eventually it’ll just be a big automated trough with a conveyor belt just feeding these customers their sugar slop and baristas will only there to make sure they don’t choke on it. The future is bright

I’m very much not excited. This will take the craft out of bar completely and then we may as well be Dunkin’

I enjoy the proud feeling of creating something that someone else will enjoy. This is going to kill that.

I mean, we’ve known for years now that somewhere in the last 10 years they decided that they hate store partners now and want a way to operate stores without baristas. We knew this was coming. They’ve been trying as hard as they can to make us quit (while also pretending there’s a labor shortage.) Starbucks has been shifting over from “3rd Place” to “give us your money and go away.” At this point, with the change in business models they’ve been making it honestly just makes sense to transition all the stores to basically just being giant vending machines. We’ve changed our demographics from people who come to our stores to experience a human connection, “inspired moments,” or a third place environment to a customers coming here and expecting a candy conveyor belt.

If the automatic ordering for food has taught me anything, it's that none of that is gonna work properly

I just want automatic whip. I seem to struggle with whip on frappuccinos so much. I enjoy everything else :(

I saw this before they announced it to the public (Oviso, the new syrup/sauce pump machine for hot bar, the new coffee brewer, and the new CBS setup). My initial thought was “they’re going to get rid of employees altogether” but I don’t think that’s possible, especially with drive-through stores.

I think that the purpose of these new automated “improvements” is to relegate all partners to nothing more than anyone-can-do-this button-pushers. As others said, this will definitely take the skill and craft out of Sbux. The Oviso espresso bar will not require the barista (operator) to do anything other than pour milk and press a button. No more steaming milk by hand, no more queuing shots, etc…pour, press, pour. That’s going to be the new routine.

The ultimate goal here?

1: this gets rid of partners’ excuses for unionizing. We’re no longer going to be making drinks, everything will be automatically queued for us. We won’t be steaming the milk, it’ll already be done for us. We won’t make coffee, we press a button. There’s nothing that we will do that requires skill, therefore we are truly being whiny

2: it makes partners (operators) truly replaceable. Interchangeable parts to an extreme. It takes not raining to say “press button, make cup follow lights, pour,” which is exactly what the new hot bar will be like if their finished revamp is anything like what they’re currently testing.

TLDR: Sbux’s future is one where partners are relegated to button-pushers and babysitters, not skilled baristas and team leaders.

im definitely scared its gonna turn into dunkin. but at the same time, i kinda hope it does so i have no reason to stay and can move to a real shop 💀