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Practical coffee know-how, equipment notes, recipes and everyday stories from behind the bar.
Latest stories
10 publishedThis straw won't fit into the cup
It is interesting to see people trying to put round straws through the narrower rectangular drink holes of the strawless lids.
Read article →Do you accept the Greggs app?
Do we accept the Greggs App... in Starbucks?!
Read article →Choregraphed Ordering Procedure
A practiced dance routine just to order a Starbucks? At a coffee shop you get your regulars and what really blows my mind is quite a number have their own premeditated ordering procedure venturing from a specific over-rehearsed script such as spending 4 minutes wasting my time acting like they are reading the menu acting interested about other drinks before abruptly shouting "latte" or "flat white" all the way to a very much a dance routine with precision choreography.
Read article →Starbucks is not self-service
This highlights an interesting customer attitude I have observed whilst being a barista. Some people buy into the Starbucks marketing and have faith in our abilities (even when we are new to the job) including doing the seemingly impossible while others see you as a problem, a liability, an obstacle in their way.
Read article →Flirt to Order
Since becoming a barista I have never been flirted so much on in my life at work but the weird part is most of the flirting isn't natural from an outgoing person as their language construct but an added layer which feels a little forced and unnecessary.
Read article →NO! You won't have my name. I will keep an eye on you
when asked for a name he shouted "No" so I look down to type in NO on the POS, raise my head to reassure the customer that its okay you don't need to give one... only to see him storming out like a bull in a china shop. Everybody stunned
Read article →We have no ice. No matter the drink.
Something which baffles me a lot is the amount of people that aren't aware that Frappes and Refreshas require ice too.
Read article →Americanism Expectations: "Have A Nice Day"
I do not use this phrase at all, as it comes across as insincere and potentially triggering to someone that is having a terrible day. Sometimes I can tell customers leave annoyed when they realise I haven't said the phrase they expected me to.
Read article →Disappearing customers that return after their drink has spoilt
A customer ordered two regular Mocha Frappichinos, waiting and watching whilst measuring out the milk and including the relevant ingredients into the pitcher, but by the time the Vita-mix blender has finished and drinks completed, I turn around to find the customer has vanished.
Read article →Why you treat me like a Second Class citizen?
A rude aggressive customer ordered a Black Americano, was very annoyed at being asked for a name, but worse was to come. On his drink being made and called out at the hand-off area, he was really unhappy that the drink wasn't given to him at the till area where he ordered.
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