I have recently embarked on a new journey which consists of coffee, coffee beans, coffee grounds, and a whole bunch more coffee! It's been a funny transition going from school, to working at Starbucks. Last month, I was able to sleep in until 9, relax at the house, keep it clean, cook dinner, and then just spend time with my hubby. Now, I may be up at 3:00 am to get to work by 4:00, and then be in bed by 8:00 pm to do it all over again the next morning. Sometimes I'm even lucky enough to sleep in until 5:15am to be at work by 6:00 am. For some reason, I really don't mind this type of schedule. Either it's the fact that I get to smell the incredible aroma of coffee beans all day, or I'm just weird like that!
So let me tell you, I have learned so much about barista's, starbucks, coffee, and CUSTOMERS let me tell ya. This blog is for every one of you wonderful people that like to enjoy your local Starbucks or any other coffee shop. Just a little bit of an overview for you, if you are wondering why your coffee might not be done in exactly one minute, or why the foam is a little less dense than normal.
Training takes A LOT of work! There are so many little things to learn, that seem so simple from the outside, yet as you are learning, you are also WORKING, like most other jobs I would assume.
Here are just a few suggestions for you....
Be nice. Please. It's really only a cup of coffee, or tea, or lemonade. It's not your new mac book, or the meds you've been waiting for to curb your anxiety. It's COFFEE. It's supposed to be ENJOYABLE. What an interesting mix there might I add. If you've got anxiety, should you really be downing a cut of caffeine to add to your already nervous system? Oh well, I do!
Be friendly, even if you don't feel like talking. Just say hi maybe?
Be understanding when the person taking your order has to ask you a few questions after you have spewed out your most complicated drink in under 2 seconds. It's quite difficult to pick up what you are layin down when mumbling occurs.
Be patient. Those headphones barista's wear actually have voices coming thru, letting them know if there is a sandwich that needs to be thrown into the oven, or a million other things that I won't even begin to get into for your sake.
When you are going through the drive thru, please oh please be friendly. I know you are typically in a hurry, but I promise you, we aren't sitting on stools sipping coffee inside. We are actually running around like crazy making sure every drink is getting done correctly and efficiantly. Your drink is a comin! You would be surprised how often the case is that the person that ordered before you, actually ordered 6 complicated drinks, which takes the one or two people on the bar a little longer to make.
Finally, just breathe...
Starbucks, and every other coffee shop is about enjoying the culture. It's about enjoying that wonderful cup of coffee, and taking a moment out of your day to breathe and treat yourself. I totally understand what it's like when you are running late but you HAVE to have that cup of joe. But maybe, just maybe, you should spend a little less time bumming around on facebook when you should have been leaving the house. I can listen to my own advice, I am ashamed to say...
You know what is funny about this quirky little post? I love my job at Starbucks. I actually do! I really enjoy working fast and doing a million different things at once. When I have a few minutes to breathe, I'm actually a little unsure of what I should do if the cleaning is done. Time flies when you are going, going, going, getting a break, and then going again until your shift is over. Really, I love my job, and I enjoy the people I work with, and the friendly customers that come into our busy...700 customers a day....Starbucks.
So tomorrow when you run in before work to get that cup of coffee, remember, IT'S ONLY COFFEE!
So let me tell you, I have learned so much about barista's, starbucks, coffee, and CUSTOMERS let me tell ya. This blog is for every one of you wonderful people that like to enjoy your local Starbucks or any other coffee shop. Just a little bit of an overview for you, if you are wondering why your coffee might not be done in exactly one minute, or why the foam is a little less dense than normal.
Training takes A LOT of work! There are so many little things to learn, that seem so simple from the outside, yet as you are learning, you are also WORKING, like most other jobs I would assume.
Here are just a few suggestions for you....
Be nice. Please. It's really only a cup of coffee, or tea, or lemonade. It's not your new mac book, or the meds you've been waiting for to curb your anxiety. It's COFFEE. It's supposed to be ENJOYABLE. What an interesting mix there might I add. If you've got anxiety, should you really be downing a cut of caffeine to add to your already nervous system? Oh well, I do!
Be friendly, even if you don't feel like talking. Just say hi maybe?
Be understanding when the person taking your order has to ask you a few questions after you have spewed out your most complicated drink in under 2 seconds. It's quite difficult to pick up what you are layin down when mumbling occurs.
Be patient. Those headphones barista's wear actually have voices coming thru, letting them know if there is a sandwich that needs to be thrown into the oven, or a million other things that I won't even begin to get into for your sake.
When you are going through the drive thru, please oh please be friendly. I know you are typically in a hurry, but I promise you, we aren't sitting on stools sipping coffee inside. We are actually running around like crazy making sure every drink is getting done correctly and efficiantly. Your drink is a comin! You would be surprised how often the case is that the person that ordered before you, actually ordered 6 complicated drinks, which takes the one or two people on the bar a little longer to make.
Finally, just breathe...
Starbucks, and every other coffee shop is about enjoying the culture. It's about enjoying that wonderful cup of coffee, and taking a moment out of your day to breathe and treat yourself. I totally understand what it's like when you are running late but you HAVE to have that cup of joe. But maybe, just maybe, you should spend a little less time bumming around on facebook when you should have been leaving the house. I can listen to my own advice, I am ashamed to say...
You know what is funny about this quirky little post? I love my job at Starbucks. I actually do! I really enjoy working fast and doing a million different things at once. When I have a few minutes to breathe, I'm actually a little unsure of what I should do if the cleaning is done. Time flies when you are going, going, going, getting a break, and then going again until your shift is over. Really, I love my job, and I enjoy the people I work with, and the friendly customers that come into our busy...700 customers a day....Starbucks.
So tomorrow when you run in before work to get that cup of coffee, remember, IT'S ONLY COFFEE!
