ask your SM for more training time! if you have hard time remembering the drinks, go through the app and look at the drink components.

Don’t get discouraged, there’s a lot to learn. Study and work on your beverage sequencing bc that will be your best friend when it comes to bar !

Starbucks has about a 3-5 month learning curve. Don’t sell-yourself short before then.

I know this is a rant, but if you guys give me some advice, I will literally give you a free water.

1. Focus on your sequencing. Don’t know what the sequence for your bar is? Ask. That is the main way you will get faster. The recipes will get remembered no matter what you do, but sequencing needs to be learned. Focus on two drinks max at a time, and once you got that with no remakes AND in standard routine. you can try to start prepping ahead the next few drinks beyond that. You tried and you still don’t get it? Ask your shifts to show you sequencing shoulder to shoulder so they can catch the mistakes you might be missing and confirming when you do it correctly.

2. If you’re barring, you’re in control of the flow. Don’t let people jump in and do whatever they want if it doesn’t help you or without communication. Don’t let someone stack up a bunch a stickers or drinks for you if it stresses you out, or if it helps you, ask them to do that. If it messes you up for them to pick and choose which ones to help with, let them know not to make your drinks or to make them in order. You’re in control of the bar, it’s your position so take ownership so it works in a way that makes sense to you.

3. Give yourself grace and be your own cheerleader. I know it’s hard not to beat yourself up but you have to do it, if only because no one else is cheering you on. You don’t need to bring yourself down if there’s partners already doing it. If they do complain about you going slow, let them know that you’d rather make the drink right the first time rather than rush and have to remake a drink, and that you know you’ll get faster. When you make a drink that looks ESPECIALLY yummy, like “JUST LIKE THE PICTURE” delicious, take pride in your work and pat yourself on the back.

4. BREATHE! If you feel like you’re messing up, or you’ve forgotten your place, or it’s just too much, just BREATHE! sometimes we literally forget! 4 counts in thru nose, 6 out thru mouth, you’re going to get through it and you’re going to clock out eventually so just breathe!

You’re going to do great! Most people get good after 6 months, you got time.

I empathize completely! I’m about to enter my fourth week and I’m horrible! I can’t remember how drinks are made or where to find things on the register. Drive thru is the worst, I can’t understand what people are saying and by the time I find the right place on the register to type in what they’ve ordered I’ve forgotten the 5 customizations. It’s a second job, part time gig (only 10 hours a week), brings in a nice $600-$700/mo extra, but damn, I don’t know if I can stick with it! I feel like I’ll never learn. I think my (20-30 years younger) coworkers must HATE me!

No worries! You’re doing great, I’m sure. Focus on following routines and keeping your machines busy. I also find that keeping my space clean helps keep me moving smoothly. You’re definitely in the fly away little birdie phase of the job and that tends to be the time it all kinda clicks.

Honestly just keep doing what you're doing! If they're mad at you for being slow then they are the ones not being great coworkers. You're still learning so it's understandable being slower than others, especially with how much there is to learn with this job! You haven't done anything wrong and the only way you'll get faster is with more time and practice! I know it's especially hard with the speed of service being a big priority with the job but they'll have to understand that and help you out with what you need to learn! There's also plenty of resources on the iPad for things you would need a refresher on regarding beverage builds and training. And for positions you're not comfortable in yet I would talk to your SSV or SM to have some more time on those positions to get more used to everything! Good luck and you're doing great :)

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