Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
↑
51
↓
‘Clogged Water Lines’ (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by saucity
Hey y’all! So I was a barista/supervisor about 10 years ago. I worked at one store for awhile, but ended up as sort of a ‘floating supervisor’ or substitute for any store that didn’t have coverage.
So, I’d usually be in a new, different store every day within the district. Sometimes for a few days, sometimes just once, sometimes various stores, trading supplies, whatever they needed. It was chaotic, but fun. I loved meeting all new people and seeing all the stores.
Every store is sooooo different, and I’ve seen a LOT of shit. Some places are awesome, and actually super clean; and some places were horrifying, and infested with pests. I could tell soooooo many horror stories, but I’ll stick with this one:
Opening and working at some random place in the morning, I’d often be visited by pest control or espresso machine techs, etc. You guys know everything breaks, and some of you are unlucky enough to know mice/roaches are a constant battle.
One store in particular had a slow-pulling espresso machine; the water lines were clogged, and a tech was there to look at it.
I’m running around, of course, busy as shit, with one machine down, and not enough staff, and just staying out of the tech’s way, and try to through it… But the dude quietly pulls me aside.
What was clogging the lines….? Roaches. **Clear-looking roaches**, living in the 200-degreeish water, lining the plastic water line.
I’ve tried looking them up, for years, and I can’t find an image or description of a *clear* roach. But I SAW those fuckers with my own eyes, and so did one of my baristas, and the tech. Horrified, speechless, I had to kinda forget about it and kept working… he’d be back tomorrow with parts.
I wasn’t assigned to that store the next day, to see the repair, or ever again.
Did they replace the lines? the whole thing? just burn down the store? I’ll never know.
A lot of people don’t believe this story, and I wouldn’t either, if hadn’t seen it with my own eyes!
Anyway, thanks for reading, something reminded me of this, and I thought you guys might appreciate it. I hope in the 10+ years I’ve been out of the industry that standards have changed… lol.
RealisticEdge6236 30 points 1y ago
Dude I would totally nope out, thats terrifying. I think what you saw was a young, recently shedded cockroach(or a lot of them). Ewwwww
saucity [OP] 13 points 1y ago
Ah! Good point about them being in some stage of development or shedding. Bleh!!!!! They’ll for sure survive the apocalypse. They were helping breed super-heat resistant roaches there.
I felt bad, I really couldn’t nope out… I was sent there to help, and they were totally fucked, so
I had to stay. The dishes in the back were piled to the ceiling, the staff were good kids, I couldn’t leave. We just worked on one machine and pretended it didn’t happen. Don’t think anyone drank espresso for awhile.
I felt bad, I really couldn’t nope out… I was sent there to help, and they were totally fucked, so
I had to stay. The dishes in the back were piled to the ceiling, the staff were good kids, I couldn’t leave. We just worked on one machine and pretended it didn’t happen. Don’t think anyone drank espresso for awhile.
philosopher_cat_lady 4 points 1y ago
Yeah, they are clear from having shedded their exoskeleton as they grow
PixelBlood02 14 points 1y ago
I have news for you: roaches have exoskeletons, so what must have ended up happening is if you had dead but perfectly preserved clear roaches it is because their exoskeletons were protecting them. Depending on how long they were there for they were most likely clear due to the hot water denaturing the proteins in the roaches’ bodies and dismantling them, basically erosion. This would mean that, depending on the filtration system, these proteins were definitely ending up in people’s drinks.
I could also be wrong, but this is what makes the most sense since “clear” roaches do not exist, in the sense of what I expect “clear” to be.
I could also be wrong, but this is what makes the most sense since “clear” roaches do not exist, in the sense of what I expect “clear” to be.
saucity [OP] 6 points 1y ago
Cool! Thank you for the info… It’s SOO freakin nasty, isn’t it? I probably drank some roach-spresso. Iggghhhhh; it was shocking!!
I wish I knew what they did to fix it. My thought was ‘burn the whole thing down and start over’ lol.
I wish I knew what they did to fix it. My thought was ‘burn the whole thing down and start over’ lol.
drinkliquidclocks 6 points 1y ago
The store stayed open that day? 🫣
saucity [OP] 12 points 1y ago
Hah! Oh yes. The *only* time I’ve seen a store close was a power outage. We gave away all the free drip coffee, and closed with flashlights. The minute we were done with stupid flashlight dishes, closing the entire store, trying to count the drawers in the dark, writing everything by hand… the power came back on, and the fucking manager made us open it all back up and stay.
Ooooooo, I was mad about that one. It was HOT
and miserable and was so much extra work.
With the roaches, we seriously just used one machine, and pretended it wasn’t happening. Pests were common, like they weren’t even surprised.
Another trick; They’d kick the pastry pallets in the morning so the mice would scatter everywhere. Super freaky. Lots of packages had bites, and we’d pick the non-eaten ones and put them out… Happy breakfast! 🐁 🥐
Ooooooo, I was mad about that one. It was HOT
and miserable and was so much extra work.
With the roaches, we seriously just used one machine, and pretended it wasn’t happening. Pests were common, like they weren’t even surprised.
Another trick; They’d kick the pastry pallets in the morning so the mice would scatter everywhere. Super freaky. Lots of packages had bites, and we’d pick the non-eaten ones and put them out… Happy breakfast! 🐁 🥐
Responsible_Snow7109 6 points 1y ago
Lol i think i just died a little on the inside....regarding ur post and this comment 🥴 eeee i really dont think i personally would agree to be the one on bar making drinks if i saw that in the lines of the espresso machine. If they kept making drinks for people and not closing down after finding out that shit, i personally would have called the health inspector or something cuz knowingly them giving consumable product to customers after seeing all that is so messed up. 😔
saucity [OP] 4 points 1y ago
You’re 100% right. It was a really odd position to be in… I was technically a shift supervisor, but it wasn’t ‘my store.’
So, it was more like putting out fires, solving crises, being a substitute to help with extreme piles of dishes, breaking up drama, fixing missing paper goods/cups/lids and calling other stores to haggle and make trades for supplies (and going to get them), no staff/bad staff, horrible scheduling and terrible morale, broken equipment, handling all the money which was almost always off, going to the bank, AND, dealing with the shitty SM/ASMs (if they were even there; I usually had to try and just call them, without success).
So, although it wasn’t the right thing, it wouldn’t be my call to shut down, and fuck with people’s money/income. These were *absolutely not* people who could afford to just go home, and forego their wages and tips for the day.
So, from management/corporate’s perspective, I just had to listen to the higher-ups, who pretty much said ‘keep working and shut the fuck up’, ya know? They’d *never* shut down, even during some of the worst and most disgusting things I’ve ever seen. The bottom line $$$$ was all that mattered to them; these stores were shit shows, dirty and busy as fuck, but they made a ton of money.
Roaches and mice don’t just appear overnight like that - it takes a LOT of systemic neglect and improper pest management for them to get there. *Very* shitty management was the reason, and not something I could fix without hurting my fellow staff’s income.
I agree with you though: it was horrible sometimes, and I should have called the health dept… like 50 times on almost every store I went to help at.
I was young, and at the end of the day, this was not my ‘home base’ or something I could truly fix as a floating sub. We just tried to keep our heads above water. These were super ghetto, disorganized, fucked up stores.
Aside; You should see the stores in malls… oh my fuck. never never never get a drink at the mall. I’ve witnessed literal BUCKETS full of roaches under the sink, stores with NO sanitizer machine, poorly trained staff that didn’t give a fuck, just milk burned onto everything and nooooo cleaning.
That bucket of roaches sticks in my head to this day. Bleh!!!!! At least a pest guy was actually there for that, and said ‘aaahhhh what the fuck?!’ I’m like I don’t know man, I just got here too!
Crazy times, honestly.
So, it was more like putting out fires, solving crises, being a substitute to help with extreme piles of dishes, breaking up drama, fixing missing paper goods/cups/lids and calling other stores to haggle and make trades for supplies (and going to get them), no staff/bad staff, horrible scheduling and terrible morale, broken equipment, handling all the money which was almost always off, going to the bank, AND, dealing with the shitty SM/ASMs (if they were even there; I usually had to try and just call them, without success).
So, although it wasn’t the right thing, it wouldn’t be my call to shut down, and fuck with people’s money/income. These were *absolutely not* people who could afford to just go home, and forego their wages and tips for the day.
So, from management/corporate’s perspective, I just had to listen to the higher-ups, who pretty much said ‘keep working and shut the fuck up’, ya know? They’d *never* shut down, even during some of the worst and most disgusting things I’ve ever seen. The bottom line $$$$ was all that mattered to them; these stores were shit shows, dirty and busy as fuck, but they made a ton of money.
Roaches and mice don’t just appear overnight like that - it takes a LOT of systemic neglect and improper pest management for them to get there. *Very* shitty management was the reason, and not something I could fix without hurting my fellow staff’s income.
I agree with you though: it was horrible sometimes, and I should have called the health dept… like 50 times on almost every store I went to help at.
I was young, and at the end of the day, this was not my ‘home base’ or something I could truly fix as a floating sub. We just tried to keep our heads above water. These were super ghetto, disorganized, fucked up stores.
Aside; You should see the stores in malls… oh my fuck. never never never get a drink at the mall. I’ve witnessed literal BUCKETS full of roaches under the sink, stores with NO sanitizer machine, poorly trained staff that didn’t give a fuck, just milk burned onto everything and nooooo cleaning.
That bucket of roaches sticks in my head to this day. Bleh!!!!! At least a pest guy was actually there for that, and said ‘aaahhhh what the fuck?!’ I’m like I don’t know man, I just got here too!
Crazy times, honestly.
Responsible_Snow7109 3 points 1y ago
Oh yea i kno for sure that u were just a "borrowed" person at their store so of course its definitely not ur place but theirs to have kept all that from even happening. How do stores let their shit get that bad?? Thats insane! But yeah I'm just saying me personally, I would feel really terrible if I were burned at a store and they found all those nasty problems and still acted like it's all good to keep serving customers consumable products contaminated by roaches🤮
I think I would simply pass out though if I went to another store to work at install a bucket of roaches under their sink.
I think I would simply pass out though if I went to another store to work at install a bucket of roaches under their sink.
philosopher_cat_lady 4 points 1y ago
Out of sheer coincidence, I learned today that one of my espresso machines at my store is clogged up. I'd never seen this problem before. Now I'm aware that perhaps there are roaches in it.
saucity [OP] 3 points 1y ago
It’s always in the back of my mind when I eat anywhere. If it can happen at a corporate, pretty well-run chain, crazy invasive bug infestation can happen anywhere. Aaaah!
As an aside though it’s probably just hard water mineral buildup or something, and not freaky ass roaches :) fingers crossed!
As an aside though it’s probably just hard water mineral buildup or something, and not freaky ass roaches :) fingers crossed!
philosopher_cat_lady 2 points 1y ago
The espresso machine repair person fixed it and advised us to start running cleaning cycles at night, which I already do three times a day but perhaps some of my coworkers didn't know to. No mention of roaches, thank god.
saucity [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Everyone seems to close/open differently, despite the checklist. I had people who would make drinks stronger for certain people so they’d be that customers favorite barista - one dude would add an extra secret pump of chai, but didn’t tell the customer, so she’d only let him make the drink. People have quirks lol.
I’m sure the new machines are way different that the ones back in the day but the cleansing cycles are just as important - I think they clear mineral deposits but I’m not 100% sure.
I’m sure the new machines are way different that the ones back in the day but the cleansing cycles are just as important - I think they clear mineral deposits but I’m not 100% sure.
philosopher_cat_lady 2 points 1y ago
Oh, we've got the old Mastrenas
uwumoment 3 points 1y ago
sometimes i think my store is bad then i read stories like this. we had roaches at one point last year, and a fruit fly infestation bc of the inclusion containers, and weirdly, chocolate malt powder, that i think is starting again this summer (i saw a few !!!) so when i close im starting to wrap them in plastic. but we do have mold in just about every crevice the remodel has made it impossible to clean regularly, like the new pitcher rinsers who were created by somebody who is actually fucking stupid, and the ice bins.
saucity [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Oh god the fucking fruit flies!!!
We had those terrible sticky fly strips, and little shot glasses of vinegar at the desk in the back to trap them… and one day while counting out, I got the strip stuck all up in my hair, and spilled the dead-fly-vinegar all over me. I needed help lol
We had those terrible sticky fly strips, and little shot glasses of vinegar at the desk in the back to trap them… and one day while counting out, I got the strip stuck all up in my hair, and spilled the dead-fly-vinegar all over me. I needed help lol
Bhaisaab86 3 points 1y ago
At my last store I was cleaning the backs of the mastrena 1s, and popped off the little black ventilation caps to clean out the dust. And there was a mummified lizard stuck in the fan. Immediately called it in lmao.
saucity [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Hah!! Where’s the store, Florida?
Bhaisaab86 2 points 1y ago
Lol yup
saucity [OP] 1 points 1y ago
The little anole lizards were my favorite part of visiting FL! They’re soooo cute
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.