Starbucks Barista

Starbucks Barista

Green Siren

Central, TX

Female, 26

After working all day in a cubicle, I'd spend my nights as your friendly, neighborhood Starbucks barista! I remembered your name, made each drink exactly to your specifications and did it all with a bright smile. I've served celebrities, worked both drive thru & cafe stores, worked every holiday and have kept the customers from knowing about all the craziness that goes on behind the scenes... until now. Ask me anything.

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164 Questions

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Last Answer on June 12, 2016

Best Rated

Have you or any of your coworkers ever hit on or propositioned a customer?

Asked by Jenny over 11 years ago

Yes, all the time and both directions. However I only went out on a date with a customer once.

How do "weekly tips" work? I've heard from some people the tips people give aren't given directly to the barista

Asked by Just curious! over 10 years ago

In my store, tips were bagged and dropped in the safe every day and at the end of the week, one of the shift managers would count them and divide them. Starbucks had a recording process for it so that no one got screwed. Then she would split our tips into individual bags, put them into the safe, and we'd have to request them from the shift manager on duty.

So yes, they aren't given directly to the barista immediately, it took awhile, but I always got them.

I can never decide on what I want when I get to go to Starbucks. Any advice on how to never feel like what you got was not the best thing for you on the menu?

Asked by 123 about 11 years ago

You have a lot of options, and you really have to know what's best for you. If you want milk, get a milk based drink (latte, cappucino, frappucino). If you want a lot of caffeine, get a cup of regular drip coffee and add an espresso shot. If you like sweet, get something with a lot of syrup in it or add more (trust me, we've seen 24 pumps of syrup before so it's not going to freak us out).

Starbucks has such a wide variety of customers, it's hard to suggest something. I'm more than happen to recommend but I don't know anything about you... Do you like/hate paricular flavors? What do you usually drink from restaurants or pick up at the grocery store?

Some of my personal favorites aside from straight tea or coffee (keep in mind I dislike too much sweet): a steamed soy milk, hazelnut white mocha (1 h, 1 wm), coconut creme frappucino, passion tea lemonade (no syrup) and I really like the Refreshers (no syrup)

Also reference http://starbuckssecretmenu.net/ to see if there is any drink in there you like. However, DON'T ask for it by the name on the "secret menu" (really, there isn't a secret menu that Sbux maintains, I still have no clue what a Double Dalmation or a Fruity Pebbles is) and just order it by the listed ingredients. Example:

For the Mexican Hot Chocolate (http://starbuckssecretmenu.net/mexican-hot-chocolate-starbucks-secret-menu/), order a hot chocolate with soy milk, 1 pump mocha, 1 pump white chocolate mocha, 1 pump cinnamon dolce and add cinnamon powder yourself. (I'm pretty sure it's Starbucks policy not to add any powders while steaming milk).

can a 14 year old get hired? if so, how much would they get paid?

Asked by help! almost 11 years ago

I've answered this question before, please read the other Q&A questions. Thanks!

What are the health benefits you get as a part time employee? (details will be highly appreciated)

Thank you !

Asked by Piper over 11 years ago

Sorry it's been almost two years since I worked there and no longer have access to the documents. Additionally, I believe the health benefits may have changed with the Affordable Care Act.

Hello, Green
I applied for some stores but when I call to verify my application, the manager tells him he did not receive it even though the websites confirms that it had been submitted to that particular store. Is he indirectly saying sorry no jobs?

Asked by 152689 about 11 years ago

Probably. I think most managers only access the applications when they need people, and if they don't need to hire anyone he wouldn't have accessed the applications. Unfortunately that's the only way to apply, but he should receive your application as soon as he's ready to hire!

My question is similar to luongosucks. I'm in college and have no experience in customer service but would like to work for Starbucks. What can I do to get hired? Is networking an asset to get the job? Thanks!

Asked by Naslund19 almost 11 years ago

I think the first part of your question has been answered previously but I'll answer it again just to make sure. Getting hired at Starbucks is like getting hired at another customer service job, if you have good people skills and, in Starbucks case, prioritization skills and a specific store needs you, you'll probably be hired. Now, the specific store needs are the problem. Most stores only hire 3-4 times per year and received hundreds or thousands of applications. If you are a student and can work nights, apply to a store that is open late. Starbucks has a minimum of 4 hour shifts so you need to have AT LEAST 4 hours available from when you can get to the store after class. I worked one job until 5 pm, then worked at Starbucks from 5:30-close most nights. Also, weekend availability helps. The longer-term staff is going to get the better hours, so you have to be willing to work the crappy hours until you've been there awhile. Also they probably won't be willing to hire and train you for you to only stick around for 2-3 months, so if you're willing to stay longer you have a better chance.

TLDR; Matching available hours + people skills = hired

As far as networking, it depends on the store. Some store managers will ask the opinion of the other baristas and managers, others won't.

I'd probably go into the store you want to work at and, especially if you are already friends with the staff, ask them about their manager. Does s/he like to have an applicant come in check on their app? Does s/he ask for others opinions when hiring? This is heavily dependent on the individual SM. I've said before, mine really diskliked when people dropped in and she definitely did not ask her staff for opinions. Other SMs are very different, but best you can do is ask the people who work at the store you want to be at.

It already REALLY helps if you actually know the baristas. I'd have people ask me questions about getting hired, applying, etc all the time, which is fine, but I was more likely to make the effort to find out the answer for someone I already knew and liked rather than some John Doe off the street I'd never met before.