Barista life

Dec 14, 2016 7:54 AM

Vestara

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84004

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1530

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121

To preface, I have been working in a small coffee shop/cafe for the last two years. It's been a wild ride and for the most part a really fun and great job. We're no Starbucks and only generate ~$700 a day in sales with two employees per day. We are located in a hospital although we are privately owned. I have the best boss, managers, and coworkers- sometimes the customers can be crazy. I'm leaving and had my last shift so needed a place to vent what I'm sure many other baristas experience.

Honestly, drinking black coffee is not impressive and lots of people do it. There are so many people that get offended when we ask if they want room for cream and start going off on long rants. Sorry for such an invasive and offensive question!!

Super happy to make drinks just the way customers like!! A few polite words exchanged before an order makes a world of a difference. It always catches me a little off guard when an order is spurted out before I can ask what they'd like or simply how they're doing.

A small half caff skinny caramel macchiato is a lot easier to say than "double in a 12 oz sugar free vanilla with caramel drizzle non fat milk half regular half decaf" all after a big breath and asking their friend if they're ready for how extra they are hahahaha

I can not tell you how many times people would try to blame me for them running late to a meeting/appointment/work that starts in 5 minutes. Sorry but if you can't manage your time don't put that on me!!

I honestly don't even have an explanation for this one, your guess is as good as mine.

We aren't Starbucks, as mentioned- they own that name. We have in huge bold letters "blended coffee shake" idk how the menu could be any clearer

If it was supposed to be yo lazy mouth would've told me to begin with especially because it is winter and 30 degrees outside sorry for not reading your mind

I fell your pain,working in retail should be a requirement for everyone at some point in their lives.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Are you.....are you Jimmy Carr?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Jimmy Carr is a barista?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I just can't agree with #3 I've worked food service before, and Ive been so depressed I couldn't be social. You can't demand that of ppl.

5 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I don't know why people saying someone is acting "extra" makes me so mad. I should just go back to yelling at clouds.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

#8 Guy asked for a blended Mocha. Came to pick it up. "This is a blended Mocha? Why is it cold?" The menu clearly states: Blended, with ice.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I worked at a non-starbucks, and the bitchy girls asking for "carmel fraps" were aids.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

When the hell was Jimmy Carr working at Starbucks?

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I skip all unnecessary words in the morning and just say what I want. Not trying to be an ass but I really just can't talk in the morning...

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

I agree with you. Also ordering makes me anxious so I'm repeating my order over and over in my head and it just blurts out. Also, half deaf

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

And that is perfectly fine. If I did morning shifts I'd barely say Hi too, all we ask is that you don't cut us off when we do say Hi.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Man, just walk in, ask for what you want, pay, and get out. Don't be a dick.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

What does acting 'extra' even mean?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

This post URL is beta as fuck.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

My dad has a cafe in a hospital too, and from experience working there i feel you

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I work part-time in a tea shop almost exactly the same size as this. The customers are a world of difference. It's honestly amazing.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I loved being a barista!!!!!!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

My daily & favorite customer was a bipolar 40s guy who was dropped off by his mom. Sat with us for 8 hours. We'd tip off if meds were off.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

He was a cool hilarious when meds were on, then slide into nutty when they were off. It was a remarkable "it-takes-a-village" thing in Miami

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

I work at a Starbucks at an Airport, all this and worse.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

99% of why Jimmy Carr is funny is the fact that Frankie Boyle writes his jokes. The other 1% is his laugh, which sounds like an angry seal.

9 years ago | Likes 14 Dislikes 5

Is his laugh a relatively recent thing? I saw some of his older routines and he came across as very deadpan.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHRFJEcDRoc He's had it for as long as I can recall, but it is a lot better when he's standing up.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

He doesn't really laugh at his own jokes, so you don't notice it in standup.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Eh, I'd say his stone face adds to the comedy as well.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

There is no order you can make from Starbucks that doesn't make you sound like an asshole. Mine is a tall hazelnut red-eye.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

True. Wildest I will get is cappuccino, but...Venti cappuccino 120 still sound dickish. Even black coffee...Venti drip no room seasonal. Ugh

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

"Small half caff skinny caramel macchiato" is still quite a mouthful

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

+1 for Jimmy Carr!

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

RIP Jimmy Carr. Died December 9th on GT.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

Lol

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Argh! You made my head read all that in Jimmy Carrs voice, and now i Can't get his laugh out of my head! Thanks a lot! +1 for Jimmy Carr

9 years ago | Likes 177 Dislikes 4

If they ever need someone to voice dying seals, all they need to do is get Jimmy Carr to laugh near a microphone.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

because he laughs on the in, not the out.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Why does he suck in air when he laughs

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Hah hah hah hah haaaaaaah!

9 years ago | Likes 56 Dislikes 0

donkey laugh! i can't tell if it's really or exaggerated

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Well he's really a ventriloquist doll, so.....

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Same here, except: -1 for that reason

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 10

*Jimmy Carr laugh.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

"Ah ah ah ah, aaaah!"

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

That's exactly how it sounded in my head. :)

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Well he does sound like a Sexual predator when laughing

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

As an Aussie - Large Flat White thanks. [receives coffee in reasonable time given the circumstances]. Cheers. [Leaves without being a cunt]

9 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 0

Respectfully, what's the fackin use of bein an Ozzie if ya ain't a blaady cant?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Spent six weeks in Sydney, coffee shop in Zetland got to know me and my morning order real well. That's the sort of stuff I miss most.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

As an aussie. I've served nearly every one of the kinds of people OP mentioned. It's usually the ones who don't speak English well though..

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

As a Brit - Tea with milk thanks. [recieves tea very quickly because it is a teabag + hot water, mutters about price under breath] Cheerio.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I've had people order a flat white here in the states but want it with no foam :') must be nice

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

"*but* no foam"? What? I make them with less than a mm of foam, juuust enough to cover the surface..

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

That's the custom for a flat white in Aus. Just a tiny bit. Gets too hard to explain in The U.S so some people just say no foam.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Weirdos haha

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The most common coffees ordered in Aus are the flat white and the cappuccino. FW's have minimal foam, less than is custom for the USA.

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

learned something new about coffee! shame though, according to wikipedia, it will be a while until it reaches Germany.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Australian coffee culture is spreading around the world super quickly. Apparently we now have the highest standard for taste and quality.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I'm grateful for that! Nothing like Australian coffee. I won't drink coffee most countries overseas!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

As an Aussie I'm genuinely baffled at the coffee culture there! Here it's 98% cappucino or flat white, the odd person might ask for soy

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Second Aussie I've seen say flat white. What does that mean? What type of drink is that?

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Really fucking good.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

The most basic coffee - plain milk no foam/froth :)

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Lol ok. So, the barista's will put that in for you? America they use little cups of creamer and sugar packets. Can't stand the shit.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Sure will! Creamer like that doesn't exist here. No matter what you order, its always fresh milk

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Not Aussie, but a barista. In America, they're between a latte and a cappuccino. Really smooth foam, with a higher ratio of espresso to milk

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm aus, a latte has the most milk, followed by cappucino, followed by flat white :)

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I remember when I worked at Starbucks (5 yrs) and we had this regular who always picked up the Sunday papers and would cut out all of (1/3)

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

the coupons. We confronted her and told her she had to buy the paper first, because other customers who buy that paper may want those (2/3)

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

coupons, as well. She threw a fit and we were told to never bother her again AND SHE GOT A FREE GIFT CARD. Of course her behavior never(3/4)

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

stopped and OF COURSE she always tried getting her drink for cheaper than it was. We had to comply. Not a small company, but Starbucks (4/5)

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

teaches people that being an asshole is ok. /endrant

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

A person who is nice to you, but rude to a waiter/service person is NOT a nice person.

9 years ago | Likes 236 Dislikes 3

I try to be nice but I often end up spurting out my order because I've spent the last ten minutes making sure I've found the right words.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Saw this advice so many times I fear truly nasty person too have read this,will pretend to be good to waiters when i am around to fool me.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

there are also cultural factors. I always find weird in the US/Canada to be asked "how are you doing today?" It s not natural in my country.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

but of course I always say hi and please whenever I order though, it s common courtesy

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

- Dave Barry, who is never receives attribution for this quote

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

Thanks for pointing out my typo. Is made my days.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Man, I is really wanted to upvote you.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Ha ha. Awesome. I missed that : /

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I mean, only if that is routinely the case. You can't see someone be kinda rude to a waiter and then go 'yeah s/he's a terrible person'.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

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9 years ago (deleted Jan 5, 2017 3:43 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

I agree. When I started work in 1986, 90%+ were good to you. Today, less than 30% know how to treat others with decency.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

damn, you must work a negative area. My pull is middling, even then most people the polite basics.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

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9 years ago (deleted Jan 5, 2017 3:43 AM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

damn. if im ever there ill put nore importance behind remembering to tip.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I was once quite rude to a cashier. It wasn't about them, it was just the stressful situation. I did feel quilty afterwards. But I think 1/2

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

it was more of a case of being a dick for a day than me actually being Dicky McDickhead for life. 2/2

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Did you apologise or go back the next day to apologise?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Nope. I don't know if I ever went back there, not because of that day, just in general I probably didn't shop there before or after.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Ahw that's too bad. At least it was just a bad day for you and not how you always are. Hope you're having a great day!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

What about a person who is rude to you, but nice to a service person?

9 years ago | Likes 45 Dislikes 0

Well the service person have to serve me, while the one talking to me know i'm an asshole and still speak with me.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

They just don't like you lol

9 years ago | Likes 60 Dislikes 1

That's me, that's me! I use the extra niceness to waiters and such to add contrast to how much I dislike the person I'm with.

9 years ago | Likes 21 Dislikes 2

Pure evil!

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Tinder date abort codes.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You're the asshole.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0