today is my second day of training. - i blended a frappuccino without the lid on. - i forgot the ice and base in a frappuccino - i forgot the ice in a shaken refresher. - i used match powder instead of green tea juice for a lemonade. - i used coffee base in a cream frappuccino. - i used a trenta cup instead of a venti. - i forgot the whipped cream at the bottom of the caramel crunch frap. - i used caramel drizzle instead of dark caramel on top of the whipped cream. - i forgot the syrup in the caramel macchiato and i put the shots in before the milk.
there’s probably so much more i forgot. not to mention i don’t fully know how many shots of expresso and how many pumps of syrup goes into what. did anyone else ever mess up this badly or should i just quit?
EDIT: i’m so busy with training that i don’t have enough time to reply to every single one of you, but thank you so much for all of the supportive messages and dms. you guys are awesome :) i’m gonna wait it out and keep trying.
uwu420uwu156 points1y ago
It actually does get regular caramel drizzle on top of the caramel crunch lol. Its weird
dazedandconfusedhere13 points1y ago
It’s dark caramel on the bottom whip, regular drizzle on the top whip!
prhamm101 points1y ago
Bar is HARD at first. Give it time, and you'll be fast as hell. Practice makes perfect :)
katsandboobs23 points1y ago
This! It happens quickly. One day you’ll be like “Oh! I got this!” And everyone screws up. I was the queen of pouring cold brew and leaving the tap on. Felt like an idiot every time.
SuggyArt1 points1y ago
I would say it takes about 3 months to get comfortable on bar especially drive bar
bnpuppys67 points1y ago
1) don't stress about the coffee/cream base, they taste almost identical and I wanna say it's a matter of color mostly 2)most of these mistakes I made for the entire 7months I worked at starbies so don't sweat it my guy
grwlix30 points1y ago
this actually gave me hella reassurance because i almost dumped out a whole mocha cookie crumble frap bc i gave it thr wrong base before a coworker said its didn't rlly matter
pinkjortz11 points1y ago
One base tastes like normal maple syrup, and the other base tastes like the buttery maple syrup some brands make. I can’t tell the difference once it’s mixed with other flavours.
firepaper5 points1y ago
The sugar content is different so it does actually blend differently but it’s not super noticeable unless you have a god tongue
bnpuppys3 points1y ago
I just know what I was told when we tried not selling cream fraps when we ran out of cream base and our shift said "no it's fine they taste pretty much the same" lol
Ordinary-Theory-82891 points1y ago
The ingredients are literally identical.
firepaper1 points1y ago
lol I understand it’s not about big deal at all it happens all the time
jklmnopedy2 points1y ago
Yeah, and the "coffee" base doesn't actually have any caffeine I it, just "coffee flavor". Gotta love the vagueness.
bazzyzazzy54 points1y ago
These are all completely normal mistakes for a new partner to make. You’re on day 2! There is a lot of information that you’re expected to gather really quickly, and nobody is expecting you to be perfect now. Or ever! I can say that I make at least one of these mistakes every day, and I’m a shift with a year and half under my belt. The difference between when I made these mistakes as a green bean and now is that I can shake my head, laugh, and keep going. It’s okay. Don’t get discouraged by the learning process. It gets so much better and, more importantly, you’ll get a lot better at going with the flow.
spensyr31 points1y ago
The way I'm a supervisor and have worked here for over a year and do all of these things on a regular basis ☠️ You're fine, trust me
kadulee1 points1y ago
same LOL☠️
xclariss25 points1y ago
you made some mistakes but hey the best learning experiences come from mistakes! now you know first hand what happens if you forget a lid or ice!
yungfroggie20 points1y ago
first iced latte i ever made i literally poured steamed milk into and now i’m becoming a SSV 😭 you’re only two days in i promise yiure okay
Enough_Raise_71672 points1y ago
I did the same thing 😅
Aid-Hovercraft-586515 points1y ago
i make these mistakes almost over 6 months in and watch my coworkers who’ve worked there for over a year do the same things. just take the free drinks and tips as they come 🤌
Responsible_Snow71097 points1y ago
Ur literally on day 2 of training! Do not discourage urself and let the idea of quitting take up a spot in ur mind. U can do it! There's a lot of recipes and things you have to learn with the drinks and nobody is going to expect you to get it on day two of training. And do not worry about your co-workers getting annoyed or whatever it is. Because at one point they were all at the spot that you're at right now
lilmissambersue6 points1y ago
Duuuuuuude, don't keep track of all the shit you didn't do "right" I've been here since Feb, still do alot of those things lol
Partners who have been with the company for years do those same things from time to time!
I forgot the mocha in a mocha once, the lady was like "this is DISGUSTING" I still giggle about it.
I've been putting double the amount or syrup in Fraps
OH OH OH! I BROKE AN ESPRESSO MACHINE, like 3 weeks in
You're not alone hang in there
bitch-baby-20215 points1y ago
i totally did all these when i started too haha - don't be hard on yourself, there's so much to learn and you'll get it soon enough!!
Unusual-Swim74454 points1y ago
•rule 1 in all love espresso not espresso(:
•we all make mistakes keep at it on bar and you’ll pick up on it before you know it!!
•another hack, go on the starbucks app and go through the drinks to get a hang of what’s in each beverage in your free it’s worth it i promisr
Intelligent-Ad12733 points1y ago
Bar is super hard and it sounds like you were being rushed. Feel free to tell people “I’m still new at this, so I’m going to take the time to get it right.” Most customers understand if you’re new and if any baristas are giving you trouble, tell your trainer or the shift. I promise it gets better!!!! Get the routine down and speed will come with time. You got this!
CamdenF3 points1y ago
The fact you recognize your mistakes means you’ve learned from them! Everyone makes mistakes, you’ll just make less and less as you go on!
Good luck!!
BuyerOk66923 points1y ago
never be afraid to ask questions! the recipes are the hardest thing to learn at starbucks and just takes a lot of practice to get them down. I would much rather you ask questions and get the support making the drink than have to go back and remake the drink again!
vertigo00o2 points1y ago
it’s only your second day, you won’t be perfect for another few months. there’s so fucking much to remember at this job. i messed up wvery single drink and i always asked how many shots and how many pumps and stuff like that for like 5 months. you’ll get there! i believe in ya :D <3
Any_Flan7773 [OP]2 points1y ago
thanks a lot, this is so reassuring :)
HistoricalLeave95872 points1y ago
ive been here for a month now and i wanna point out i worked for dunkin for 2 years before starbucks so i went in thinking i would have bar under my belt easily. i messed up SO fucking often the first few weeks that i would almost cry every time i made a mistake and feel so incompetent. i also thought about quitting and truly did not know why i was struggling so much when i had similar experience. now, i get put on bar for at least half of my shift every time i work bc im pretty good at it, i can make drinks without even really thinking about it, but i of course still have some hesitations or realize i messed something up.
i don’t even really know when it happened but one day it just clicked for me, i got it, and it all made sense. and it’s only been a month for me, so i promise you it won’t take forever. i am in no way perfect on bar but i truly promise you it’ll get better
salaciainthedepths2 points1y ago
Yo, making mistakes is fine - the key is to notice it as fast as possible, act like it never happened & remake the drink. Stay very chill, ignore anything but the flow of what you’re doing. Literally ignore and forget about them as soon as you’ve made the drink correctly. Everyone is way too focussed on themselves to think about you.
As long as cash is right, there’s very few mistakes that can’t be fixed and erased. You’re better off learning to keep a positive attitude - your customers and coworkers won’t even notice anything’s gone wrong if you quickly shake things off and get on with making the next drink. You’ll be fine! People think I never make mistakes but the key is just muscle memory which will come with time, confidence & the ability to remake while sequencing the next drink. If a customer is staring you down at hand off, say hi, ask them their name & let them know their drink is coming. All is good! If you’re not at work, don’t think about work.
Saltiboi082 points1y ago
Well you’re still training! You don’t have to magically get everything first day, that’s what you’re there for, to learn from your mistakes. Another piece of advice I’d give. You’ll still mess up quite a bit even after training is over. You still need to ask questions, even after training is over. It’s a lot of information to absorb all at once and if anybody faults you for not being ready yet then they’re either a certifiable genius or just an asshole. Don’t let them get to you, and better yet, don’t let yourself get to you either!
HamiltonPolka2 points1y ago
You are trying and the more you screw up the more you’ll learn what not to do next time. I always told my trainees it takes about two months to get REALLY comfortable on bar. But completely unrelated to anything you did, yes you should quit. Starbucks is terrible
HarleyLeMay2 points1y ago
Yeah, it took me about 1.5-2 months to get comfortable on bar.
astralaudience2 points1y ago
nah you got it! this happens to everyone in the beginning. hang in there and do your best!
alyssughjo2 points1y ago
It took me at least 3/4 months before I could clock in and feel confident about what I was doing lol. Just make it a point to work as often as you can on bar and it will get easier p fast. And nobody is perfect at everything. Every once in a while I still forget the vanilla in a macchiato or use lemonade instead of water in a refresher. The espresso and pumps will become more like muscle memory. It’s the weird ones like flat whites and stuff that will throw ya off.
kittytwears2 points1y ago
i have the worst memory ever and after a couple of weeks of asking questions after questions on how to make drinks, i finally got it down. but i quit not too long ago lool but i promise it’ll get easier
coffeeaddict34162 points1y ago
i’ve been with the bux for almost 2 years and i still forgot to do half of that stuff. it’s only your second day of training don’t worry, it does get better, and you just laugh it off when little mistakes like that get made
SurfPopcorn2 points1y ago
Mistakes are normal. Even long term partners make them. It is normally around the 3 month mark where everything truly clicks
Mean-Grass89352 points1y ago
It’s the way I made all of these mistakes and more when I was training and even a year later 😅 It’s no secret that the recipes are annoying to memorize but like people are saying, time with practice and reinforcement will solidify all of it. It really depends how much bar time you get but usually they’ll give you practice during the slower hours so you can really get a feel for your own groove. Trust that EVERYONE has made these mistakes and has gone through the process. Also people on this sub have made plenty of recipe charts so maybe find one and save it on your phone so you can refer to it at work. That helped me a lot. You’ve got this! ✨
Decent_Wall13802 points1y ago
it took me about a two months or so to fully understand everything, be kind to yourself friend!
C0ffeeCoffeeC0ffee2 points1y ago
You're fine, nobody knows anything on day two. If you still feel like you don't have the basics down after two to three months, then I'd ask for some help/more bar time to practice when it's slow.
mirajaneneko1 points1y ago
It gets better after the first week. I’m on week three, and it was so hard that first week. After that I started getting used to it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Your coworkers would rather answer a question and know you’re making something right then you not bother them and have it come back wrong.
kezzzooooo1 points1y ago
i’ve been a shift for three years and still forget to put my shot glass under my pulling shots and then there went my americano. it’s going to get better :)
purpleviola46451 points1y ago
hi! i am a newbie who started around 2 weeks ago. im done with training, but i still have a lot to learn!! but im getting better and the more i work the easier everything is getting! everybody is just starting to trust me to do things on my own which feels GREAT.
dw about the how many pumps/shots to what size and iced/hot bc i couldnt tell you, and i’ve noticed that a lot of my coworkers with months under their belts cant rlly remember off the top of their head either and have to think for a bit. if you’re making a drink, and you’re not sure of some steps, then dont be afraid to ask!! they want to help and i promise they’re nice about it.
it’s your second day, you’re still learning, and you’re doing great!! i had a lot of messups myself (i accidentally gave a man at drive thru a cold brew instead of his super expensive latte with 3 extra shots the other day 😬😬) but i promise it gets better quickly. the longer shifts you work the more quickly you’ll get the hang of it :)
Left-Effective-16231 points1y ago
babe for the matcha instead of green tea, people actually order that sometimes. like it’s a matcha lemonade and it’s truly something people pay money for. please do not stress about most of this stuff. it comes with A LOT of practice.
happyhoyaa1 points1y ago
hi ive been a barista for nearly 3 years now and I do things like this almost everyday! don’t be too hard on yourself, it’s stressful and a lot of stuff to remember. :)
Ordinary-Theory-82891 points1y ago
The first time I made a “green tea latte” I steamed the iced green tea. Now they changed it to where it says “matcha latte” lol
outcaststomp1 points1y ago
Training is always rough. I had a hard time steaming milk properly for awhile and forgetting the base in frappuccinos. You'll get the hang of it. Just remember that you're training and still learning. You got this dude!
Supperdudehasrabies1 points1y ago
About three months on average, just keep swimming and it becomes second nature.
Jaded_Fun_71331 points1y ago
They can barely tell the difference with cream vs coffee base
xxbleeding_outxx1 points1y ago
to be fair a matcha lemonade is a real drink (its my favorite!!)
dazedandconfusedhere1 points1y ago
It takes like 3-6 months to fully get it all down
-I did the same thing in my training week, oops
- can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten an ingredient for a frap, whether it’s the base, ice, or another ingredient
- with how many no ice refreshers we get, I’ve done this too
- we had a drink before called the guava passion fruit drink and I made it with passion tea, water, and guava juice when it was supposed to be coconut milk, guava juice, and (discontinued) pineapple ginger syrup 🤣
- I still use the wrong base sometimes
- I grab the wrong cup wayyy to frequently - or make a hot drink iced/vice versa
- I’ve done the same thing and had to pour it back on the blender to add the whip
- some people don’t even know it gets dark caramel instead of drizzle!
- I forget the caramel drizzle on these way too much, or I’ve done the shots backwards
I’m literally my stores first or second strongest bar partner and I’ve done all of these
venusiangirl1 points1y ago
you will make mistakes don’t stress!! it’s apart of learning and gaining muscle memory. i’m coming up on one year , pretty much only do bar, and have forgotten the milk in frappacinos so many times 😅 i just blend the ice and syrup
strawbabiebri1 points1y ago
honestly the fact you can acknowledge what you did wrong is already a step in the right direction??? you’re gonna know not to do that for next time!! it definitely gets easier and even after working there for a while i still makes mistakes like these here and there!! yesterday i made a latte without espresso LMAO
Humble-Hedgehog95461 points1y ago
I still make these mistakes, I don't think I felt comfortable on bar until like 5 months in. I still 50% of the time forget that brown sugar oat amaericanos get cinnamon even though I myself drink them, I forget to add it so often.
OnTheEdge86861 points1y ago
Don't worry about it, it's your second day, it's going to take time. I've trained a bunch of people and they all mess up, but they all get better with time and practice. Making the drinks is the hardest position to do. I still mess up all the time. You will get better, just don't be too hard on yourself, you're learning. Best of luck.
waiting-on-the-day1 points1y ago
The very first drink I made on bar was an americano, and I was so confident that it was half pike and half water 🙈 realized my mistake when I got home
Joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh11 points1y ago
I always try and tell my trainees not to stress about bar as everybody makes mistakes, ESPECIALLY in the beginning and that it's no big deal. Yes it gets better but we're all only human 🤷♂️ they happen. When I make mistakes I make sure to point it out to them so they don't feel so ostracized, I like to think it helps. 2 years at starbucks and it's not uncommon for me to catch a mistake of my own once or twice during a shift, and when I first started bar it was countless. Just gotta give it time! 👍 I'm sure you'll do just fine
blante10231 points1y ago
Your at day 2 you aren't meant to be pro yet you'll find your grove And be fine just gotta get past the hump
RutabagaSoft19731 points1y ago
It’s your second day and you are already on cb and hb. That’s was like day 5 of mine
But honestly I was the same way I did things like that for months. It just takes time
lilithred6661 points1y ago
God when I was first on bar it was absolutely terrifying. some tips:
- you'll get it eventually based on repetition, it usually starts to get better around 3 weeks
- find someone that's OK with you asking for help or reminding you of recipes while you're on bar (most people don't mind as long as you're polite about it)
- if you keep forgetting the same things over and over write them down on a piece of paper and stick it in your pocket, reference it while you're on bar
- there's a lot cheat sheets pre-made for baristas on pinterest and other apps, print one out and keep it on you
lilithred6661 points1y ago
also everybody messes up all the time! you just tend to do it more when you're a beginner. no one should be faulting you for that, good luck!
lilkiosk1 points1y ago
Bar has so many steps, my guy. And these are mistakes even super experienced baristas make on bar. It happens and it takes a while to figure it out AND also gain confidence. I promise that making mistakes when you’re learning is not only normal but expected and you’ll find with this job you’re always learning ;). Don’t beat yourself up this early on! You got this and your trainer and pretty much every person you work with will want to help you and if you’re too scared, come here because we all are more than happy to help out. Trust me, I’m a former trainer and just quit after working with the siren for 2 years. It gets better and you will learn. Just takes practice and patience :)
furry_shrimp1 points1y ago
Oh friend. Give it like 6 months.
Also I’ve been a partner for almost 7 years all together and I still do all of these things, especially forgetting lids on blenders. Or blending cold foam on 1 and spraying it all over the inside of the blender. I just pretend it wasn’t me and move on.
My favorite thing about working at Starbucks is that it’s all fixable and none of it really matters long term. No need to cry over spilt milk, just shrug and remake it. Low stakes!
adolfop_4201 points1y ago
Lol I wanna say with time and practice but at the same time I still do all of the above stop beating yourself up over little details it’s not that deep really just remake the drink it’s okay also with time you will realize half this people don’t know what they order or what’s in it so half the time they do not care and if they do just say sorry let me remake that for you and extra points for being pushy about remaking it lol but at the end of the day it doesn’t matter
mezzobarista1 points1y ago
it’s your second day of training. you’re going to look back and see this list as little things that you may or may not do again in the future. it definitely gets better, and bar is something that develops over time. and your bar skills will continue to develop. literally yesterday, i poured lemonade into a cup with mocha for a hot chocolate instead of the honey citrus tea. it’s okay. ask for support when you need it! ease up on bar. it takes time. you’re gonna look back and laugh about your mistakes.
Acceptable_Rate_27291 points1y ago
Yesterday was my second day of training as well. It's hard!! Everyone was super supportive, but Jesus it's a lot lol
3plants1 points1y ago
I’m a shift now, and didn’t know my shots and pumps confidently for like two years. The standards are always changing too so people will inevitably always be wrong about something. No stress! It takes time
valumptuoushippo1 points1y ago
I have trained baristas who get wayy more stuff wrong and they don’t even realize it, it’s great that you can recognize what you need to improve! It’ll take a while to get decent, honestly. Nobody should expect you to remember everything on your second day, or while you’re still training, or even in your first month or two. It does get better though! You just gotta do your best for now
yolk-s1 points1y ago
all of these are mistakes I made within the first couple months of being there, I mean I honestly still pretty frequently forget ice or base in fraps on the first go and have to run it through again. bar is so hard at first, I know, but I promise it gets better!! you're doing absolutely fine, especially for only having been there a few days. you're gonna get it down I'm sure :^) don't sweat it
Strange_Salad_96951 points1y ago
Honestly just go slow and make sure you develop good habits because if you develop bad habits because you're pressuring yourself that will stress you out more.
GerbilFeces1 points1y ago
we've all made those mistakes, and probably continue to make them. It gets a little easier every day. I believe in u dawg.
martinifather1 points1y ago
you’re only on day two it will take a bit of time then everything gets super easy : )
krty981 points1y ago
I’ve been a partner for about two years now, I still blend SCCF on the frap setting on occasion
ETA: and honestly, as long as it’s a hot Carmel macchiato and I make it upside down, I still hand it out. 99.9% of our customer base would never be able to tell the difference. That just want the sugar and caffeine.
ThisGuyTokes4201 points1y ago
Second day?! All good!! Trust me it took me well over a week to learn bar, and another week to get half decent at it. 2 months in and I'm finally confident on bar.
Just try and study the recipes, the rest comes with experience.
LovePugs9241 points1y ago
Slow down. Even if it is busy. Better to make it right the first time then take longer making it twice.
lilminch1 points1y ago
for 6 months, another partner at my store used liquid cane sugar in every refresher he made
for 3 months, I used nonfat milk instead of whole milk in every flat white I made
for the first couple of weeks, I had no idea how many shots and pumps went into each drink and I just winged it
this job is not easy on the first day, or even the second or third day, and most people don't feel comfortable until 3 or more months in! go easy on yourself, because it will get better! I hope the partners in your store treat you well, but if they give you a hard time for whatever reason ignore it! because I guarantee they've all been there before too
zzid2d211 points1y ago
Things you didn't do... Shake the milk with the lid off! Drop the cube of frap roast. Open the charged container of whip whilst washing dishes.... I used to do those about once a week... I did everything you listed when I worked. Keep going, it gets better with practice. And remember that even the very best barista out there was once exactly where you are now.
daddyyareenn1 points1y ago
you can study recipes on the mobile app by just looking at how many pumps and shots things get ! these are all mistakes i made a lot and honestly still make by going too fast. i still hate frapuccinos bc i end up missing steps. ive also blended cold foam on 1 making that go everywhere. all drinks can be remade and all messes can be cleaned up. dont stress it :)
pinkjortz1 points1y ago
I’ve been here for two and a half years and I still accidentally put the foam blender on 1 sometimes, and mentally have to count how many shots go in an americano of X size. Things will get better with muscle memory and practice, don’t worry!
Torirock101 points1y ago
i been working here for abt 8 months and i still forget ice in frappuccinos sometimes. it’s okay and ur doing fine :)
RubySapphireSage1 points1y ago
It’s normal mistakes , even when queuing the shorts just remember to always put syrup in . The blender thing is frequent I did it the other day . We all messed up with coffee and cream frappes . And just follow the instructions for Frappuccino making , see I personally do what comes to mind first because it’s easier i may add base then syrup the ice and milk (frap roast) I usually would change sequencing on bar to how I see fit sometimes I would do shots before syrup pumps or if im soloing I would que shots and pull stickers and fill them up with what syrup is needed and go through them .
SubstantialTree71 points1y ago
No one is automatically good at bar. It’s a lot to memorize, and takes practice. I’ve been a barista for over a year, I’m a trainer myself, and I still make some of these mistakes. You’ll get there. Don’t be so hard on yourself
ExtentAccomplished321 points1y ago
Everything will click for you, i promise! These things for sure happen but you are self-aware that these were mistakes you’ve made; which only proves how teachable you are :) don’t give up, its so difficult to catch on at first, especially on cold bar. You have lots of training time with your trainer to work out the kinks and help you fall comfortably into the role 💚
defendpoppunk771 points1y ago
It’s only day 2!!! Everything comes with practice. When I first started I was making matcha lattes with shots of espresso just because it had latte in the name.
R22M161 points1y ago
Hey don’t be so hard on yourself. Take this as a learning experience. I say learn to master one drink and the rest will get easy. It’s better to be accurate than fast.
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