45 Responses to “How to Torment a Starbucks Employee”

• Damon Zuman
  October 5th, 2006
  7:56 pm
  
  

  Starbucks people always mess with me, when they ask for the size of my order, I say medium and they go like “Oh, Grande!”. Snobs!

• Andy
  October 5th, 2006
  8:19 pm
  
  

  So my next order is:

  Hi, may I have a small Hammer Head please?

• Chris Bennett
  October 5th, 2006
  8:33 pm
  
  

  How to Torment a Starbucks Executive:

  “Can I have a short * please?”

  While “tall” is the smallest size at Starbucks that they’ll fess up to, a “short” is actually a small, but it’s not on the menu. This is especially a good thing for cappuccinos. They keep it on the DL since they make more profit on the larger ones (Venti = 20 oz compared to a Grande 16oz? Definitely not 45 cents of a difference.).

  Another interesting aspect of sizing that someone pointed out to me: give someone three choices and they will usually pick the middle one. More people would pick small if given the choice between two: large and small. Volume-wise the middle-size “grande” is large… so it looks like Starbucks is really winning when it comes to making more profit off larger sizes.

• Sri
  October 5th, 2006
  9:41 pm
  
  

  Here is another way to annoy them….keep asking for coke or pepsi!

• Sri
  October 5th, 2006
  9:45 pm
  
  

  Here is a question….does anyone tip those guys? Sometimes when the tip jar is placed right infront of my face….i feel obliged to tip……but in all honesty….i dont think they deserve a tip.

  If that is the case, then Chipotle people who do more need to be tipped!

  I once went to India with my boss and I told my boss that we gotta tip the hotel guy who opens our car door……my boss said..”ok….here is a tip for him…get another job”

• Noah Winecoff
  October 6th, 2006
  7:21 am
  
  

  Hmm…”barista”…interesting. Will I sound intelligent if I call the girl behind the counter a barista or will I sound like a douche bag?

• Magoo
  October 6th, 2006
  9:24 am
  
  

  “…Can I just get a hug?”

• Skip Tracer
  October 6th, 2006
  10:35 am
  
  

  I’ll take two of those small whatchamacallits.

• Noah Winecoff
  October 6th, 2006
  1:13 pm
  
  

  LOL @ Magoo.

• Doug Karr
  October 7th, 2006
  8:07 pm
  
  

  After 3 years of ordering No-fat, No-whip Grande Mochas… I have yet to understand what the proper order sequence is. It seems, no matter what order I order the mocha in… the Barista repeats it back to me in a different order.

  Order?
  “No-fat, No-whip, Grande Mocha”

  Barista?
  “Grande No-fat, No-whip Mocha”

  Argh!

• prlinkbiz
  October 7th, 2006
  9:22 pm
  
  

  I always order double tall non-fat no whip cream mochas. However, I am in there so often, the Starbucks people adore me- so they just “know” my drink now. Kids- this is why I invest- so I can drink Starbucks daily. PS- as a former barista, be kind! LOL

• Noah Kagan
  October 7th, 2006
  9:35 pm
  
  

  I am all about non-fat, extra hot, no water chai tea lattes. sounds yummy.

• Golbguru
  October 8th, 2006
  12:37 pm
  
  

  lol…I am gonna try this one.

• Mike W
  October 16th, 2006
  5:27 pm
  
  

  An invading army of Starbucks franchises has long since ran roughshod over every neighborhood in San Francisco. My borough is no exception, with one setting up camp a scant three blocks from my front door. Myself and most of the other neighborhood curmudgeons have long since been exposed to the “short-tall-grande-venti” system. Tully’s across the street has adopted something similar. We’ve more or less refused to use it…but the staff seems to have arrived at an agreed-upon convention for dealing with traditional size requests that goes something like this:

  “When in doubt….punt”.

  I’ve even brought in my own odd-shaped cup….a stocky Nissan Stainless travel mug that’s somewhat conical in form. The barrista’s rarely so much as bat an eye at it, though the price of filling it varies from visit to visit.

• Christie Dean
  October 17th, 2006
  8:40 am
  
  

  Starbucks! Blah!

  Friends don’t let friends drink starbucks-
  …but if I were ever to order, I will make sure to use this. LOL!

  Cheers

  Christie

• Chica_Maria
  November 13th, 2006
  8:43 pm
  
  

  Okay, here’s a tip from a certified barista for those of you who are confused about the whole drink-calling order thing. The order generally goes: Decaf, Iced, Number of Espresso Shots, Size, Number of Pumps and Type of Syrup, Milk, Other options (like extra hot, no whip, two splendas, etc), and finally type of drink.

  Obviously, if you’re ordering a “default” drink, like a tall latte, you would just call it a “Tall Latte.” If you want it nonfat, it’s a “Tall nonfat latte.” If you want it decaf and nonfat, it’s a “decaf tall nonfat latte.” So, a “complicated” drink (and the kind that makes the baristas grind their teeth) would be something like, “decaf iced quad grande two-pump raspberry two percent no whip one raw sugar white mocha.”

  If you think this is asinine…you’re probably right, but look at it this way. Even new baristas loathe this precise method as they struggle to learn it. Sbux trainers have special “dice” with the modifiers on them that you can practice rolling and arranging in the correct order. It usually takes weeks to months for a barista to become confident in “correct drink calling.”

  And while some baristas will get all smug as they correct you, most use the “system” simply because their co-workers or bosses will polietly get on their case if they don’t. However, even seasoned baristas will occasionally (or frequently!) call a complicated drink incorrectly.

  And since you’re probably wondering if there’s even a pretense of a reason for the “system,” here’s the idea behind it: better communication between the barista at the register and the barista at the bar. Say you order a decaf tall caramel nonfat xtra whip mocha. When the barista makes the drink, they will first “pull” the espresso shots, (hence the importance of specifying decaf first), and while the shots are grinding they will select the correct cup (size second), pump the syrup into it (flavor third) and add the shots, then add the steamed milk (milk fourth), and top with plenty of whipped cream (misc. modifiers fifth).

  It’s not a perfect system, but if the way drinks are called is standardized, there’s much less chance of forgetting a modifier, or disappointing the customer. As a barista punches in a grande nonfat mocha, he will mentally run down the “list” and when he gets to the misc modifiers “box” he will remember to ask the customer (who is obviously calorie conscious) if they still want the whipped cream. Or if the person at the bar has had a drink called to them, they will repeat the modifiers in the same order, which makes it easier to tell if they missed something.

  So yeah, it’s obnoxious, but if it helps keep your drink order accurate, I think you can suffer a smug smile from an obnoxious barista. Just pretend to tip him/her and then suddenly withdraw your cash with a loud “HRUMPH!” Just remember to tip the ones who *do* do an excellent job.

  And as far as the whole short/tall/grande/venti thing goes, I worked at Starbucks and I still think it’s rather dumb. But, I tried to call the drinks correctly simply because I knew I would be chided if I didn’t. Yeah, I basically sold my soul for a paycheck.

• baristaj
  May 22nd, 2007
  12:26 pm
  
  

  IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, DON’T GO TO STARBUCKS!

  freakin retards.

• Lima
  May 24th, 2007
  7:01 am
  
  

  But, Starbucks is almost everywhere…Where shall a poor soul go if he/she doesn’t like Starbucks?

  Calling people “freaking retards” IS retarded. Jerk!

• Alexandria Venticelo
  May 26th, 2007
  9:20 am
  
  

  I LOVE Starbucks! I hate how they always repeat your order though! I always give a tip just cause I have have enough money too. I go almost every day.

• baristaj
  May 27th, 2007
  2:32 pm
  
  

  they repeat your order so the person at the bar gets it right. it’s not to make you feel stupid.

  Question: would you rather have the starbucks people be overly friendly and full of BS or just get your drink to you fast and correct?

  i’m sick of being told i have to fake a ridiculous amount of positive energy.

• blinky
  June 20th, 2007
  11:49 am
  
  

  try to be clever

• bbaristamtown
  July 23rd, 2007
  6:26 pm
  
  

  ohhhkayy . so to all the people who dont like starbucks then dont go . and for the people talking about drink calling, we as baristas are trained to call drinks correctly hence the cubes the previous comment was talking about. and it is second nature to call them the correct way. we dont care if you dont know what order to order it in , but it is a habit to say it back the correct way. just dont say grannnnday. [grande] [gran] doesnt ryme with ann so throw the littleeeeeee accent into it and say grande :]

• barista
  July 31st, 2007
  11:38 am
  
  

  okay, okay, okay. i work at starbucks. i know, i know, all of you people probably DESPISE ME. first off, to answer some questions. the order you say your drink is along the side of the cup. if it’s decaf, there’s a decaf box, then the size box, and so on. that’s how we learned. secondly, the tips DO help. and yes, i think we should get tipped. it’s not just making a cup of coffee, it’s making all of the prep, training new workers, working drive through AND hot bar, getting all the drinks in order, making sure the drinks are made right and within 3 minutes of the customers order, and making sure the store is clean at all times. oh, and not to mention the stress level. thirdly, this “say small” nonsense. we’re trained to say all of that. do you think that’s how we talk in everyday life? no. it’s just the “lingo” and it makes work easier. so, stop being mean to your fellow starbucks employee. they didn’t make the rules, they just have to follow them… and most of them are trying to just get a paycheck and go home. the end.

• D-Lo
  September 12th, 2007
  7:00 pm
  
  

  I am a barista. I couldn’t care less what size you call a drink, I still will call it what it is because that is how we do it. It is stupid that we can’t call it small, medium, large, but I’m not gonna get my panties in a wad because I can’t use the combination or consanants and vowels I would rather use. Why do people care about such trivial issues? I guess control issues I suppose? The next time you think you are so clever and wanna try ot annoy us remember this, we deal with morons everyday and every hour and you are no exception. Don’t wanna tip, I don’t really give a shit. Just because you don’t tip doesn’t mean someone else won’t either. Don’t try to be so signifacant, it is pointless. Starbuck’s will roll on without you morons because it is a corporate juggernaut that can only defeat itself. We have no effect. I could shit in a box, slap a Starbuck’s logo on it with a $5 price tag and sell out of it before my next bowel movement. People want their status symbol and we provide that for them. So, do whatever you want to do to annoy us, most of us are immune to the stupid bullshit. Quit trying to be somebody, nobody cares.

• IN Partner
  September 28th, 2007
  6:43 am
  
  

  I am a Starbucks employee.

  In response to the “Friends don’t let friends drink Starbucks” mentality: your local coffee shop still exists…you know the one, the one you like that isn’t a Starbucks. I go to mine. It is thriving. Support yours.

  And to those that hate Starbucks so much, why do you go there? Quite hypocritical if I do say so. I hate Wal-Mart, which has taken over my town moreso than any Starbucks has, so I make the personal decision to NOT go there, under any circumstance.

  Oh, and ordering a drink? Don’t worry about saying it in the right order. That’s our job. And thank you to the partner above that explained why we do this: consistency in training and to reduce or eliminate missed or incorrect drink orders at the bar. Your barista doesn’t want to take the time to remake your drink anymore than you want to wait for it.

  Tipping? Whatever. Our tips don’t pay our bills, but your generosity is greatly appreciated. If you enjoy your experience at your store, reward them for their hard work. If you don’t, we would appreciate it if you’d let us know.

  And to those complaining about their job with the company: leave it, if you are so unhappy. I don’t want to work with a miserable employee any more than you want to be miserable at your job. Starbucks works for some, like me, and for others, it doesn’t. No job should ever weigh more heavily on your mind than the important things – like love for your family, helping your friends, and enjoying your life. These are the things that matter. Take value in them. If you are like me and love your job, take pride in it. If not…it’s your sacrifice.

  Take care.

• Your Uncle
  June 17th, 2008
  10:26 am
  
  

  Here’s a good question. “Why are we all sitting in front of our computers with our heads tilted down or forward utilizing our college level education to mindlessly bitch about a franchise we know well enough to say in that obnoxious nasal tone “When I go to starbucks…? When another child the same age as your baby niece, nephew, son or daughter has pushed their last breath in front of a torn human being tilting their head down and forward?

• Katie
  September 8th, 2008
  11:55 am
  
  

  I work at starbucks- and we really dont care if someone orders the size as a “small” or “medium.” We know what they mean- no reason to be snots about it.

• Evan
  October 12th, 2008
  4:54 pm
  
  

  your all fucking idiots if you dont like starbucks dont go faggot ass idiots go vote for mccain asssuckers

• BaristaRah
  October 24th, 2008
  7:27 pm
  
  

  Yo, I work for starbucks in ny and i just started workin for sb for about 3 weeks now and this whole drink calling system has and still is causing me to not enjoy my sleep at night. this shit is wrecking my brain. sure, calling out a “tall latte” is not big deal. But when a annoying ass customer calls out some bullshit like “ummm can i get a Venti vanilla soy chai latte, extra hot, no whip, 2 sleeve, 4 pumps of chai, etra whip”….I honestly look at the customer with inner hatred and just draw a blank from not even knowing where to start at calling this drink. I need help asap becuz thats the ONLY thing i hate about my job. everything else is cake.

• Jenni
  November 10th, 2008
  7:45 pm
  
  

  I am a Starbucks barista as well. And like the other baristas have said before me, drink calling is not done in order to tout our superior knowledge and/or to annoy the customer, but is a standard way for us to recognize the drink so that it’s written on the cup correctly and therefore made correctly. We automatically translate “small/medium/large” into “tall/grande/venti” because those are the sizes we use. Nothing more, nothing less.

  Also, from the other side, baristas should NOT get annoyed at customers with complicated drink orders. One of my personal drinks, for example, is a decaf iced single grande one-pump hazelnut soy no-whip mocha. I don’t order it to make other partners’ lives that much more complicated, I order it because that’s what I like. Remember something about “Just say yes”? We’re in the people business serving coffee, you guys. If you’re relatively new, the automatic mental drink translating will come, I promise. There comes a time for everyone when you’ll have a customer order a “large white mocha with no whipped cream, extra hot, nonfat, with an extra shot – no, make that two extra shots, and two pumps of cinnamon dolce”, and you’ll immediately say, “So that’s a quad venti two-pump cinnamon dolce nonfat no-whip extra hot white mocha?” I promise.

  I love Starbucks – I’m proud to work there, and I’m passionate about what I do. I believe that it’s a great company with great coffee, and so do plenty of other people. Sorry to repeat it, but if you happen to dislike Starbucks for whatever reason… you really don’t have to go there.

  Thanks for reading

• Barista_Joshua
  December 25th, 2008
  10:36 pm
  
  

  I just want to start out by saying that I am a Barista, and I love my job. I know how stupid and annoying it can be to be corrected, because I was a frequent Starbucks visitor before I became an employee. I, too used to get upset when the Barista’s would correct me, but now that I work there I know that most are not doing so to be mean, or “snotty”…they are merely trying to make sure your drink comes out correct. I find myself correcting people on the sizes, but I do so without the intention to come off as rude. I even catch myself sometimes doing so, and I sometimes apologize to the customers and get them to understand that it wasn’t intended to sound Snotty..like some have said in this post, it comes natural to us, because we were trained to do so. I know that sometimes, some Barista’s come off as over-friendly, and my store does that, but they are sincere about it. I am a very social person, and I come off as bombarding people with my social skills, but I am truly sincere about it, and I have come across very few who didn’t like it…so before one talks about how “Snotty” we are, please note, that is only your perspective…not everyone’s…

• Barista_Joshua
  December 25th, 2008
  10:41 pm
  
  

  BTW…Trying to find ways to “Torment” Barista’s ..is such a immature thing to do..Find something else to occupy your day, or as one person put it “to brighten” your day…please, most of us work hard for our money…just like you. so, grow up!

• Barista
  April 29th, 2009
  12:41 pm
  
  

  Hey, I am a barista, and I’d like to let you know that we have ZERO control over what corporate does. Most of us would like to throttle the person who came up with “tall” as a small size as well, but what can we do? If you start heckling us for things out of our hands, it’s just retarded. We laugh at you behind your backs. It’s just as much fun trading douchebag customer stories as it is for you to be the douchebag customers.

• Marshal
  June 14th, 2009
  4:15 pm
  
  

  FYI, they don’t charge you for a tall when you ask for a small to make you pay more, they do it because a tall has the same ounces as a standard small anywhere else. You can only get a short if you order hot drinks, and it’s only offered because when someone orders a solo, dopio, tripio or quad(which are shots of espresso) they come in a short cup. Also, I don’t use solo, dopio, tripio or quad to sound snoody, they’re used because a double-shot is an actual drink.

  IIRC, the correct calling order is size, shot numbers, dairy type(as well as wet, dry, extra foam, no foam, etc), flavoring syrup, drink, and then customizers(whip, drizzle, etc), but I can’t remember for sure. Also, if it’s not the standard, everything isn’t called out. If you order a venti vanilla latte, the barista will just call a venti vanilla latte, but if you order a venti skinny half calf vanilla latte, they’ll call venti skinny half calf vanilla latte. If you look at the back of your cup it has the little boxes that get labeled and they’re on there in the order they’re ‘supposed’ to be called to make it easier on the Barista.

  I did want to say that 99% of the time when a Barista corrects you or asks an insane amount of questions it’s because we want to make sure you get exactly what you ask for. For example if someone just asks for a medium chai, the barista will usually say “Did you want a grande hot chai tea, or a grande chai latte” because a hot chai tea is done with a teabag and is just tea and water, and a chai latte is chai concentrate with steamed milk and water, so it’s a big difference, and because it’s a hot drink grande is read back to make sure it is a grande the customer wants since both are available in short because they’re both hot drinks.

  And in case anyone was wondering, there really isn’t a way to ‘torment’ a barista. Most of us are pretty sarcastic and find people asking for a pepsi or a short frappucino funny. Also, when we apologize for something, we usually mean it. Starbuck’s drills it into us to be the BEST customer service employees in the industry so we get two weeks of training, and a large part of that is seeing everything from a customer’s point of view.

  And don’t forget to tip! We need it! The hourly wages aren’t great when you start, but all of the benefits you get make up for it, so the tips are always really appreciated. In fact when we do get someone who tips we usually genuinely thank them and then let everyone know “That guy just tipped us” and we remember that for the next time they come in.

• Patja
  January 9th, 2010
  1:33 pm
  
  

  Dumb people. You don´t like Starbucks, but you are still enlarging their profit. You too alow this company to grow and build new branches all over the world. And there they go! Destroy one hundred years old caffe in the heart of Prague and make it a Starbucks coffee. Great. Go to hell.

• Jessica
  May 7th, 2010
  8:42 am
  
  

  I am a starbucks employee and I don’t care whether people say tall or small. It doesn’t bother me at all. And our job is not as easy as you think. Not only do we have to remember all the drinks, but there’s a lot of cleaning involved. For those who think our jobs are easy, I would love for you to be on bar during 10am on a Friday morning, I’m sure your opinion would be changed. I just want you to know I work hard for my paycheck and I try to keep customers happy, and I really do appreciate your tips, it helps with gas money. Starbucks is great, they work with my college schedule and I’ve met some pretty cool people. Oh and the short size, we mostly use those cups for kids drinks and espresso shots. And the short is not much cheaper than a tall, I like short only because it’s the same amount of caffine just less milk so it’s stronger and you can drink it faster.

• anonymous
  July 13th, 2010
  4:07 pm
  
  

  I work at Starbucks. I don’t care what order you say your drink in! I’d like you to start with size, so I can write it down, but I’m not too worried about it.

  But seriously.
  FUCK the person who said we don’t deserve tips. You have NO IDEA.
  We bust our ass for pennies, dealing with assholes like YOU, and you have the balls to say we don’t deserve tips? Are you fucking kidding? Come get through a morning rush with me. Then we’ll talk.

  The fact that you would title something “how to torment a starbucks employee” just confirmed your ticket to hell.

• 123456
  December 18th, 2010
  1:33 am
  
  

  Hey, anonymous! When Starbucks starts paying the equivalent of a server’s hourly wage (roughly $3, depending on the state), then we can talk about tipping.

  You’re reasons for why you deserve a tip apply to nearly all customer service jobs. By your reasoning, I need start tipping employees at The Gap

• 123456
  December 18th, 2010
  1:34 am
  
  

  Damnit, *your … before the internet grammar nazis jump on me

• Erin
  August 30th, 2011
  9:00 pm
  
  

  So I also work for starbucks as far as tips go I always see a tip cup at chiptole and I always tip. I leave my pennies to cashiers for there over short, I went to college and would rather be working at starbucks than be some lazy douche bag and collect unemployment because I feel a job is beneath me. Even if its not what I choose to do with the rest of my life it is still my job and I will do it to the best of my abilitiy I do not expect anyone to memorize the size of our drinks or the order they need to give me there drink in, thats my job I have dental, vision, a 401K and stock options which is way more than most people my age can say so make fun and stop hatin’ cuz u outa work

• me
  September 8th, 2011
  2:01 pm
  
  

  if you have so much issue with with the order in which the barista says your drink perhaps you should stop being so damn picky and keep it simple!..we’re just doing our job! just like how you’re most likely heading to your job after you stop in to judge and chide us. you call us coffee snobs…what are you then for coming into the place and ordering something like a Venti quad 3 pump sugar free vanilla nonfat xhot no water no foam add whip cream at 146 degrees chai latte?? you really think that’s NOT being a snob? really??? I’d like to challenge any of the customers to get up at 3:30 in the morning to come in at 4:30, clean, and prep for a day of pretending to be friendly and perky to a bunch of grumpy, miserable people…you think the job’s a breeze..then come on and give it a try

• sbux7164
  September 8th, 2011
  3:01 pm
  
  

  There is an order to which you should order any drink due to the old school method of the variegation marking the cups. You can see the the correct wayto order actually listed on your cup it starts from top to bottom. First obviously you should state the size of the drink due to the fact its what will get you’re whole drink startedfor instance say I wanted a Grande…I would start my orderwith that. The first box on the cup is decaf..if you don’t want decaf skip this section and move on but if you prefer decaf state this after the size. Next box is shots the tall=1SHOT grande=2SHOTS &u the Venti also gets 2SHOTS if you want more than the standard then state how many you would like total. Ex. 1=one 2=slumber 3=triple 4=quad. After that it is the syrup box obviously state the flavor you would like if no flavor skip this step and move on. Thenext box is milk if you prefer soy,nonfat, or whole milk you will have to state that in your order because 2%I is the standard. Next is accustom box ..if you want to add/remove whip cream ir change the temperature, add extra caramel or have your drink stirred or made upside down etc…. the lastly you would state your actual drink … I’ve provided an example below that fills all boxes on the cup.

  Ex. I want a medium sized mocha that is made with 1extra shot if espresso that is also decaf but I want only 2pumps of mochaand I want soy milk with no whip cream. It’s usually made too hot so I want it at a lesser temperature this example ill make it 130°is rather than the 150°standard its usuallymade at so I would order this as follows:

  *Grande Decaf Triple Two Pump Soy No Whip 130° Mocha.

  That would be a standard correct way to order but I am a barista currently for Starbucks and I could care less how you order it as long as you don’t forget anything lol im even downd with the whole small medium large thing. Starbucks provides the opportunity to pretend like you’re hugh class snob but I know we’re all real people and I don’t expect everyone to order this way and as a barista I should be helping you figure out what you want not the other way around. Our job is to make you’re coffee ordering experience easy. Afterall who want s to start their day out by arguing with someone about their coffee lol. So although this is the correct way ti place an order please feel free to order it to the best of your ability we’re here to help you with the rest. Love you guys take care.

  Ps. Im on a phone with auto correct so I apologize for any grammatical issues including words that don’t make sense in the sentence lol it does that lol.

• thatonebarista
  October 20th, 2011
  2:55 pm
  
  

  hey everyone.
  calm down.
  those who are immature, will be immature. there’s no helping it. the baristas are generally easy-going, happy-go-lucky people who respect you whether you respect them or not. the few who aren’t always chatting with you, have just been there long enough to see that you don’t respect them back (directed at those who know they don’t respect hard workers). the reason many baristas choose to work at starbucks rather than any other shop is for the human connection, because the baristas would -like- to get to know you; they would -like- to serve you. those chatty smiling baristas– they -want- to make your day better. they -want- to give you something to start your day. they -want- to see you smile. if dissing them is what makes you happy, they may mind for a second… but then the next customer steps up to say hi. and then it all goes away and they’re there to serve -happily- again.
  yes, there are the few who are disenchanted by the growth focus that caused the starbucks market downfall in ’07-’08, inciting the book “Onward” by the ceo of starbucks, and they work for the paycheck and because they are talented in perfecting your drink. they don’t need to talk to you or to make your day seem better. but that doesn’t stop them from working hard for you. perhaps you should try ‘tormenting’ the kind of people who dont try for you. i guarantee the baristas at starbucks are not included in those.
  try for them, because (even if they don’t seem like it) they try for you, and it breaks their hearts to not see it show in your face every day.

• Sam C
  October 27th, 2011
  12:43 pm
  
  

  You guys finding ways to torment baristas is one reason why I quit working for starbucks.

  Honestly, if I didn’t need the money, I wouldn’t have worked there for 5 years. They pay decent, and tips is what pays for my bus fare to and from work. If you guys think all we do is pour coffee, then that’s your problem. But I spent 5 years cleaning up after your kids, cleaning your toilets, and making sure that NO ONE spits in your drink because you pull immature stunts like these.

  I honestly couldn’t care how you called your drink to us, we correct because we’re told to, and we do it so we can keep our jobs. I never once gave attitude except for when someone threatened to get me fired because I didn’t wipe her table down when I was the only one on the floor ringing up and making drinks for customers.

  If you’re getting attitude, then report them. Or better yet, go somewhere else. People who give attitude shouldn’t be working there, and I doubt there’s anyone else that will deal with that bullshit.

  I have worked at worse jobs than these, that pay even less, yes. But I have never before dealt with a more difficult customer base. Someone who wants 1/2 a splenda in their latte, or wants us to put cream and sugar in their coffee (when there’s a condiment bar to do it yourself) and then complains that we did it wrong.

  Really, it’s your fault for spending close to $5 for something you can get at McDonald’s for half the price. You’re paying for the brand, and that’s all there is to it. I’ve been called a bitch because people holding their money out of their windows gets their bills blown away by the wind. And mind you, this was in an “upscale” neighborhood.

  Also keep in mind that we’re not fucking stupid. I know people who have masters degrees in mathematics and work at starbucks because it’s impossible to find a job.

  Seriously, shame on you all, for tormenting people who are serving things you’re about to consume, and just want a day’s work. Let’s just hope your kids don’t have to deal with the humiliation and degradation from people like you when they’re just trying to be an honest person who works for their money.

• Paul
  November 8th, 2011
  7:14 pm
  
  

  Hey, y’all. I’m a Starbucks barista and I find most of this utterly insulting! I’m in school and trying to make ends meet and can barely do that. I have several regular customers who invite me to hang out and tell me about their personal happenings – my dearest customer had her grandmother pass away last week and confided in me. We’re not snobs, we’re just blue collar workers. We’re blue collar works who are – mostly – trying to better our lives. And don’t forget that we’re the ones behind the counter and serving you your hot beverage. My partners and I often feed free espresso shots, flavors, and even free full drinks to customers that are genuine to us.

  And 123456 – as far as your comment on tips, I work in Oregon. There is no different minimum wage for restaurant servers. When I started at Starbucks, I was making $8.50 plus my measly $1.40/hour of tips while restaurant servers were making $8.50 plus their pockets full of tips.

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