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Any job is difficult if you care about its outcome. But not every worker has to hear about it from customers. Baristas are one of the "lucky" ones that do.
As Gowri Chandra has beautifully put it, we Americans worship at the altar of craft coffee, reveling in its complexity and revering its art form. But we've still managed to commodify the very people who make it: the baristas. So if we believe in the artistry of baristas — and it looks like we do — why are we treating them as unskilled, expendable labor?
From everything baristas are posting online about their job, it's clear that we, the clients, are the main cause of their headaches. Of course, they have other problems too, but probably none can screw up their day as we do. Continue scrolling to learn what trials and tribulations await baristas every single day, and who knows, maybe if their confessions get plenty of attention, people will be kinder to them? Let's hope so.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
A Really Good Mask Sign
All of these experiences might seem scary and really demanding when you're just starting out. "Many service industry roles aren't full-time, which often means you're ineligible for most employer-sponsored benefits," former Starbucks barista Mekita Rivas explained. "Calling out sick can have negative consequences in the workplace, especially one where you can't just 'work from home.'"
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#2
It’s Called Etiquette
However, the job can also prepare you for the future. Now, Rivas is balancing a full-time day job, a growing freelance business, relationships with loved ones, as well as her other needs and goals. That sounds like a lot, but she said it's within her energy levels. "Although working my way through school was challenging, my hustle is what got me my degree," she said.
That job has helped her understand that 'work-life balance' means whatever you want it to. "It's whatever makes you feel comfortable and in control. I am still trying to decipher what that looks like for this chapter in my life, but I know I'm on my way to figuring it out."
#3
Every Peak At Least 5 Times
#4
Just A Reminder For Those Who’ve Forgotten That We Are Human Too
#5
Me When Peak Lasts My Whole Shift
#6
I Tried Hard To Cheer Up My Regular Karen And She Grabbed A Straw And Mixed My Little Art And Her Ungrateful Ass Said:i Dint Ask For No Stupid Drawing
#7
And Thats On Period
#8
Mental Health In The Workplace
#9
Just A Psa To The Customers:
#10
“You Need To Be Connecting With Every Customer At The Window!”
#11
Starbucks Employees Hate When You Scream Your Order At Them
#12
Every Store Has One (Or Several)
#13
Starbucks Employees Hate When You Hang Around Past Closing
#14
Karen Strikes Again!
What's In Your Head? 5 years ago
In all fairness, while this is true to some extent, it doesn't necessarily work that way. I can only speak for myself, but I have no desire to visit any stores on holidays. However, if they happen to be open, it might actually come in handy sometimes and I might drop by. I will definitely feel sorry for the person working, but they are not open because I MUST shop there on said holiday. They are open because their asshat boss wants to scrape in some extra dough, even if there are hardly any customers.
#15
Do You Have Any Regulars That You Just Look At And You’re Instantly Annoyed?
#16
Interesting
#17
Just Dropping By With This
#18
Starbucks Employees Hate When You Launch Into A Completely One-Sided Order
#19
Psa
Katy McMouse 5 years ago
Ya know what's fast and easy? Setting the timer on your coffee pot. *gasp*
#20
Sundays Really Be Like That Tho
#21
Tbh
#22
Just Gonna Leave This Here
Out of chocolate 5 years ago
Yup. It definitely is. It’s almost like workers need better pay and more protection.
#24
Forgot The Extra Drizzle.
#25
When Customers Ask For Something Like This
#26
I Just Want To Know What Size 😞
#27
When You're In The Back Doing Dishes, But You Have To Go Out And Greet A Customer:
#28
Just Received This From Corporate In Regards To Covid-19
#29
Psa: Please Don’t Leave Stuff Like This In The Tip Jar. Politics Aside, It’s A Really Childish And Insulting Gesture. Thank You
#30
Opening Be Like This
#31
Im So Sorry
#32
It Can Happen To The Best Of Us
#33
This Is How It Feels To Work At Starbucks Sometimes...
Monty Is Fiennes 5 years ago
This is how it feels to work long term at any food establishment where you order at the counter....
#34
Here’s For The Lady Today Who Hadn’t Even Paid Me Yet And Said “I’m Glad Your Coworkers Are Having Such A Great Conversation, But They Need To Get Started On My Drink Because I’m In A Rush”
Bob Belcher 5 years ago
Truth. Why can't people just wake up 5 minutes earlier or hurry up in the morning if they k ow they want to stop somewhere.
#35
What It’s Been Like Working In Dt With Cafe Closed
#36
Welcome To My Ted Talk
troufaki13 5 years ago
But sometimes, exactly because it's free, they totally ignore you and never give you that glass of water. Sometimes I order it like 10 times before I get it.
#37
When A Customer Is Rude But Leaves A $5 Tip
#38
Dear Customers, This Is What Happens When You Reach Around The Shields To Help Yourself. Please Stop.
#39
Why
#40
When You Both Open And Close Regularly
#41
Starbucks: *removes Vanilla From Hot Chocolate Recipe* Me:
#42
Insert Interesting Title Here
Monty Is Fiennes 5 years ago
See: The other person/shop/outlet/manager does it for me....they are all lying.....
#43
Amy = John
#45
Me Everyday At Work Like:
Haunting Spirit 5 years ago
That's because the people do feel sorry for walking over the just cleaned floor.
#46
Just Had A Customer Walk In, Order A Trenta Passion Tango Lemonade With 32 Pumps Of Liquid Cane, And Proceed To Count The Pumps Out Loud As I Made Said Drink, Staring Me Down The Whole Time And Warning Me Not To Do Half Pumps.
Foxxy (The Original) 5 years ago
The first part of the sentence is like it’s in a totally different language.
#47
Thought Y’all Might Appreciate This
#48
When A Customer Dumps Some Of Their Coffee Into The Trash Can
#49
Me Trying To Make “Customer Connections”
Amanda Sherland 5 years ago
I really hate the small talk while I'm waiting. It's like, come on lady we both know you don't care about the weather or what I'm doing today.
#51
When You’ve Been Open For 2 Seconds And Someone Orders A Venti Caramel Frappuccino At 5am
#52
👀 Interesting
#53
Me At The Grocery Store Register, Realizing I’m Not Wearing Any Starbucks Garb, Leading People To Believe I Am Buying All The Milk They Had For My Own Private Weirdo Milk Party
#55
How It Feels To Work Here Sometimes
#56
Mood!
#57
Oof There Go My Feels
Julius Martin 5 years ago
the sad thing is this is completely true, i've worked at Starbucks for 3 years, i sel an average of 315$ worth of coffee and hour(busy location) and i make 10.15 an hour, 55 hours a WEEK
#58
Mood
#59
That Is One Unique Drink Order My Guy
#60
This Is Me When “Baby... Why Don’t You Just Meet Me In The Middle” Starts Playing For The 7th Time Of The Day
#61
“Why Are You Putting Water In That? I Got A Frappuccino??” “This Is An Americano For Susan, Sir”
Call Me Mars 5 years ago
I do this, but I am curious. Sorry to anyone who thinks I look like a creep while doing that!
#62
Coming Home After A Long Day Of Being A Bubbly Barista
#63
When They Tell You “I Wanted That Iced”, But It Was A Mobile Order
#64
When You Look Up From Making Drinks
#65
When You're On Bar During Peak And A Frapp Sticker Print That Says Item 1 Of 10
#67
Thought This Was Funny
#68
I Mean 🤷🏻♀️
#69
Barely Even An Exaggeration Tbh
pusheen buttercup 5 years ago
Starbucks should really change their menu layout, make it a bit easier for the tired and caffeine starved. The company is practically asking the customers to yell at people. (Of course you shouldn't yell at anyone, especiallyyyy not the barista! Go yell at the ceo. He approved that long menu)
#70
It Can't Just Be My Store...
CrunChewy McSandybutt 5 years ago
Off topic, but I just realized that Spongebob has no nipples. Then again, why would he?
#73
Underpaid And Understaffed Why Not Have A Happy Hour
#74
Starbucks Employees Hate When You Stare At Them Like A Coffee-Making Zoo Animal
#76
When You’re Trying To Make Customers Connections But Customers Interrupt You With Their Order
pusheen buttercup 5 years ago
Management wants "connection." Actual customers are tired and cranky, otherwise they would not need coffee. :)
#77
Starbucks Employees Hate When You Act Like You're The Only Black Coffee Drinker Left In The World:
#78
Me Talking To A Green Bean vs. Me Talking To A Fellow Shift
#79
Mary, Sharon, Lisa, And Katie Getting Ready To Call Corporate Because They Didn’t Get A Reusable Red Cup Today
#80
Starbucks Employees Hate When You Don't Specify That You Wanted Something Iced And Act Like It's Their Fault
#84
How It Be
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Call Me Mars 5 years ago
I posted the same thing above, but I am soo sorry to any baristas out there who think I am being creepy by looking. I am just curious about how you make stuff. Sorry!
Petra Schaap 5 years ago
yes! I get my coffee at home by slapping in a pod and pushing one button, so, very interesting to watch a barista :-D
Load More Replies...
Ola Polowczyk 5 years ago
It doesn't cost you anything to be nice (or at least not rude) to the retail workers or baristas or waiters/waitresses. They provide us with service and without them we wouldn't be able to drink fancy-schmancy coffees or eat our fav fast food. The world is a shitty place, let's not make it shittier.
Data1001 5 years ago
I used to work at a very busy Starbucks in a major city. A lot of these entries remind me of a few "bad apple" co-workers, who had little (or zero) tolerance for dealing with less-than-perfect customers. Most of the rest of us, though, knew it was our job to grin and bear it. This was specifically something that the company worked hard to develop in all their stores, making it a safe and comfortable space that people would want to spend time in. Granted, not all businesses stress this, and a lot of the issues stem from a trickle-down effect from horrid managers. My own take was that I had the opportunity to turn that surly customer's day around, not just by providing them with the product they wanted, but by my attitude. You can control how an awful lot of interactions go by being confident, compassionate, and by trying to get a sense of where the other person was coming from. Sometimes this meant adjusting my own pace or my own energy to match theirs, while conversing with them.
Call Me Mars 5 years ago
I posted the same thing above, but I am soo sorry to any baristas out there who think I am being creepy by looking. I am just curious about how you make stuff. Sorry!
Petra Schaap 5 years ago
yes! I get my coffee at home by slapping in a pod and pushing one button, so, very interesting to watch a barista :-D
Load More Replies... Ola Polowczyk 5 years ago
It doesn't cost you anything to be nice (or at least not rude) to the retail workers or baristas or waiters/waitresses. They provide us with service and without them we wouldn't be able to drink fancy-schmancy coffees or eat our fav fast food. The world is a shitty place, let's not make it shittier.
Data1001 5 years ago
I used to work at a very busy Starbucks in a major city. A lot of these entries remind me of a few "bad apple" co-workers, who had little (or zero) tolerance for dealing with less-than-perfect customers. Most of the rest of us, though, knew it was our job to grin and bear it. This was specifically something that the company worked hard to develop in all their stores, making it a safe and comfortable space that people would want to spend time in. Granted, not all businesses stress this, and a lot of the issues stem from a trickle-down effect from horrid managers. My own take was that I had the opportunity to turn that surly customer's day around, not just by providing them with the product they wanted, but by my attitude. You can control how an awful lot of interactions go by being confident, compassionate, and by trying to get a sense of where the other person was coming from. Sometimes this meant adjusting my own pace or my own energy to match theirs, while conversing with them.
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