Barista Perspectives: What Customers Should Stop Doing to Make Ordering a Breeze

As a barista, especially one working in a popular chain like Starbucks, certain customer behaviors can significantly impact the efficiency and morale of the staff. In this article, we explore some of the common mishaps and suggestions for smoother ordering experiences.

Common Pitfalls and Annoying Behaviors

Sarah, a barista at Dunkin', has faced numerous frustrations with customers. Her daily routine involves a lot of back-and-forth questioning after a simple order. One common issue is the blanket statement: “One cup of coffee, please.” This can lead to extended conversations about coffee cups, sizes, and additional requests for cream and sugar.

“At least don’t get pissy at me for not being able to read your mind. No black coffee does not mean cream and sugar everyone I encounter seems to think it does then gets mad at me after ordering black coffee because there is no cream or sugar in their coffee.”

Another challenge Sarah often faces is explaining the absence of fat-free soy milk. She emphasizes that this point is crucial for customers, especially when allergies are involved.

“If you come through the drive thru, please don’t immediately go ‘hello’ the second you pull up to the box. We are open and will get to you don’t worry, unless we are not open, sorry. We have a camera that sees you and our headsets alert us when someone new comes through. Sometimes the person taking your order could be soloing and might be talking to a customer at the window. So give them a few seconds even if it’s to tell you ‘welcome please give us a moment and we will get back to you’. Please don’t immediately go through the box even if you have a mobile order. There’s a system and sometimes depending on if we are busy your drink probably has not even been made yet and now we are wasting time getting your drink made at the window because we didn’t know your name.”

How to Improve Order Efficiency

To help baristas, Sarah suggests customers should provide more specific orders. Instead of just saying, “One cup of coffee, please,” customers should ask for a size, specify hot or iced, and any desired flavors or additives. This reduces the need for back-and-forth communication and speeds up the ordering process.

“If you want to help baristas when ordering, say size-hot/iced-type of drink- and then any flavoring or special requests. This can make the whole process much smoother.”

For drive-thru customers, Sarah recommends patience and understanding. Baristas are often juggling multiple orders and can’t always process them on the fly. Additionally, her collegue highlights the importance of paying tip, especially during busy times like pay-it-forward occurrences.

“While people who ‘pay-it-forward’ for the person behind them in the drive-thru might have the best intentions, please consider the baristas who make and prepare your drinks and the people behind you.”

“If you could generously leave a tip, it would also be a really appreciated gesture from baristas.”

Conclusion

By taking a few extra moments to clarify your order and provide specific requests, customers can greatly assist baristas in providing efficient and pleasant service. A small change in behavior can significantly impact the barista staff’s daily experience and helps ensure a smoother, more enjoyable coffee drinking experience for everyone involved.