I have worked in both and personally I prefer cafe only stores, I feel like I can connect with customers better and they usually close earlier where I have worked. However, the staffing (which is already abysmal company wide) is usually even leaner from my experiences.

Cafe only or drive thru only are always the best stores. A store with less channels will have a lower complexity level when it gets incredibly busy.

Cafe is less busy generally BUT the customers are worse

I've never worked at one without one. I personally like drive thru. It's my favorite position..I realize that's unpopular

i work at a cafe only and its really nice, still gets super busy of course

I did my ssv training at a cafe-only store (having previously worked at a DT store and going to another DT store) and honestly it isn’t much different.

Of course, obviously, there are no DT times to worry about - but you end up monitoring mobile times just the same. And, since there’s no DT as an option for ppl “on the go,” mobiles reach a higher volume than what I’ve seen (typically) at DT stores. Plus, like others have said, the volume of customers in the lobby can be really intimidating. In my experience, the increased opportunity to connect with customers is thwarted by the intense flow of orders and crowded lobby. (Though this is only my experience and would likely vary based on district/region!)

I think it depends what you enjoy most about the job. I have worked in both a cafe store and drive thru and prefer drive thru because I enjoy the fast pace environment. Cafe stores tend to be slower and you’re not being pushed to go as quick because there are no drive thru times to worry about. You also have more time to connect with customers. I personally don’t enjoy doing that so I did not enjoy a cafe store.

I’ve only worked in drive but I imagine in cafe only peak can get quite hectic with so many people in the lobby, although you also have just one hand off area which is kinda nice! I feel like with anything there is ups and downs! Personally I’d be stressed by seeing so many people in front of me.

I work at a cafe only store. I’ve picked up shifts at drive thrus a lot. I think working dto can be nice sometimes cause the hours seem to fly by but that later part in the afternoon when you guys have to do like… everything… take the order, make the drink, cash them out at the window, etc… I really hated that bit. I would never want to close at a drive thru. And in general I would say I just prefer cafe only. Our store is smaller, we are less busy, there’s less for my brain to have to handle lol

My main store is cafe/drive-thru, but lately I’ve been picking up shifts at cafe-only stores and honestly, I prefer it. I find it to be much easier to connect with customers, and I love not having to be worried about drive-thru times. Plus it’s almost never as busy. Having a crowded lobby and drive thru line at the same time is always hell.

Yes

I work in a high volume cafe only store and I can honestly say I am really glad I didn’t accept the job from the Starbucks WITH a drive thru. It is already so chaotic with cafe, mobile and delivery orders coming through, I can’t imagine having a fourth source of ordering. The two Starbucks’ nearby my store are also pretty high volume with drive thru, i don’t want to know how bad they have it.

i’ve worked in both and i would say it depends on what you like as a person. cafe stores are usually slower and have less people working. for me, i like drive throughs because it is more fast paced and busy so for me the time moves faster. i also enjoy talking to people so I found DTO and DTR to be fun whereas I know a lot of people that absolutely hated those positions.

Yes