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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Last Answer on June 12, 2016

Best Rated

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! almost 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.

Hello,
Can you tell me in details how much tips $$$ you average per day or per hour working at starbucks???
Are they a BIG PLUS?
Thank you so much.

Asked by Ash21 over 10 years ago

I got about $20 per week... about $1 per hour worked. Definitely not a BIG PLUS but enough to be useful.

I am 15 and 1/2 and want to work as a starbucks barista. Am I too young to apply or will they hire at 15?

Asked by Nawa almost 10 years ago

This question has been answered ad naseum.

Please note: If you do not read all the questions answered and ask me one that has been asked over and over, I will delete it. That means I will delete anymore questions that say "I am X age, will Starbucks hire me?"

For the last time, this is entirely dependent on your state and availability. If your state says that a 15 year old can legally work, then Starbucks may hire you. If you are available the necessary hours, then Starbucks may hire you. It's unlikely because as a 15 year old and I assume high school student, you will have limited work hours due to class and curfews. Older workers do not have those restrictions and can work full time.

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

Thank you !

Asked by Piper over 10 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.

Can you describe a basic day for you at Starbucks? From open to close? what you have to do in terms of cleaning etc the procedure

Asked by ALexa about 10 years ago

It depends on what shift you are... opening, mid and closing shifts all have different tasks. Since I mostly worked closing shifts, I'll talk about that one.

Usually upon arrival my shift manager would have me do a "spin," or to a quick touch up of the entire store. Then depending on where I was needed most, she'd put me on either bar or register. While we still had three people working, at a certain point I'd either be sent to deep clean the bathrooms or start to break down all the dishes that needed to be washed, and wash them. Once the dishes were washed one of the two baristas was usually sent home and 5-10 minutes before close the remaining one would pack up the pastries that were still good and throw out the expired ones. Finally, once the store closed one person would sweep and mop the floor, clean and set up the condiment bar for the following day, prep all the materials for the openers (measure out coffee, put tea bags into containers, etc) while the person on bar would clean the machine, set the clean cycle and prep the bar area for the openers (enough lids out, fill the espresso machines, etc).

Generally as a closer my job was to make sure a) we served customers to the best of our ability, b) the store was as clean as it could possibly be and c) we left the store in top condition for the openers to make their lives a little easier.

What celebrities have you served and what was it like?

Asked by Anonymous over 10 years ago

I've served a lot of celebrities between all the coffee shops I worked at. Most of them are absolutely just like everyone else, I wouldn't even have known they were famous except a coworker either knew them or recognized them. My favorite was Kristin Kreuk when filming Smallville, she was the most down-to-earth person!

I've also had celebrities (who shall remain nameless) demand certain privileges. When I refused one that wasn't allowed in my state due to hygeine standards, he said, "Well they let me do that in LA this morning." I reminded him that we weren't in LA and I worked out a way to solve his problem without breaking hygeine regulations. I didn't realize he was famous either until a co-worker pointed it out. Oops.

So, for the most part celebrities are people too and most of them don't act like it... but sometimes they do! Although, a lot of Starbucks customers make the same outlandish requests as celebrities...

What days of the week do you work? And how many hours? Also what would be the wages for a new barista?

Asked by Zaina over 9 years ago

It depends on your store, your state and your schedule. Personally, I worked 15-25 hours a week usually 5-6 days a week. My Starbucks was open 20 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you store is only open 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, your hours may differ.

The wage question has been asked and answered multiple times, please read the previous question.