting, give drink one to customer.

2 stickers at a time !! unless you know there’s a car with 5 mocha frappes or something like that stick with only pulling two stickers , the one you’re working on and the next drink . don’t overwhelm yourself and replace like for like , it makes it a lot easier to find a rhythm . pump your syrup , steam milk then cue shots . you’ll be done pumping and your milk will be hot while you wait for the shots , meanwhile you’re starting the milk and pumps for the next drink . finish and connect your first drink then the second and so on :)

this made me realize i literally don’t know how to make 2 drinks at once on cold bar

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Honestly when I’m on hot bar and I have two grande or smaller made with the same milk I steam all the milk together then syrup then shots it makes it so much easier when people order 4 kids cocoas or 2 tall white mochas

I'm super new but my manager told me to make a drink until the machine takes over and start a new one at that point. If there's ever a moment where you stop and look at the milk going, that's a good time to start another drink or if the blender is going. I make refreshers all at once since there's no machine involved and it's just easier that way. I hope that makes sense

Bottom line: machine go; you make start/finish a drink

They call it "leveraging machine time" in the training materials, or used to.

Sequencing is about working while the machine is working and getting ready for the next thing.

Sequencing a line of drinks that are all the same is pretty easy, though getting the flow down smoothly does take practice.

Say you have two white mochas. They both need steamed milk, shots, syrup, and whipped cream on top. Now remember your sequence.

1) Steam milk. First thing you do is pour your milk and get it steaming.

2) Queue shots. Yes, this means literally the next thing is to press the button to pull your shots. The machine will prep by opening the chute and pulling beans into the chamber. While that's happening

3) Pump syrups. Get that syrup in the cup and the cup under the nozzle. Now your shots are pulling and your milk is steaming. Time to relax, right? NO

1) Now you pour milk for Drink #2. When the milk for Drink #1 finishes, swap the cold milk for the hot milk. Because you started this first, it's done before the shots have finished pulling.

2). Queue shots for the next drink. Even if the shots are still pulling, get them queued and the syrup in the cup. Now when they finish for Drink #1 you're ready for Drink #2 to start ASAP

Now while drink #2 is going, finish drink #1. Make sure the syrup is melted, pour the milk, top with whip, hand it off. Get the sticker for Drink #3 going.

Milk -> Shots -> Syrups -> Prep next drink -> Finish first drink.

This is why we say work on two stickers at once. Loading beyond two drinks screws up your focus and your cycle and stuff will be forgotten.

Frappuccinos are the same but a little easier. Start drink 1, measure milk, pump syrups, add toppings, ice, and base. Blend. While blending start drink 2. When drink 2 goes in the blender, finish drink 1 and start drink 3. Thread the loop and you always make quick progress.

The real key comes when you don't have to think about how to start the next drink and you can thread the loop smoother and cleaner every time.

The real hard stuff is sequencing between different stations. Start a drink, start a frappuccino, finish the drink, start a refresher or tea that has no stopping points. Feels like you're always behind. But you're doing the best you can, so go easy on yourself.

basically frappuccinos and espresso bev are the only drinks that you can sequence. the idea is to have the machine working while you are - so, follow beverage routine: 1, steam milk, queue shots and pump syrup before they pull. while that’s going prepare your next drink by pouring milk, queuing shots and pumping syrup. Once the milk for bev 1 is done, remove it, sanitize the steam wand and begin steaming the milk for bev 2, at which point shots for bev 1 should be finished, so again, switch like for like and pull those shots you queued into bev 2. Complete bev 1 while bev 2 finishes - just consistently replace like with like (so long as it’s applicable - obv don’t steam milk if the next is an iced drink, but if it’s say a shaken espresso? Queue those shots, fill your shaker with syrup and ice, etc). the idea is that you only should be working on two drinks at time, but depending on your comfort and so long as you maintain bev quality, you can totally work on more than 2 at once


sometimes it’s hard to balance doing both bars (drive and mobiles / cafe), but if you do, try to just alternate which channel you’re pulling from so you’re constantly making and pulling from each sticker machine

batch blending frappuccinos (so long as they’re the same) is a useful way to get through a bunch of frappuccinos