You’ve got your morning coffee, and your barista is smiling. But have you ever wondered what your Starbucks barista is ‘really’ thinking? While they’re busy crafting your perfect latte, there’s a lot they’re not telling you. It might be to do with secret menu hacks, or it could be some behind-the-scenes quirks. There’s always something. Here are 15 surprising things baristas wish you knew. Be alert on your next visit.
We Don’t Always Remember Your Name
It’s easy to think your barista knows you by name, but with so many orders every day, it’s hard (impossible) to remember everyone. Plus, have you heard how some of those names are pronounced? While we try our best, sometimes you’re just another order in a sea of names. Don’t take it personally. (Extra apologies if we spell your name wrong!)
Customizing Your Drink Takes Time
Sure, we’re happy to customize your drink, but have you seen how many skinny, frothy, latte, cappuccino, mochas we sell? Look, the more modifications you request, the longer it takes to prepare. If you’re in a rush, keep things simple so we can get your order to you faster. Don’t shout, it just makes us likely to spill it. (Accidentally on purpose)
We Have Our Own Secret Menu
Yes, there’s a secret menu. But did you know we have a barista’s secret menu too? No way! Some of us love experimenting with new flavors and combinations that aren’t on the official menu. Feel free to ask, and you might just stumble upon a hidden beauty. But be open to trying something different, not everyone likes the same flavor!
We Can’t Always Get Your Drink Exactly Right
Yes, we’re trained to make your drinks just as you like them, but some things aren’t in our control. Like the temperature of the milk or the flavor intensity. Okay, and once in a blue moon, we might just mess up and give you the wrong order. Just tell us and we’ll sort it. We’re human. We are not robots.
Know When You’re Trying to Be ‘Extra’
If you add a million toppings or make absurd modifications, it’s a bit time-consuming. It might seem fun to you, but it can slow things down and confuse the system. Most baristas appreciate it when you keep things manageable, and we’re more likely to get your order perfect that way. Plus, our system might implode if you add that 10 millionth extra.
We’re Trained to Handle Your Complaints
Whether your drink is too hot, too cold, or doesn’t taste right, we’re trained to fix it. Feel free to let us know, and we’ll make sure to correct it. Remember, kindness goes a long way; it’s a lot easier to help when you’re polite. Hurling your coffee cup at us will not make us happy. Take a seat and chill.
We’re Constantly Multitasking
While we’re making your drink, we’re also juggling a million other things. We’re taking orders, stocking supplies, delivering coffee to tables, cleaning, and trying to breathe. Be patient with us if we’re not immediately focused on you. We’re doing our best to get it right. We’re still smiling (genuinely, honestly!) all the time, too. And that’s exhausting.
We Don’t Always Have the Best ‘Perks’
While you might be enjoying your free birthday drink or rewards, don’t assume we get the same perks. We don’t. Us Starbucks employees often have to work their way through a system before we can enjoy any rewards, and those benefits don’t come automatically. We have to pay full price. Feeling sorry for us? Leave us a tip!
We Know What’s Trendy (And What’s Overhyped)
From the latest seasonal drinks to viral trends, we’ve seen it all. Some drinks are super popular, but that doesn’t mean they’re always the best. Baristas have their favorites and might even offer you an underrated option if you ask. In truth, you can’t beat some of the old classics. Sometimes it’s best to play it safe.
The Line Gets Chaotic, But We Try Our Best
During peak hours, it can get crazy behind the counter. The line might seem endless, but we’re doing our best to get everyone their drink as quickly as we can. Bear in mind that we need to take a minute to breathe as well. Sometimes we’re just trying to keep up with demand and keep our cool. And smile. Sweetly.
You’re Not the Only One Who Orders ‘Complicated’ Drinks
You might think your drink order is unique, but chances are, we’ve heard it a hundred times before. While customization is a personal choice and fun for you, we’ve mastered everything from ‘half-caf, extra hot, soy, no foam’ to ‘decaf venti pumpkin spice with almond milk.’ We’ve got you covered. Just.
We Don’t Judge Your Drink Choices
It doesn’t matter if you’re ordering the latest trend or sticking with a classic; we don’t judge you. We’ve seen it all, from extravagant orders to simple black coffee. Whatever your preference, we’re just here to make your day a little better with a great drink. So what if you want an extra skinny Americano with no sugar in sight? It’s all good. And easy!
We Make Mistakes, Too
We’re human, and sometimes orders get mixed up or things don’t go as planned. If something’s wrong, let us know, and we’ll happily fix it. We’re all about customer satisfaction and love making things right when we mess up. All we ask is that you’re cool about it. No drama necessary.
We Sometimes Spell Your Name Wrong
It’s become quite the joke that we sometimes spell your name wrong. But we’re not artificial intelligence, and we don’t always know how to spell names. If your name has too many consonants, we might just spell it how we hear it. Sadly, we don’t have the time to ask everyone to spell it out. We’d be here for a week!
We Love It When You Pay By Card
There’s nothing wrong with paying by cash, but if you hand us a ton of loose change, it slows everything down. Paying with your card means a quick contactless payment, and we can move on. Look, there’s no judgment here, but it helps us serve other customers if we can keep it speedy.
