You can get a milk frother, a nice coffee maker (post-Starbucks, my preference is actually for a moka pot, which I didn’t learn about till after my Starbucks days) and some fun syrups for home. It mostly quenches my barista nostalgia. And if you want to replace the social aspect, you can always take up volunteering, a meetup group, etc. To me it sounds like you want to leave but just need to take the leap tbh.

edit: typos

Yes! I loved being on bar just like you, but didn’t love the cleaning. I think it would be better if SBUX hired a designated cleaner, so baristas can focus on making drinks. Imagine your barista making a drink after cleaning toilets? Lmao. Ew.

Maybe transfer to a store without a bathroom? My first store was small and quaint. Customers were in & out.

Also, maybe change your availability so you don’t close? I don’t remember doing any intense cleaning when I worked mid-shift.

Also, I am super curious to know what type of job you have? I would love to have that type of schedule!

Maybe you can apply to be a barista at a fine dining cafe? More money, less annoying customers, and they will never make you clean toilets or anything annoying like that.

I would if it was fun at all, but it is not so no

NOOOOOOOOPE

Yes but tbh probably not at Starbucks. I started as a barista at a B&N cafe and eventually became a shift supervisor at Starbucks. I ended up leaving bc my manager cut my hours severely when our store reopened after we closed bc of covid, bc she was upset I didn’t want to come back early despite having caught covid and wanting the time to recover. Since then I’ve been a barista at local shops and I like it so much better. Granted my last boss wasn’t great but it wasn’t nearly as much cleaning or pressure and a much more relaxed environment.

I appreciate the experience I got at sbux but after I left all the rules felt ridiculous. I couldn’t have all my face piercings in, I couldn’t wear half my clothes, i faced so much scrutiny from management while being the only shift who ever ran clean plays. Obviously not every smaller shop will be great, and depending on where you live it might not pay as well but if you like being a barista but don’t like sbux rules that might be better

Currently doing it for fun, I have a full time job now but kept a few hours because I like the job, but I’m very close to quitting. I love my friends. And I have begun hanging out with them outside of work so when I quit I have an established friendship with them. I want to get my nails done again. And frankly, as much as I love discounted coffee, it’s truly not big enough of a benefit to spend a good portion of the time I have off getting berated by customers, many of whom I make more than, for being an idiot who doesn’t know anything about making coffee. Before taking my new job, I was training and next in line for becoming a shift and I have been doing this for several years. I know what I am doing. It’s honestly not worth it. I’m waiting a couple more weeks and then I’m putting in my 2 weeks. I’m missing so much valuable time with my family, kids, and just of my twenties. I have missed opportunities to travel, to go do fun things with friends, almost my entire anniversary with my spouse, etc, all because of Starbucks. And I am positive that it is about my time to close this chapter as much joy as it has brought me these last couple years.

I worked as a barista for fun in my early 20s and mid 20s. I worked for two licensed stores for hotels so we didn’t have to clean bathrooms and no drive thrus! I didn’t have to work but I loved working with my best friends I only stopped because after COVID happened they decided to close the store down. I’m a stay at home mom and student now but being a barista was the best jobs I’ve had.

the only reason i say id still work at starbucks if i didn’t have to is for the coworkers. i’ve made so many good friends at my store, and i can make drinks at home since i have my own machine but i can practice a bit more at starbucks bc im making drinks for other people, so it’s fun to practice. but yeah i probably would not if i didn’t have to. the cleaning (besides bathrooms) is pretty fun though. i just like being out of the chaos sometimes.

I just got hired please tell me how you learned (almost)everything before your first shift? I’d love to be prepared for next week when I go. Thanks!!!

If I was 5 weeks in working with the team I’m with now he’ll yeah!!!