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Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind

r/starbucksbaristas

Full History - 2022 - 11 - 26 - ID#z5d3xz

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116

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What are the unspoken rules of working at starbucks (self.starbucksbaristas)

submitted by Forgettable_Man

what are some unspoken rules and/or pet peeves

Domestica 396 points 7m ago

Don’t hover over the barista making your drink! Just take a step back from the counter and trust the process

Dangitkayla 92 points 7m ago

this 100% when customers will straight up stare half of us will make direct eye contact

PiscesQueen24 61 points 7m ago

Sometimes when they are staring too hard and staring too close to my bar I spray them with the watcher pitcher cleaning thing LOL

BatWeary 38 points 7m ago

we don’t have a syrup shield so if people are hovering over the bar, i’ll angle the cups in way that’ll blast syrup right into their face. it usually sends the message that they need to back tf up. haven’t had any get mad yet, but if they do i’m just like “oh i’m so sorry! the syrups tend to splash if they hit the cup in a weird way!” (which isn’t really wrong since they do lol)

sunflower-a 32 points 7m ago

I had a brand new mocha pump the other day and sprayed a guy with it cause it was highly pressurized. Luckily I knew him but still, step back from the bar

certifiedsnax 3 points 7m ago

i’ll always pump the syrups a little too aggressively just and sometimes i “accidentally” splash someone with vanilla

dontcry2022 23 points 7m ago

Usually if a customer is hovering by the bar, I make eye contact and talk to them. If they're my only ticket, I'll be like "I'm working on that \*drink name\* for you now, \*their name\*!" and then I may small talk with them a bit. If I have other tickets and I'm not working on theirs yet, I'll be like "hey there, did you have a question?" Because sometimes they *do* have a question, they're just bad at asserting themselves lmao. Other times they will be like "oh, no, just waiting for my drink" and I'll notice they either move a little away or at least stop staring. Sometimes they'll say that and continue staring, and at that point I try not to let it get to me bc clearly they haven't picked up yet that I noticed them staring and was trying to get them to stop lol. But also at that point as long as they aren't giving off energy like they're rushing me or something it's honestly nbd. And again updating them on the progress of their order and making small talk are always options

vwar00 7 points 7m ago

This! I always tell baraistas to just interact with them to get them to stop staring. Not everyone wants to small talk so they tend to back off and sit down.

BoatAccomplished8229 4 points 7m ago

no. fuck the customers. go watch tiktok or something. don’t stare at me.

unforg1veable 2 points 7m ago

I like you

unforg1veable 1 points 7m ago

Not enough to stare at you or anything though, don’t worry

Caleb_Gooberson 12 points 7m ago

Oop.... Lol I work at Starbucks but I stand close to my partners on bar to make it easy for them to just pass the drink to me and I also talk to them 😅

dahmerpalms 12 points 7m ago

Hahah that’s different, I don’t mind it from partners but it’s annoying from customers.

jazzysoranio 1 points 7m ago

One year I smeared syrup all over the ledge so people would stop leaning on it. There’s a whole cafe full of chairs and tables but they always choose to make my bar their couch. Go sit down! I will call out your order when it’s ready.

dontcry2022 0 points 7m ago

Ehh idk as a barista, if I'm on my 10 and waiting for my drink, I'll come over to the bar as it's being made if I see them working on it. This way I don't have to stand in the lobby and come back around to go to the back nor do they have to track me down to give it to me. BUT I am very friendly and will be like "oh hey that's my drink right? Don't mind me haha I'm not hovering, just easier to get it before I get settled in the back". Sometimes they'll joke with me that they're nervous and I'll double down like "omg no seriously no pressure hahaha I'm not even watching or anything" bc honestly it isn't me being in a hurry or caring that it's made perfectly lmao I just seriously don't wanna have to come back out to the floor for my drink.

trollious_troll 142 points 7m ago

For Partners: Don’t move anything that a Barista touched. They have a cadence and have everything timed perfectly and if you move something it can throw them off and make them get slow on bar.

For Custies: 1. Read the Labels on the drinks before you drink it—to make sure it is YOURS.
2. Don’t HOVER at the bar waiting for your drink. We’ll call you when it’s ready. Go sit down or something.
3. If you have a problem with your drink, go to the REGISTER to get it fixed. They can give you a much better deal/fix than Baristas can. Baristas are just going to try to get you out of our hair—the person at the Register is going to try to give you a good customer service experience, and will even give you $4 on a recovery card for next time.

Jade-Balfour 33 points 7m ago

As an ex partner with hearing loss: I stand like 3 ft away from the hand off plane because I literally can’t hear if I’m any farther away. Please have a bit of compassion for people with differing abilities. I don’t crowd the hand off plane and if I know it’s gonna be longer I’ll wait before standing closer. But I’ve had moments where people call my order 4+ times because I can’t hear them even when sitting in the closest chair, so I stand close enough that I can hear

Edit: and I don’t mean this as a criticism, I didn’t get this when I started as a barista a decade ago and I had all my hearing. Just trying to inform

Edit 2: Omg it was like 15 years ago not a decade. I feel old now

sammieduck69420 14 points 7m ago

If someone is standing by the bar but making a conscious and obvious enough effort to stay out of the way, I enjoy their company and it’s kinda refreshing. It’s really when people get in the way or stare relentlessly and or comment and just have an intrusive presence

trollious_troll 2 points 7m ago

Disabilities are a totally different thing than what I’m talking about. In my experience people with disabilities are usually the nicest customers, who are the most patient and understanding— I’m talking about the ANGRY people who stand at the end glaring at the Baristas and demanding their drink be made NOW because “they’re in a hurry.”

NeonnSloth 134 points 7m ago

we have an unspoken rule at my store to never ever acknowledge when it slows down after a rush, or else you'll 'jinx' it and cause another rush.

every time somebody says something like, "wow it got kind of slow", all of the sudden there's 15 cars summoned to the drive thru and floods of mobile orders. without fail

bjorksbutthole 17 points 7m ago

we have that too! if anyone says it’s slow we all get mad bc then it gets insanely busy 5 mins later

funktionones 1 points 7m ago

this is me when i say i’m going on my 10

StormTheParade 127 points 7m ago

Ask before pulling someone's stickers/finishing their drinks. "Do you need help with [x]?" is a great start.

When writing date dots, make your handwriting as legible as possible... nobody wants to sit there and guess if it's supposed to be one date or the other.

If a marker is dead or dying, *don't leave it out.* Toss it. The numbers of times I used to pick up dead/busted Sharpies or those money markers...

I would also say as just a general rule in life, but try not to perpetuate gossip... in a high-stress environment, whether you're creating the gossip or continuing it, it will always come back to bite you in the ass. Fast food and retail are full of cutthroat, petty, spiteful people and you *will* get shit for participating. I'm saying this *as* a petty person myself lmao

swollemolle 14 points 7m ago

THANK YOU!!!! We have someone that just pulls stickers and starts making drinks. Makes it worse when they pull the stickers and just put them on the bar and keep pulling stickers and putting them on the bar. Really makes my blood boil 😤

xmsgeekx 1 points 7m ago

I moved on from being a barista to a hospital and they are equally as cutthroat, petty, and spiteful. Gossip and drama will always exist, and it's important to not let yourself get involved. It's bitten my ass a few times

Hazel_is_Trans 119 points 7m ago

We deeply hate customer whom order on the phone then 1 min later pick it up expecting it to be ready sorry Janet your grande iced caramel macchiato with extra caramel drizzle and line cup with caramel drizzle with 5 blond shots 5 pumps of vanilla 2 pumps of white chocolate mocha 7 pumps of hazelnut extra ice with extra salt caramel cold foam in a venti cup add cookie crumbs on top isn’t ready after placing it 30 seconds ago

Hazel_is_Trans 29 points 7m ago

So please don’t place your order then pick it up a minute later

Cookietsha 2 points 7m ago

If I place a mobile order how long should I wait? I’m genuinely asking because I live in terror of being like Janet lmao!

dazedandconfusedhere 13 points 7m ago

The app will give you a recommended wait time! 5-10 mins is usually a good amount of time depending on how busy it is

Cookietsha 7 points 7m ago

I usually assume the app has some super unreasonable and out of touch estimation lol!

Ordinary-Theory-8289 4 points 7m ago

It doesn’t matter if you come in a minute later as long as you understand it won’t be ready yet

Hazel_is_Trans 3 points 7m ago

Drive though

Hazel_is_Trans 3 points 7m ago

I say 10 to 15 max

rustybaps 2 points 7m ago

if they came through the drive thru my manager would park them 😂

Hazel_is_Trans 1 points 7m ago

My manager doesn’t do this

SithlordzomB 63 points 7m ago

For workers: don’t bring a huge group of your friends during peak or if you see it’s busy. Also a personal one for me is don’t order your crazy dumb tik tok drink for anyone else to make, get it as your partner mark out when you are working and can make it.

For customers: for the love of god stop, stop, stop getting upset if a store doesn’t do the same thing as your regular store does. Your regular store might be bending the rules for you because you’re a regular.

HypnoticPeaches 5 points 7m ago

>get it as your partner mark out when you are working and can make it.

So if I work at a store that is strict on standards and doesn’t allow this, I don’t ever get to try new recipes? Bummer.

SithlordzomB 3 points 7m ago

That’s not what I’m saying… I’m saying there are partners that have overly complicated drinks that they make for themselves… don’t ask another barista to ask your overly complicated drink…

HypnoticPeaches 9 points 7m ago

And MY point is that customers are allowed to order complicated drinks, but I, ordering my beverage (and therefore a customer) am not because I’m not allowed to make my own drink?

I don’t order complicated drinks, but it’s the principle. Not everyone HAS the option to “make it yourself” because some stores follow standards strictly and making your own mark out is not allowed and an actionable offense.

SithlordzomB 2 points 7m ago

So did you miss the part where I said “my personal one”? Or are we just nitpicking because I have a personal pet peeve against overly complicated drinks? I’m missing the point where my personal views now apply to the world?

No_Flower_7305 5 points 7m ago

I think what they mean is that it against starbucks policy to make your own drink. My first store let us make our own drinks. My second store made us get in line to order our markout. If you were opening shift, then you could get away with it. Otherwise, you never made your own drink. It sucked lol.

hmarie0716 63 points 7m ago

So, I don’t mind when people want to help with making drinks if there’s a big order and they don’t have stickers.

But I DO NOT like when they grab a sticker without asking me first or letting me know. It just helps me to keep up with queue if they ask first because then I start wasting time looking for where a sticker went or what happened.

FrustratingBears 15 points 7m ago

also when people pull more than 2-3 stickers to find something and line the cups up down the bar!!! not only is it not standard, but it overwhelms me so much

Caleb_Gooberson 6 points 7m ago

SAME my SM and Shift lead did this to me the other day on bar in peak and it was legit 6 stickers they pulled like bro as it is I'm going to be overwhelmed on bar during peak but with ya adding all those stickers doesn't help (I don't usually work hot bar at peak lol usually window or cold bar and front)

Alec_Malenfant 2 points 7m ago

Sticker stealing happens a lot at my store, but it's we're at the point now that it actually doesn't disrupt our workflow too much because the things they take will likely be frappacinos and Shakeys, so it actually helps for me

creatorofstuffn 52 points 7m ago

Use the app to order BEFORE you get there.

Then SURPRISE, no waiting.

Merry Christmas

they-were-roomates 42 points 7m ago

You gotta be at least a little gay

Future_Buddy_582 2 points 7m ago

LMFAOOO

bigfoots-rightnipple 37 points 7m ago

Friends don’t make friends make Frappuccino’s.

Longjumping_Future63 1 points 7m ago

caveat to this tho, fraps are fine if it isnt complicated and isnt busy

OakTreeTrash 1 points 7m ago

This, but learn what each partner likes/hates to make.

I enjoy making Frappuccinos. But ask me to make a pour over for you and i’ll be mad.

This also works for tasks. I’m a closer and my shift knew I hated doing fridges. I’d do them and do them well if I was asked to, but I didn’t like it. So he’d do fridges for me when he could and I’d do the pull for him.

nobodysomebodyanybdy 1 points 7m ago

This… this is definitely the one

trikx 35 points 7m ago

Partner bev your fellow store partners when they visit on their day off.

Free drinks for ex partners we still like.

These are definitely against the rules and are very much unspoken.

insanityizgood13 8 points 7m ago

Had that happen to me the other day at a sister store & it was such a nice surprise. Made a rough day much better!

Some_Vegetable_6479 28 points 7m ago

You absolutely can take actions in self defense using a chair. 🤷‍♀️

nothingbutdeath 24 points 7m ago

SAY BEHIND!!!!

Mhill0823 23 points 7m ago

Cry on the clock. We get paid for this anxiety.

copstomper 2 points 7m ago

Omg that was me the other day during morning rush slay

graham1987 22 points 7m ago

snitches get stitches

nicolelynnejones 6 points 7m ago

check yourself before you wreck yourself

graham1987 5 points 7m ago

also i am rubber, you are glue—esp with mean customers & abusive mgmt

-zombie-squirrel 15 points 7m ago

Save up your sick/vacation time to use when the inevitable after Christmas hour cuts happen so we can still all pay bills

grungelover03 2 points 7m ago

Question: can we only use sick time for a scheduled shift or can it be used even on days when we have no scheduled shift? I’ve been a partner for 2 years and I’ve never used my sick time so I have no idea how it works😅

-zombie-squirrel 2 points 7m ago

It depends on your manager! My current one will let use use sick time to cover scheduled shifts but also if we needed more hours and weren’t able to pick up any extra shifts for it

grungelover03 1 points 7m ago

Ohhh ok, I’ll ask my manager then! My hours have been getting cut recently and I’m sure it’ll only get worse😅 I promise have a good amount of sick hours too, since I haven’t used them in like ever. Thank you!!

Vistril69 13 points 7m ago

DONT

PULL

MY LABELS

snarkysnape 3 points 7m ago

Hi; question, please! I never worked where there was a drive-thru, mobile ordering, or label-system. When we tip through the app on mobile do they know? …..I say thank you when I pick up, but I’d like them to know it’s from me, if not I’ll leave it in cash.

jillybrews226 6 points 7m ago

No, we don’t know when a customer mobile tips but we always appreciate it!!

snarkysnape 1 points 7m ago

Thanks!

Busy_Wolf7371 10 points 7m ago

Don’t make your partner drink if it’s slammed during peak, getting in the way of the other partners.

rmshilpi 8 points 7m ago

If you see someone batch blending...shh no you don't 🤫

twistedcheesepuff 7 points 7m ago

Do your best not to piss off the SSVs. The SM may have more power but you have to work with the SSVs more often.

agigante02 7 points 7m ago

dont touch or pull my stickers. i had my own way of doing drinks and would have people pull my shit and make a drink that i had either already handed out or started to make already. i understand wanting to help but for the love of god just ask first

Alec_Malenfant 6 points 7m ago

DONT TRY TO PLACE AN ORDER TO THE BARISTA ON BAR

I say this way more often than I should

peachiez_ 5 points 7m ago

might just be a me thing, but don’t help on bar unless it was explicitly asked for :’) most partners who seem behind aren’t, they just have a specific way of sequencing that works fastest and best for them that you might be fucking up if you just go “i’m gonna help” and pull a sticker.

i’ve had way too many people at my store pull a sticker off my bar when it’s busy—it can be as simple as a refresher—and they think i’m swamped and suddenly i’m way more behind than the 2-3 drinks i originally was.

AdHuman5566 5 points 7m ago

Don’t start ordering your drink in front of the espresso bar

kill_la_kill_urself 5 points 7m ago

Don't make ANY FRIENDS. ever

Naptime23702 4 points 7m ago

Don’t say the quiet word ever

gryfinboi 3 points 7m ago

don't bring up politics, no matter what. can sometimes make things a bit uncomfy

allthecoffeesDP 3 points 7m ago

You don't talk about Fight Bucks.

Independent-Level626 3 points 7m ago

Don’t make contact with your SM on their days off, but if they contact you while your on the floor and they are home you better respond within 12 seconds

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