Frustrations and Joys in Working at Starbucks: A Barista's Perspective

Working at Starbucks can be a rewarding experience, yet it is not free from challenges and frustrations. Baristas often face high customer volumes, difficult customers, order mistakes, equipment issues, staffing shortages, and repetitive tasks. However, many find joy in the community aspect of the job and the opportunity to connect with customers.

Challenges Faced by Baristas at Starbucks

The most frustrating thing that can happen while working at Starbucks is the high customer volume during peak hours. This leads to long lines and increased stress for baristas. Dealing with difficult customers, such as those who are rude or demanding, can be particularly frustrating, especially when trying to provide good service.

Order mistakes, whether due to miscommunications or errors, can lead to unhappy customers and additional pressure to correct them quickly. Equipment issues, such as malfunctions with coffee machines or other equipment, can disrupt service and create a backlog of orders. Staffing shortages can also increase the workload on remaining employees, leading to burnout and frustration. Additionally, the repetitive nature of making drinks and handling transactions can become monotonous for some employees.

Common Frustrations Among Baristas

One of the most common frustrations faced by baristas is dealing with customers who pick up the wrong drinks. This often happens when customers are waiting for too long and fail to realize that you did not call out their name. Other frustrating experiences include customers complaining about long wait times, despite seeing that you have a large queue of drinks to make. It can be frustrating to hear customers complain as if waiting in line is a voluntary activity.

When corporate allows a customer to break a policy, such as ordering a huge drink with multiple shots, and then yells at the barista for breaking the policy, the situation becomes even more stressful. Another common issue is running out of basic products, like straws or cups, which can disrupt service and lead to further frustration.

When customers come to the drive-thru window and complain about their drink being wrong, especially if the mistake is their own, it can be a real frustration. Similarly, when customers ask for a drink to be made at the window, despite already having pulled off from the speaker, it can hold up the service flow.

Technical issues with the mobile order app, such as orders with unrealistic quantities or bizarre requests, can also add to the frustration. An example might be a customer ordering 19 shots of espresso with 19 pumps of white mocha, simply because they feel like it.

Balancing Frustrations and Joys

Despite these frustrations, many baristas find joy in the community aspect of the job and the opportunity to connect with customers. Starbucks can be a fun job, especially once you get the hang of it and the majority of the time, customers are friendly and very understanding. However, it is important for baristas to stay in their lane and avoid getting entangled in workplace drama.

Conclusion

Working at Starbucks can be a double-edged sword, filled with both joys and frustrations. High customer volumes, difficult customers, order mistakes, equipment issues, staffing shortages, and repetitive tasks are just a few of the challenges faced by baristas. However, the rewarding community aspect and the chance to connect with customers make it a fulfilling job. As long as baristas stay in their lane and remain focused on providing excellent service, Starbucks can remain a pleasant place to work.