Dear Coworkers
I understand that the triple grande 3 pump vanilla soy 4 (sometimes 5) packets of energy plus protein latte in the travel mug is an obnoxious drink to make - especially during the afternoon rush - because making it is such a process.
Putting the three pumps of vanilla into the mug is probably the easiest part, so once we get done with that, its all down hill. Because I can’t simply tear open the energy packets (could we ever?) I have to look around for the scissors. These are usually hiding either in a draw in the back room, next to the grinder, buried with pastry case stuff, or some place absolutly random. Sometimes I feel that its more likely to find the Donner party in my Starbucks store than the scissors. When - eureka! - I’ve found the scissors, there are usually only 3 energy packets behind the bar so I have to grab two from the back room. After opening these terrible energy packets (not to be confused with tear-able energy packets), I add it to measured out cold soy in a steaming pitcher along with the clumpy protein powder. It looks like something that one of these cats coughed up. After stirred, it looks pretty much just like I how described, but stirred. Then a million years later, I steam the milk while I pull three shots into the shot glass. (Not straight into the travel mug because it is juuust big enough to not fit under the espresso machine) Then I finish like I would with a normal latte and pass up the travel mug.
A bunch of baristas don’t have the drink memorized and feel that since its in a travel mug they can’t write it down, so this already can cause an issue. And I admit that this would probably be easier if the energy packets/scissors were more organized, but… whatever
About a month ago a coworker of mine was on bar and I was on register when this guy came in during a busy afternoon. My coworker kind of flipped out. Maybe because of the line of drinks she had or because I called the drink out to her and handed the travel mug. She started mumbling how crazy this drink was under her breath as she buzzed around me to find the scissors. When she finally passed it up, he took a sip and opened up the lid. “Uhm, sorry, this is clumpy. I don’t think you made it right.” She looked up at him and started to pull an attitude, saying that there are a lot of powders in it so you can’t blame her, and she made it right. Then he tells her that he gets it all of the time. She looked over at me with panic/desperation, and I calmly said to her “hey, how about we switch.” She obviously took me up on the offer.
I slid over on bar, clarified the drink with him, and tried to make it all light hearted, saying that I’m mixin it all up right now. He leaned over the bar saying he was sorry, and that he gets it all of the time and that one didn’t taste right. Gosh, I felt terrible watching him feel guilty about the whole drama. I really wanted to say “you’re totally right, and she was wrong!” But decided that I shouldn’t and said something like “if it didn’t taste right, then we’re happy to remake it for you - don’t worry at all.” When I finished, I apologized again and said that I’d see him soon.
A few minutes later when we’d slowed down a bit, she said to me “god, can you believe that guy?!”
uhm… excuse me? I can’t believe you
This guy comes in once or twice a week, orders the drink, and pays the $8 dollars for it. He’s never complained about having to wait around while I look for scissors. And he’s never complained as I press the buttons on the register adding on the extra shot, the protein, the energy packet, the energy packet, the energy packet, the energy packet. And he’s a cool dude. The extremely sad thing is that this isn’t the first time I’ve seen a partner get openly annoyed with this dude.
So dear dear deeaar coworkers, when you are rude to someone who is nice, paying for what they want, waiting even if it all takes a little longer, you look ridiculously stupid.
Quit it. You are embarrassing me and yourself.
loooooooooove,
147xxxx
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