Year wait can be waived. The apron doesn't mean much out of Starbucks.

Having done the damn program 3 times now, I take offense at that! When we got a new DM she demanded we be recertified every year til she figured out how many training hours that used!

Lol I worked with a bitch at a licensed store, who has never worked for the Starbucks company, order a black apron and told people she’s a fuckn coffee master. Like girl, two years making coffee at Target doesn’t make you a CM 😂

We had a guy who was a coffee master that quit and he gave his black apron to another shift. She wore it all the time cuz it “matched her aesthetic more than the green”. Our sm eventually told her to stop wearing it cuz people were getting upset

I no longer took the # of years seriously when I came back to Starbucks (before leaving again).

The first time I left was due to the massive lockdown from Covid and while everyone was in a mass freak out not knowing the seriousness of Covid for sure; I was the few that left Starbucks.

Fast forward to when I got back. Even tho I was given the same partner number I was given a year one pin even tho I worked for starbucks for about 3 years.

This is why I say I no longer care. Not out of anger that they gave it but because there’s no real reward to the amount of effort and time you put into it. Ive learned from there to focus on myself and the people that matters.

So if anyone does not say anything about your shift cutting corners for the black apron? Don’t let it get to you. It does not mask your efforts and your accomplishments.

you have to work a year for it?? i’ve started my training and i’ve only been working a few months D:

The apron doesn’t signify any other authority or anything like that. Just means you sat in front of a computer for extra hours and burnt your tounge tasting black coffee. It means if a customer has specific questions about coffee (like recommendations for what type of they want xyz) we can point to the black apron and ask. It’s not saying your manager or barista or anything like that

This made me chuckle because one of my coworkers transferred to and other store and worked there for a year before coming back with a black apron, he got it from his girlfriend because he transferred right after the program had been stopped. Well my SM (who hired him in the first place) one mentioned it in a SSV meeting that she was so proud of him cuz he worked hard for that apron and none of us other SSVs had one yet

ngl i want the apron cause it matches my aesthetic more. but like also i actually want to do the coffee master program

Honestly it’s not that serious… it’s really not that hard to get a black apron and definitely doesn’t take blood sweat and tears like some people are saying lol. It’s been easier since they brought it back. You’re only allotted 8 hours of training for the program… definitely not as extensive as ppl are making it seem. Sure it grows your knowledge but it’s not like taking a semester long course or anything lol. If you want a black apron, just do the courses. This is coming from an SSV who has also finished them. If you have an issue with a supervisor, then have a conversation with your SM, your DM, or call partner resources. You could also easily become a shift supervisor if you’re passionate about Starbucks as much as you say and dedicate so much time to it? Having been a barista myself who transferred to get promoted, sometimes you may just have to do things for yourself.

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I have been working at Starbucks for two years now. Here is how I earned my apron and honestly, I feel very offended when people tell me I don’t deserve it because I worked my ass off for my apron.

First, I was a candidate for the program before it was closed down during the pandemic. I come from a store where almost all of the shifts were coffee masters (actually went through the program). My manager knew how disappointed I was that the course was closed and decided to train me (via training hours) to become one. He used his old texts books, made me taste all of the coffees in the store (I even traveled to different stores to taste their coffee), taught me on different brewing methods/pairings (I even bought outside food to pair with coffees), made me take a lot of the asu programs, and prepare a brew for him, my dm, and shift supervisor. I also had to take a test on all the material I knew. I also had to lead coffee tastings regularly in my store. At end of my training (which lasted for about three months) he symbolically gave me his apron.

I put a lot of fing time/effort into my coffee master apron and yeah, I get offended when people talk down to me because I earned it differently. If I could take the program I would (I leave for college in two weeks) and I worked for it in a different way when Covid was prevalent and the program wasn’t available. I put a lot of research into coffee outside of work and did my best to learn and earn what wasn’t offered because I care about my job and wanted to answer customers questions. It was a different journey but I know more about coffee than the coffee master (went through the course 4 years ago) in my store and I’m usually the first one people go to when there is a question.

What are your opinions?

STOLEN VALOR!! 😂😂