Please be careful when it comes to caffeine in drinks(self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by SomeCherryBlossomTea
⚠️ Edit: before y’all comment, can you PLEASE read the whole post. omg…
Hi! I just kind of want to put a PSA out there for all my fellow baristas to PLEASE take decaf and non-caffeine orders seriously.
There are people who come with allergies or intolerance to caffeine, or children getting drinks — and while it may seem silly to some to come to a coffee shop if you do, we serve plenty of drinks and can pretty much make anything without caffeine.
I’m currently working on getting rid of a dependence to caffeine (which is actually a stimulant drug), and when I’ve ordered lately, multiple times I’ve gotten espresso in my drinks.
Now, this isn’t a personal rant. I’ll live, I don’t have an allergy or anything. But it really made me think about what slips through the cracks. For example, one time a customer came in, rightfully upset, because she had an allergy to caffeine and got an espresso drink despite ordering something without.
I just can’t fathom being the cause of someone’s allergic reaction, and even if they order decaf shots or coffee (which still has a little caffeine), it’s important to make sure they’re getting it.
There’s also the issue of children getting drinks, and it’s really not good for them either, allergy or not.
I know that it’s not intentional, and sometimes we slip up and make mistakes, we’re all human. This isn’t a call-out post or anything.
Thank you to everyone for reading! Like I said, this isn’t to make anyone feel bad or guilty. I’ve probably been guilty of it too, to be completely honest. It can be easy to just forget to click decaf shots during peak with a ton of orders, I get it. I just want to put this on people’s mind to take extra care to reading labels and giving info about caffeine content.
[deleted]289 points8m ago
If I make a decaf with caffeine you bet I hold up the entire line to remake that for you. If you need oat milk and I used 2% accidentally, tell me immediately. No questions asked I will remake it. We get rushed a lot working at the siren but messing with people’s drinks is unsafe and could be life threatening. Understand that the majority of us do not try to give you anything other than you ask for! If we mess up kindly tell us and it’ll get fixed. As someone who is extremely allergic to almonds (and by extension almond milk) I have dealt with that crap first hand and I wish it no one.
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]99 points8m ago
THIS 👏👏
Would Starbucks rather have bad drive times at ONE STORE or a lawsuit??
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joshwantsluke87 points8m ago
I and the vast majority of baristas do try our best with this kind of thing, also with nondairy milks, whip cream etc. I always try to detail oriented as much as I can, and do take a special focus on allergens and other types of things.
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]14 points8m ago
I think that most baristas do, but some people just don’t care, and that’s a huge problem. I just wanted to remind everyone how important this can be.
iamthegodess123473 points8m ago
My fellow co workers think working on bar is the most prestigious or whatever. But being on till and interacting with customers and understanding their needs and getting the order right is sooo important. This is why I ask so many clarifying questions while on till. That being said mistakes can happen at our end too and customers should be aware that and communicate their needs beforehand.
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]21 points8m ago
That’s why I always tell people who are ordering drinks that don’t seem like they do (like Frappuccinos and refreshers) have caffeine.
iamthegodess123432 points8m ago
Absolutely. Also the dairy in our sauces . I once had a customer asking for an white mocha with oat milk. I followed it up by asking whether they want whip or not. So they were like oh my god no. Then I noticed their eczema scars so I asked them if they have a severe allergy and they were like yes. I advised her to get another drink and put it as an allergy so that we do clean the pitchers and stuff. They were super thankful for the whole thing .
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]10 points8m ago
Also great to note! A lot of people with diet restrictions are unaware. Vegans too. Milk can mess you up if you’re not used to it
djdementia17 points8m ago
Yeah - but the refresher caffeine isn't anywhere near coffee levels. It's more like regular soda per oz.
These are More like a soda levels of caffeine:
* 34mg caffeine: 12 oz Coca Cola * 35mg caffeine: 12 oz Straberry Acai Water * 54mg caffeine: 12 oz Mountain Dew * 60mg caffeine: 12 oz Caramel Frappuccino * 75mg caffeine: 12 oz Caramel Macchiato
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These are more like coffee levels of caffeine:
* 125mg caffeine: 12 oz Espresso Frappuccino * 150mg caffeine: 12 oz Americano * 235mg caffeine: 12 oz Pikes Place Roast * 270mg caffeine: 12 oz Veranda Blonde Roast
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]19 points8m ago
It’s still important to note. I’ve had people order refreshers for quite young kids, not aware it has caffeine, but once I tell them it has about as much caffeine as a soda, they change the order. A small amount can make a difference for some people
neighborhoodswamphag6 points8m ago
when I let parents know they literally say “that’s fine” some of them really don’t care lol
VictorianLibra223 points8m ago
While it;s great to do this if you feel it may be necessary (inform parents that a refresher has caffeine if they're ordering for a little kid) ultimately it is up to the customer to be proactive and either research or ask questions if they're concerned about allergies or caffeine. We can't read minds and are not aware of or responsible for every person's dietary restrictions/needs.
princesskittyglitter10 points8m ago
> 270mg caffeine: 12 oz Veranda Blonde Roast
Just wanna point out for reference: a 16oz bang energy drink is 300mg caffeine.
Traditional-Emu-140349 points8m ago
Thank you. I only get drinks at my location because they all know I have heart problems and caffeine beyond the minimal amount in a decaf could lead me to a dangerous situation. I don’t wanna be that guy at other stores so it’s easier to ask my coworkers.
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]15 points8m ago
This exactly why I made this post. Excuses can lead to dangerous situations for people.
Advanced-Grapefruit4-37 points8m ago
Then why risk getting coffee in the first place???
Traditional-Emu-140314 points8m ago
I enjoy it and would like to have things I enjoy so I’m happy… but seriously I only trust my own store because the master will straight up remake it if he didn’t see it made to watch the decaf button hit.
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tree_sah40 points8m ago
Mistakes happen—we’re all only human, so when we’re rushed to get drinks out in a specific amount of time, mishaps are going to happen. There isn’t much we can do on that front besides taking our time while making drinks, but that also really isn’t realistic when management is focused on time/quantity over quality. It’s the downside of ordering from a “fast food” service.
Traditional-Emu-1403-9 points8m ago
If you can’t be bothered to make a drink right in rush, management isn’t the only issue.
tree_sah16 points8m ago
No, I agree with this 100%. People who purposely make drinks wrong for convenience shouldn’t be working in this industry. Even if we can’t guarantee something to allergen-free, we can still try our best to make it safe for them (switching out milk pitchers, etc) but I was more so pointing out how there’s an expectation to get drinks out within seconds rather than letting us take our time. We lose quality when we’re overloaded and rushed
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]7 points8m ago
Yeah… the fact that this mentality is controversial says a lot….
Traditional-Emu-14033 points8m ago
If we stop rushing for managers that understaff us, they’ll one forced to get out of the office and help us or staff us better.
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]9 points8m ago
Lol… the downvotes… this is a little scary that people are trying to make excuses. One drink every once in awhile, okay. But actively choosing to not care and making excuses? 징그럽다. Couldn’t care less about Reddit karma, but definitely care about customer safety 🤞🏻
Traditional-Emu-14035 points8m ago
They can stay mad. I work during plenty of rushes and I don’t mix up caffeine or milks. We make coffee, it’s not rocket science.
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]2 points8m ago
If you have Mastrenas, it’s an extra click of a button lol
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Longjumping_Future6326 points8m ago
I think its important to note that someone with an allergy to any of the ingredients we use should not be at starbucks. It is clearly stated we cant guarantee allergen free or stop cross contamination. Also, decaf espresso still has caffeine (just less) and tastes no different to regular espresso so this anecdote of a person claiming to have a caffeine allergy doesnt make any sense.
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]3 points8m ago
That’s true to an extent, but that doesn’t mean we should make their order incorrectly. Most people know their limits. We can make things without shots completely. The customer asked for a creme drink. Don’t know hat got lost in translation, because the sticker was correct, but it had espresso. I’m mainly talking about carelessness.
dmgsmrg6 points8m ago
A quad decaf for me is all good, a quad regular can put me in the hospital. Mine isn’t an allergy but I do know the limits of what my heart can work with. It might seem silly to ever go into a coffee shop, but I love the taste and am grateful for the decaf alternative. That being said, I also confirm when my drink is called that it is definitely decaf, and on more than a handful of occasions, it had to be remade.
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]4 points8m ago
You have every right to. The laziness and lack of care for other people by some baristas is disgusting. Seeing some true colors right now.
DreyaNova18 points8m ago
I take Zoloft, if I have any caffeine I get a ridiculously fast heart rate, my blood pressure crashes, and my muscles spasm and cause unbearable cramps all over my body…. Caffeine reactions are no joke.
I don’t trust anyone enough to risk asking for decaf and just hope it’s actually decaf. That’s not a risk I feel comfortable taking.
gothlene13 points8m ago
That's smart of you. I think more people with serious issues shouldn't even risk it
Traditional-Emu-14033 points8m ago
I have a coworker I trust make my coffee, I’ve known the man for years and he’s so careful, make my own, or just take from home. I’m not risking a heart attack
Ew_Oxygen112412 points8m ago
As someone with severe caffeine induced migraines, bless you. It needed to be said.
canidieyet_3 points8m ago
you know, as someone who suffers from migraines i have never considered caffeine to be a trigger. it makes so much sense
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]12 points8m ago
omg. these comments are making me fearful for those with health concerns.
yerunclejamba8 points8m ago
There was also a sbux barista on here a while ago saying she gave a customer a drink with her literal blood in it. A lot of people found it hilarious.
You have every right to be concerned.
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]11 points8m ago
That’s not a barista, that’s a criminal
yerunclejamba3 points8m ago
Im not sure if that post is still up on here, but it's worth a read if it is!
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]6 points8m ago
I hope they took it down. That is literally so disgusting. I mean… oh my gosh. Some people need serious help
Responsible_Snow71094 points8m ago
I remember the post. It wasnt blood in the drink. It was that she saw something red on the cup like a tiny amount she said. She said she assumed it was strawberry puree or something like the apple drizzle. Then she said the customer took the drink and left and at some point after that, thats when she noticed blood on her finger and he was already way gone at that point
yerunclejamba1 points8m ago
That isn't how I recall the post. I can't remember it verbatim, so I'll take your word for it.
However, your claim that there was no blood in the drink cannot be verified, and in such cases, it is best to assume the worst.
The comment section was also full of people saying that she could have made the customer sick, so I assume she admitted to knowing there was blood in the drink.
If you find original post, (I couldn't,) and share it, that would be awesome.
Oh no i didnt claim there was no blood in the customers drink. Im saying what the OP of that post said. They said they saw a red mark on the side of the cup and there wasnt any in the drink. Im not saying i trust that there wasnt. Im just saying thats what the post said. But yes im guna try looking for it now!
BatWeary4 points8m ago
WHAT. dude, i cut my finger somehow once and got a the tiniest drop of blood on a customer’s cup. i flagged her down & remade it even though she wasn’t mad. like ??? that’s disgusting
Traditional-Emu-14035 points8m ago
A lot of them being so angry over being told not to risk someone’s life has definitely reassured my choice to not risk going to any outside stores
princesskittyglitter9 points8m ago
Also the mocha sauce has caffeine too
throwaway12093409877 points8m ago
It would take a LOT of mocha sauce for it to be very significant. 1 pumps of mocha sauce is something like 5-8mg of caffeine. So even in a venti hot chocolate that’s like ~35mg. A venti decaf pike has ~30mg caffeine and is still considered decaf.
If someone is sensitive enough to caffeine that that amount will bother them, it’s their responsibility to be aware that chocolate contains caffeine. It’s good information for us to know, but it’s not like it makes sense to tell every customer who orders a hot chocolate that it has caffeine in it.
princesskittyglitter7 points8m ago
Some people are not allowed to have caffeine for religious reasons. That's why I like to make sure people know the mocha sauce has caffeine in it. Lots of people come in and order hot chocolate and don't know any better.
throwaway120934098710 points8m ago
I get what you’re saying, but if they need to avoid an ingredient for any reason, whether it’s religious or not, it’s their responsibility to know common things that contain that ingredient. For example, I don’t warn people that there’s animal byproduct in marshmallow dream bars, or that there’s gluten in our croissants — that’s up to the customers to either be aware of that, or to be proactive and ask about it if they’re unsure.
violentfemme178 points8m ago
I’m much more likely to purposely decaf an asshole than not remake a drink that was supposed to be decaf, js
Midieval7 points8m ago
My co-partners often joke or criticize me about asking “would you like it with or without coffee” when people order frappuccinos. I’m pretty sure most customers don’t know which ones do or don’t have caffeine, or that they can choose either way.
albinopigsfromspace5 points8m ago
Decaf shots still have caffeine
ETA: i made a small mistake leading to several people who are supposed to be my “partners” attacking a barista with disabilities that effect attentiveness especially to lengthy paragraphs, and retention of information. Sorry i missed a single sentence and instead of just pointing it out everyone had to be rude about it. Im out of here. You’re not my partners.
Kaywin4 points8m ago
In my reading, though, it was like 5mg\~15mg per shot rather than 80mg+ per shot as with regular espresso.
VictorianLibra221 points8m ago
Starbucks espresso shots have around 75mg of caffeine, but of course blonde and updosed shots have more.
Traditional-Emu-14032 points8m ago
Shocking. It’s almost as if OP is also employed by the same company and has a similar knowledge base as you.
albinopigsfromspace2 points8m ago
I mean possibly but several of my coworkers were recently unaware of that before I said something. It seems to me that a lot of people don’t know
MaralosaKingdom-4 points8m ago
Yeah I doubt OP knew that.
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]6 points8m ago
BRO I LITERALLY SAID THAT IT DID 😭😭
albinopigsfromspace-1 points8m ago
Sorry i mustve missed that, as i said in another comment several of my coworkers weren’t aware of that recently.
official_koda_5 points8m ago
The only reason I can think of them doing this(obviously not excusable I’m just telling why they would) is if they have old machines where the mobile orders/cafe orders have their own machine, and the drive thru has there own….but old machines can only pull decaf shots from the mobile order one. So they’re pulling regular espresso shots so they don’t have to wait for the other machine. If they have the new machines I have no idea why that would be happening…multiple times
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]1 points8m ago
I agree, it’s frustrating. It’ll be a great day when all the stores get upgraded machines. Dunno when that’ll happen though. Decaf is not the majority, so sometimes people will have to use the mobile bar 🤷🏻♀️
official_koda_5 points8m ago
I worked there two years and majority of my time there they said we would get the new machines….well pretty sure they still have the same old ones. It’s a busy drive thru store too, so it’s a hot mess when someone would order like multiple decaf drinks or the cafe bar person would need 4 shaken espressos with the blonde shots and I’m trying to make dt drinks
AdIll79464 points8m ago
I’m diabetic and the amount of times I get regular vanilla in my drinks 😩😩
Broad-Flounder-49714 points8m ago
I have never knowingly handed out a drink made with the wrong milk or caffeinated shots. I have, though, given someone decaf instead of normal because he followed a coworker to her car and repeatedly sexually harassed her. The thing I do tell people who cannot safely have caffeine is to know that we cannot guarantee no cross contamination. Same for milk allergies. I would feel more confident serving decaf if we had manual machines as I would be able to thoroughly rinse the portafilter, but alas it’s only a button. Also, I’ve noticed a few times after pressing the buttons for either blond or decaf that the button didn’t press properly and I end up with regular signature espresso that I didn’t want, so i am more cautious now about reading it to be sure.
breaking_goddess4 points8m ago
I didn’t read through all the comments, but I did read the entire post. I think you have a valid request/PSA here. And I would like to share something I hope you will find helpful for future PSA’s/requests. I have observed the most success in delivering a message when the word “actually” is not used. More often than not, it actually comes off condescending and actually, it can be really patronizing. Vs. It comes off condescending and can be really patronizing.
As soon as I read “which is actually a stimulant drug” I felt myself immediately jumping to conclusions and defending myself from a message that was probably meant to be informative. I forced myself to go back and finish the post instead of just skipping it entirely. That’s my experience, thanks for tuning in.
WallyBBunny3 points8m ago
I’ve tried telling people about giving the refreshers or regular Frappuccinos to kids, but I either get glazed over eyes or irritated looks from parents. It’s not like we don’t care much less try.
bonjourimeric3 points8m ago
Also don’t put decaf in drinks that don’t order it, even rude customers. You don’t wanna put them in literal withdrawals.
Puzzleheaded_Lie7062 points8m ago
Same. I always assume, the request is out of necessity, and will remake if it’s wrong. Their are serious food allergies. I’ve totally caught myself pressing the wrong button.
BlueWaters992 points8m ago
When I have a decaf drink I make sure to Double check that the decaf shots have been pulled and I am prepared to confirm it’s decaf at hand off. The problem comes that when drinks are being sequenced there are times that one is making 2 to 3 drinks simultaneously and by the time you hand your decaf to the customer and they ask “decaf?” You can’t be sure (if one hasn’t been mindful) and the message showing the shots that were pulled is gone. So if I’m not sure I remake it. Also there are a million distractions with customers wanting sugar, or a little extra milk, or can they have a cup of water, or do you have my drink? Etc… Customers don’t realize we are concentrating on multiple drinks at a time when they interrupt us.
yerunclejamba2 points8m ago
You're totally fine.
It is disturbing, I guess we never know what could be in our food!
And thanks for finding the post. I thought I was losing my mind lol!
neighborhoodswamphag2 points8m ago
Also it’s good to remind the customers that get 7 shots of decaf in their americano that they’re getting the equivalent of a shot of espresso and will feel minor effects of caffeine if they have a sensitivity. I did have a woman swear up and down I made her drink without decaf. When I checked the history I didn’t. But she orders 8 shots…..🙃🙃🙃🙃
princesskittyglitter2 points8m ago
Imo decaf needs to be its own machine. I know I'm guilty of being on autopilot and caffing people who need decaf and I cant be the only one.
elote69-4202 points8m ago
What can we make without caffeine
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SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]2 points8m ago
Feel free to leave any advice or constructive criticism in comments! Or if you have any additions to the post you’d like to add. I’m always open to new ideas.
Thanks guys!
salaciainthedepths3 points8m ago
I take all drink orders seriously and confirm them with customers at handoff but if anyone has a caffeine ALLERGY, they can’t have decaf. Decaf still contains a significant amount of caffeine
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]0 points8m ago
can people please read the post, I literally said that …
ThiccOpossumDude3 points8m ago
This past week we ran out of decaf, running low on blonde roast as well. Searched the shelves high and low for a bag, so we're waiting on the truck delivery. I'm still somewhat a green bean being fairly new but I feel that little twinge of guilt having to tell people "hey we unfortunately don't have decaf, the most i can do is lower the shots or offer you a drink without caffeine." And then they usually end up ordering fraps, thats all good and dandy but it's difficult when we've got one person running both hot and cold bar. I know it's nothing I can control but the feeling of not wanting to upset a customer is real. (I was also just informed that we ran out of almond milk too so we've been going through soy and oat like crazy)
SomeCherryBlossomTea [OP]1 points8m ago
That’s not your fault. Corporate has been shorting so many stores, don’t feel guilty. The important thing is to tell people about the alternatives, which sounds just like what you did.
Would totally trust you as my barista ❤️
ThiccOpossumDude2 points8m ago
I appreciate that tons, it's a new experience for me telling someone we're out of something and having them kinda mumble to themselves or curse something under their breath and walk out, but I realized that you cant please everyone no matter how much you try. I had a guy yesterday bring back all four of his double bacon sandwiches claiming the bacon was raw and that he had to pull over and cough it back up...I was super anxious about the whole situation because he was yelling so I told my shift lead about the situation and she calmly handled it and refunded his money. I went over to warming station and opened one of the sandwiches at the very bottom and low and behold 😰 it's fully cooked!? We all tried to explain our sandwiches come precooked so all we have to do is warm them but he was not having it haha.
mossygreentree131 points8m ago
Exactly. I love coffee and most of our espresso beverages! I also have a panic disorder that causes extreme DAYS LONG dissociative panic attacks if i have a lot of caffeine. Therefore i always get decaf but it terrifies me to order anywhere except my own store where i can make my OWN drink. This is a great PSA and i feel like people don’t think about it a lot of the time.
-Zispy1 points8m ago
Completely agree. I always take decaf seriously because I know what having too much caffeine or what being intolerant to caffeine does. It makes me sick for days.
SelloutDude0 points8m ago
Nobody is gonna talk about decaffing? Not that there is any evidence that ever happens tho
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CatalyticGenesis8 points8m ago
the *passion* tea is caffeine free. green tea has about the same amount as black tea (about 25mg for grande)! so not a ton, no, but still enough to be significant and an important distinction.
Hazel_is_Trans1 points8m ago
Am I correct in thinking that some of our crème based frappe have caffeine (while I’m at work i woke up when I wrote this “I say most of our drinks have caffeine but we can make any espresso drinks with decf witch has zero to 5 mg of caffeine depending on the drink flavor. Our passion tea with water is the only drink that has zero caffeine…”)
CatalyticGenesis2 points8m ago
there's a small amount of caffeine in mocha (so double chocolaty chips are technically out but idk if that's anywhere near a notable amount of caffeine?). i usually rec vanilla bean, strawberry creme, or blended strawberry lemonade. a lemonade with strawberry puree added is usually my go to offering for parents that were gonna get strawberry refreshers, or lemonade/passion tea lem with raspberry.
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