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Practical coffee know-how, equipment notes, recipes and everyday stories from behind the bar.
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10 publishedWhen customers act and forget what they tried
Some customers put on silly accents when ordering and forget to keep going when asked follow up questions.
Read article →Pretend I paid Dance
Customers that try to get a free drink by assuming when the barista collect the cup and goes towards the coffee machine that we aren't going to know they haven't paid.
Read article →Don't lift your drink by the lid...
The inevitable result was the cup falling down at a slight angle and the contents spilling everywhere and splashing off surfaces. No apology. No sincerity. The customer found the entire situation hilarious as we rushed to contain and clear up the spill, remake his drink and two other drinks that were spoilt nearby, all whilst a busy queue of pending drinks awaited a group of customers that were time sensitive.
Read article →How much is that (unreachable) cup?
One thing you find as a barista is you will get time wasters:- either based upon the drinks menu (always end up ordering a flat white, latte or americano) or the Merch. You can detect them a mile off and you have to deal with it whilst not seeming too unhelpful, cold, or rude (not just to them but other observing customers that don't have context), but also signifying you aren't into playing games. This is one of those times.
Read article →Baristas are just like gum on a shoe?
I was polite and professional all the way through, why would he treat me in such a way?
Read article →You do his order first before mine, he is in a hurry
Customer hadn't even got the app open ready, instead having the email confirmation of the reservation. A good 30-40 seconds later, he finally swipes, I go get him a bag I have just assigned to him... and as a goodwill gesture I completed the POS parts of the transaction later saving him a couple of minutes (not to mention the queue was building).
Read article →Never Been to Starbucks Before
One interesting customer I had was when someone ordered a Strawberry Refresha. On asking whether he wanted it made with lemonade or water, he responded "I have never been to Starbucks before, this is my first time".
Read article →Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso with Cold Foam
Customer was ordering an Iced Brown Sugar Oat Shaken Espresso expecting it to come with Cold Foam as per her description. I advised her it doesn't come with it and before I could even suggest the upsell of adding it, the customer argued that she always has it that way from other Starbucks.
Read article →eXpresso
Everyday someone comes into Starbucks asking for an espresso pronounced expresso.
Read article →Take my order, I need my coffee
Not everybody understands the logistics behind the scenes and not everybody cares. There is something extraordinary about a customer that complains vocally about a barista refilling the coffee machine hopper with espresso beans to enable her to have her drink of coffee that she wishes to order, but is arrogant enough to insist her order is promptly taken and willing to argue afterwards instead of making that order which she claims she is in a rush for.
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