Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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A Little Positive Rant (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Jasreha
I gotta take a moment and just talk, and I feel like my crew is sick of hearing it, so I’m going to rant to ya’ll. This is very “I love it here”, and I really don’t expect anyone to read it all, but I’m emotional and need to scream.
God, I love this job — and maybe I drink too much of the Siren kool-aid at this point, and it’s absolutely mostly due to my store, but… For all the corporate faults, I’m genuinely happier here than I’ve been at any other job. I have ADHD, depression, and anxiety (a big part being social anxiety, as I was homeschooled 4th to 9th grade and then bullied and excluded in high school because I was, as expected, super weird). In school, and then at every job I’ve worked, regardless of industry (I’ve worked retail, food service, manufacturing…), I’ve been the outsider and the odd one out. I struggled to even make casual coworker friendships because of it.
And then I started at Starbucks. It was a bumpy start — a shift that didn’t like me made it a point to make me look terrible to the people I didn’t work often with — but from almost day one, the crew I work with daily (mids and closes) was so accepting. They took my weird, quirky personality, and instead of going “what the actual fuck is wrong with them” and turning it into high school all over again, they turned it into “that’s Devin, they’re weird and we love them”. I tell my store manager when she asks me to cover evenings that I don’t mind, and most of the time, I genuinely don’t. It feels like I’m going to hang out with friends and make coffee for eight hours, not like going to a job and working. Sometimes I genuinely am surprised this is my adult job that I use to pay my bills.
Starbucks is my safe place, as dumb as that sounds. I grew up in an abusive household, and my aunt used to grab me for a few hours, get me whatever I wanted from Starbucks, and take me driving and let me play whatever music I wanted. No matter what Starbucks I went to, it felt safe and comforting and welcoming. And, yeah, the third place environment isn’t there as much anymore, but, in my store, at least, we try.
I just love this job and my team so much but I struggle to actually articulate that and show them how much I appreciate them, especially when we’re so busy and I’m trying to coach and help the shift supervisors keep things running smoothly. 😭
God, I love this job — and maybe I drink too much of the Siren kool-aid at this point, and it’s absolutely mostly due to my store, but… For all the corporate faults, I’m genuinely happier here than I’ve been at any other job. I have ADHD, depression, and anxiety (a big part being social anxiety, as I was homeschooled 4th to 9th grade and then bullied and excluded in high school because I was, as expected, super weird). In school, and then at every job I’ve worked, regardless of industry (I’ve worked retail, food service, manufacturing…), I’ve been the outsider and the odd one out. I struggled to even make casual coworker friendships because of it.
And then I started at Starbucks. It was a bumpy start — a shift that didn’t like me made it a point to make me look terrible to the people I didn’t work often with — but from almost day one, the crew I work with daily (mids and closes) was so accepting. They took my weird, quirky personality, and instead of going “what the actual fuck is wrong with them” and turning it into high school all over again, they turned it into “that’s Devin, they’re weird and we love them”. I tell my store manager when she asks me to cover evenings that I don’t mind, and most of the time, I genuinely don’t. It feels like I’m going to hang out with friends and make coffee for eight hours, not like going to a job and working. Sometimes I genuinely am surprised this is my adult job that I use to pay my bills.
Starbucks is my safe place, as dumb as that sounds. I grew up in an abusive household, and my aunt used to grab me for a few hours, get me whatever I wanted from Starbucks, and take me driving and let me play whatever music I wanted. No matter what Starbucks I went to, it felt safe and comforting and welcoming. And, yeah, the third place environment isn’t there as much anymore, but, in my store, at least, we try.
I just love this job and my team so much but I struggle to actually articulate that and show them how much I appreciate them, especially when we’re so busy and I’m trying to coach and help the shift supervisors keep things running smoothly. 😭
devilsreject4926 37 points 1y ago
I understand this too. As much as working at starbucks sucks sometimes, it's also my only chance to get normal social interaction. I was also homeschooled and had a shitty family. I've made friends with some of my coworkers and it gives me something to distract myself from my problems and put my mind to.
Responsible_Snow7109 15 points 1y ago
I've always been the odd one out too my whole life. In school, i only had one really amazing friend. That was it. And we hung out with others while we hung out together but it was a bad crowd at that time. But my friend and i would hang out pretty much every single day. Maybe 2 or 3 days out of the week we wouldn't hang out but that was rare. Then we graduated high school in 2010. She got a monday thru friday job so we hung out less. We only chilled saturdays and sundays. Then my sister had a kid and then i started dedicating sundays to hang out with him and my best friend got upset at me a few times that we went from hanging out saturdays and sundays to just saturdays. Jeez i mean some people don't even get to see their best friends from school anymore. Idk so she stopped talking to me a few years ago because of it and i haven't had a friend since because something about that friendship breakup screwed me up. We hung out everyday pretty much. We were literally the same person. We were one lol but now im just depressed and have anxiety all the time. And i was talked shit on at all my other jobs and treated very poorly. And now at starbucks, my coworkers actually view me as a human. Its kinda sorts clique-y but not as bad as I've seen elsewhere. But they are kinder than any other coworkers I've everrrr been around. So i totally relate. Thats what had me read the whole thing because i got hooked in the beginning/middle since i can completely relate to ur feelings of being the odd one out before starbucks
CatVietnamFlashBack 3 points 1y ago
I hope you're able to reconnect or eventually find a better friend soon! Everybody deserves to have a good friend.
Responsible_Snow7109 1 points 1y ago
Thank u! Yea i just dont know how to go about it anymore since my best friend stopped talking to me for the dumbest reason and i was friends with her since i was 11 or 12 and later on in our adult life, she decides to cut it off cuz we went from hanging out 2 days a week to 1 day a week. So i just honestly do not know how to go about making friends anymore :/
Mea-fae_Owl73 12 points 1y ago
I feel this too. The reason I’m a lifer (20+ year partner) is because despite all the shit this company and customers has put partners through the last three years I really do love my job. I tell a lot of people that Starbucks allowed me to feel like a stay at home mom when I had my kids (worked 24 hrs a week Fri-Sun at night) and created a safe environment to come into my own. I’ve met some of my best friends through this job and connections so meaningful in my community. Yeah it’s just coffee but the people (behind as well as in front of the counter) are EVERYTHING! Plus the benefits are fantastic
coffee-and-chillll 6 points 1y ago
Agreed!! I’m a former 3 year partner coming back and will most likely be a lifer, simply because I love the job. No it’s not perfect, nothing is, but it works best for me. I tried a variety of jobs and I think that’s given me the perspective to come back and appreciate everything about the job that I took for granted before.
It’s awesome to hear this job has given you meaningful connections and a safe environment to work in while balancing being a parent and coming into your own. Your comment was a joy to read 😊
It’s awesome to hear this job has given you meaningful connections and a safe environment to work in while balancing being a parent and coming into your own. Your comment was a joy to read 😊
MoonCatlol 9 points 1y ago
I totally feel the exact same way. I’m a student and I’ve had some ups and downs since I started working 8 months ago these people I work with are my friends. Might be older and in their 20s, but still. And we talk to each other about random stuff, they accept my weirdness and they help me out when I need it.
sleepythyme07 8 points 1y ago
This made me smile! I started with Starbucks when I was in a dark place in my life, and having a positive environment to escape to every day made the hugest difference in my outlook on the world. As a manager now I try my best to make my store that same environment for anyone who comes to work on my team! ❤️
batman_thedead 6 points 1y ago
me too dude, and as much as I complain about the shitty works conditions and understaffing (which hopefully a union would alleviate), I love this job. My coworkers have made me feel so welcomed and loved, and the fast pace is perfect for my little adhd brain. people are saying “why unionize, just leave if you dont like it so much” but I don’t want to leave. I just want to make it better so I don’t get miserable about coming to a job I actually really like
urlocaltransboy 6 points 1y ago
I feel the same way. I have my complaints about this job, but i never dread getting up at 4am to open. if anything, i’m happy i get to work with so many people i consider friends. also genuinely loving coffee helps too.
coffee-and-chillll 5 points 1y ago
FINALLY! I really loved reading this, thank you so much for some much needed positivity on this reddit page. I relate so, sooo much and it’s really nice that someone else shares the same sentiments about this job as me.
I’m currently in the process of getting rehired, and as a former 3 year partner, I’ve missed the job so much. I had some personal issues last year and quit and tried a few other jobs this past year, but I always ended up going back to wanting to return to Starbucks. I haven’t been able to find what I experienced there anywhere else: friendly and funny coworkers, a sense of teamwork and pride in being part of the team, amazing benefits, and a fun, fast paced work environment that can be chaotic but overall ends up being fun times and memories to laugh about. I’ve found that all the other jobs I’ve had has given me the experience and perspective to realize just how much I appreciate working at Starbucks and helped me realize all the things I took for granted in the past.
The job and company isn’t perfect, and I’m learning nothing is perfect, but as someone who struggles with depression and social anxiety this job really is so beneficial to me. It gets me out of the house and out of my head, gets me moving, helps me to feel productive, I’m able to feel good about myself in job performance and memorizing all the wild drink recipes/shift routines, and it gives me much needed social interaction (which I normally wouldn’t have given I’ve always struggled to make friends).
Starbucks was my first job that made me feel at home and welcomed, where I could be my silly/eccentric self, and where I was truly welcomed to blossom and bloom into my own. My time there holds such a special place in my heart and I’m psyched to be returning. Friends, family, practically everyone acts like I’m stupid/crazy for returning to the job, but I miss it and even though it’s not a “typical” job path, it’s what I enjoy and that holds more value to me than pay or following a traditional career path. It’s such a relief to not feel crazy for loving this job, thank you. This really made my day :) Wishing you all the best ✨
I’m currently in the process of getting rehired, and as a former 3 year partner, I’ve missed the job so much. I had some personal issues last year and quit and tried a few other jobs this past year, but I always ended up going back to wanting to return to Starbucks. I haven’t been able to find what I experienced there anywhere else: friendly and funny coworkers, a sense of teamwork and pride in being part of the team, amazing benefits, and a fun, fast paced work environment that can be chaotic but overall ends up being fun times and memories to laugh about. I’ve found that all the other jobs I’ve had has given me the experience and perspective to realize just how much I appreciate working at Starbucks and helped me realize all the things I took for granted in the past.
The job and company isn’t perfect, and I’m learning nothing is perfect, but as someone who struggles with depression and social anxiety this job really is so beneficial to me. It gets me out of the house and out of my head, gets me moving, helps me to feel productive, I’m able to feel good about myself in job performance and memorizing all the wild drink recipes/shift routines, and it gives me much needed social interaction (which I normally wouldn’t have given I’ve always struggled to make friends).
Starbucks was my first job that made me feel at home and welcomed, where I could be my silly/eccentric self, and where I was truly welcomed to blossom and bloom into my own. My time there holds such a special place in my heart and I’m psyched to be returning. Friends, family, practically everyone acts like I’m stupid/crazy for returning to the job, but I miss it and even though it’s not a “typical” job path, it’s what I enjoy and that holds more value to me than pay or following a traditional career path. It’s such a relief to not feel crazy for loving this job, thank you. This really made my day :) Wishing you all the best ✨
Impressive-Coast-158 5 points 1y ago
This is very positive, and it made me happy to read! I'm really glad you enjoy your work so much, and that you get along with your coworkers as much as you do. It can be rare sometimes to get that.
julieCivil 4 points 1y ago
This made my heart happy. Thanks for sharing
tantelope 3 points 1y ago
i feel this way :) first real friends in a long time
thekadenmicheal 1 points 1y ago
I feel the same way,I was in toxic work environment and started Starbucks few months back and I have met some cool coworkers that supports on the floor and respect. I don’t dread coming to work and even when I’m slightly just depressed ,they notice and make sure I have a good shift, it lifts my mood every time ,and having to connect with customers so even faking it till I make it I really do make it . Also having this job has made me cope with my anxiety and able to talk to people
usichu 1 points 1y ago
i totally feel this! it’s not the perfect job and it’s been very stressful recently, but i consider starbucks the best job i’ve had so far. this is the first job i’ve been able to be completely open about my name and pronouns and i’ve been accepted with nothing but open arms. i’ve made so many friends here and just genuinely feel accepted as a person. as someone who is very introverted and quiet, it’s a great feeling. it’s not always sunshine and roses, but there have been a lot more good moments than bad!
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
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