# Ask the Starbucks barista anything! (Part Deux) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513 "2008-12-10T04:54:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/41 "2008-12-11T05:29:07Z")
> [@quilter](#): > > Re: my wish for more coffee, less cocoa than a “triple grande no-whip mocha”, and with the admission that the only time I’m in Starbucks is if someone else is buying (just moved across the country, new job, new house, surplus dollars go to things like food), AND the knowledge that my dad and sister provide the Starbucks support that I don’t: > What does that translate to, in long-line, say-it-and-move-along, next-please?, I’d-sincerely-like-to-make-it-easy-on-the-barista-on-the-rare-occasions-I’m-in-your-store phrasing? > > Grande coffee with a mocha shot? > Grande coffee with mocha and room? (Room for me to add a bit of no-fat when I get to the “stuff to add myself” area?) > > I spent too many years in retail to try to get into long, meaningful, descriptive conversations when there’s a line (and I’m rarely in a Starbucks when there isn’t a line!), which is why I’m grateful for any help in tweaking my phraseology. Ok lets see for you I would think of two base drinks Coffee Mocha Lets assume the grande size A mocha has 4 pumps of chocolate and two shots of Espresso For you I would say 2 pumps. Ask for a grande 2 pump mocha If that still doesnt have enough coffee ask for a Triple Grande 2 pump Mocha. You can also try to get a similar beverage with Coffee I would try a grande coffee with at least 3 pumps of mocha Ask for a grande coffee with 3 pumps mocha. Also ask for room to add milk. You may also want to ask for a Grande in a venti cup so you will have enough room for your milk ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/42 "2008-12-11T05:38:04Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Have you ever seen the movie **Idiocracy**? If so, did you think it was funny? never have > [@Jeff](#): > > Should’ve put the size in, sorry. I usually order a grande. > > I usually see the deaf barista on cash. She doesn’t seem to have any problem getting the job done or passing along the drink orders. I just feel self-conscious about my horrible hand-writing every time I order from her. 😛 Hmm odd I am all for disabled people working and i am surprised someone who cant hear can function so well in an environment that verbal communication is so important. There is a kid with downs That works at another starbucks but he is only really allowed to clean and do prep. They are worried he may hurt himself on the bar. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/43 "2008-12-11T16:48:56Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > The way we are supposed to call out drinks are Decafe?, Size, Shots, Syrup, Milk, Custom, Drink. If any of those is default you don’t call it out. When ordering a drink its best to say the size first no matter what. And also give the iced or hot modifier to. The way our system works is we cant ring something up without knowing the size first. OK, so when it’s iced, where do I stick in the modifier? Is it: Decaf, grande, iced, vanilla, skim, latte? Or: Decaf, iced, grande, vanilla, skim, latte? I swear I’m going to get this right one day. Because when they say it back in a different order from the way I originally stated it, I get confused, and can’t figure out if what they say I ordered is what I ordered. Just in case you are wondering if I’m mentally deficient, I actually have a PhD, but I fit the absent minded, bumbling professor stereotype to a T. Ordering at Starbucks presents a major challenge! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/44 "2008-12-11T18:48:45Z")
> [@rivulus](#): > > OK, so when it’s iced, where do I stick in the modifier? > > Is it: > Decaf, grande, iced, vanilla, skim, latte? Wife of a Starbucks barista chiming in here. Hubby says: **Iced decaf grande vanilla nonfat latte**. Iced is first because that tells them what kind of cup to grab (plastic vs. paper), but I don’t know why decaf comes before the cup size. (Hubby is at work so I can’t pester him too much!) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/45 "2008-12-11T19:03:52Z")
This is more for the coffee drinkers in this thread, not so much the OP… I’m a big lamer and don’t drink coffee or go to coffee houses. Are all coffee houses run like this, where you’re in a big rush and have to order these complicated drinks? Or is it just a quirk of Starbucks? I’m not putting it down, I’m sure it all makes sense if you go there every so often. It’s just greek to me! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/46 "2008-12-11T19:20:41Z")
Well, not necessarily. You don’t HAVE to order complicated drinks no matter where you go, but a lot of people have figured out exactly what they like in a coffee drink and are particular about how they want their drink made. In terms of ordering “properly,” that’s not required – it is helpful to the person behind the counter, and may make things run a little more smoothly, and will make you feel like you know what you’re doing. 🙂 But the person taking your drink order should understand what you mean even if the words are not arranged the way they prefer. A lot of people are in a rush when they’re ordering coffee (no matter where you go), because they’re trying to get to work, etc. To that end, Starbucks has a goal of you waiting no longer than 3 minutes from the time you get in line until the time you get your coffee. I wouldn’t say it’s their “fault,” though for the rush – they are trying to provide good customer service, and for most people that means not waiting! The mood is usually most frenzied during the morning rush hour, when there are a lot of people there. If you go in the afternoon it’s likely to be a lot quieter and you won’t feel rushed. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/47 "2008-12-11T22:27:41Z")
What type of customers are generally despised? Why did you stop carrying almond syrup? ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/48 "2008-12-11T23:54:36Z")
> [@rivulus](#): > > OK, so when it’s iced, where do I stick in the modifier? > > Is it: > Decaf, grande, iced, vanilla, skim, latte? > > Or: > Decaf, iced, grande, vanilla, skim, latte? > > I swear I’m going to get this right one day. Because when they say it back in a different order from the way I originally stated it, I get confused, and can’t figure out if what they say I ordered is what I ordered. > > Just in case you are wondering if I’m mentally deficient, I actually have a PhD, but I fit the absent minded, bumbling professor stereotype to a T. Ordering at Starbucks presents a major challenge! 🙂 Decaf, than iced. We say decaf first because customers apparently like to hear it first. A lot of times they will still ask you if it is even after you called it out > [@stargazer](#): > > Wife of a Starbucks barista chiming in here. Hubby says: **Iced decaf grande vanilla nonfat latte**. Iced is first because that tells them what kind of cup to grab (plastic vs. paper), but I don’t know why decaf comes before the cup size. (Hubby is at work so I can’t pester him too much!) That is correct. > [@ZipperJJ](#): > > This is more for the coffee drinkers in this thread, not so much the OP… > > I’m a big lamer and don’t drink coffee or go to coffee houses. Are all coffee houses run like this, where you’re in a big rush and have to order these complicated drinks? Or is it just a quirk of Starbucks? > > I’m not putting it down, I’m sure it all makes sense if you go there every so often. It’s just greek to me! 🙂 No you dont have to unless you want a drink a special way. Just say medium mocha and we will get you a mocha. > [@Deeg](#): > > What type of customers are generally despised? > > Why did you stop carrying almond syrup? I liked almond but it didnt seem to sell well. I dont know why starbucks just doesnt have lots of different syrups like most places do. We just seem like like our little varitey Hmm for customers this could be a long list.. We usually don’t like the people who think we like them more than we do. Which is a lot of people. We have regulars who think we LOVE them when its quite the opposite. I dont like the customers who try to “trick” me to give them a cheaper drink. When you come in during a rush and tell the person on bar you want 4 shots and than tell me on the register you want 2, not only will you get two but they will be decafe. Its my job to remember complicated drinks and I can hear and comprehend 3 people speaking to me at once..Do not try to “outsmart” me to get a cheaper drink. A lot of times I will give free shots but if anyone every tries to get something free or “forgets” to tell me something you will never get anything free. My hours are directly connected to how much money we make. Another type of person i dont like is someone who orders a complicated drink for the hell of it. There are people out there with complicated drinks and can taste it and know right away if it was made correctly. The people who order complicated drinks and say “oh this is so good exactly what i needed, no one can make this right” after i fucked it up so bad make me go :rolleyes: some people are particular about their coffee and others are not. If you cant taste the difference dont make me waste time making it different. Having a simple drink doesnt make you less cool or make me like you any less. This may be cliche but dont go on rants about our sizes. Just say small medium and large. They are not confusing they are printed on the menu. Don’t ask me why we call them that then :rolleyes: when i explain. I will have to ponder more about this question.. ---
**Author:** ![quilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/839c29/32.png) [@quilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quilter)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/49 "2008-12-12T00:08:14Z")
Thank you very much, **ChrisBooth12**. I sincerely appreciate your help! ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/50 "2008-12-12T00:20:11Z")
What items can I order in the often-hidden and never spoken of “short” size? Sometimes I want an espresso drink. I still usually only want a little bit and the short is perfect. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/51 "2008-12-12T00:21:06Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > What items can I order in the often-hidden and never spoken of “short” size? > > Sometimes I want an espresso drink. I still usually only want a little bit and the short is perfect. any hot drink. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/52 "2008-12-12T17:45:56Z")
bump for good luck ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/53 "2008-12-12T17:50:08Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > any hot drink. Really? Hot damn! 😃 I’ve run across people who give me a look like I’m a moron when I ask for a short sized cappuccino (that’s the only one I knew I could order as a short; I prefer lattes). Are newer Starbucks employees not told about the short size? ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/54 "2008-12-12T18:15:59Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > This may be cliche but dont go on rants about our sizes. Just say small medium and large. They are not confusing they are printed on the menu. Don’t ask me why we call them that then :rolleyes: when i explain. Is it okay that I just say medium or large? Sometimes I get performance anxiety when I get to the register and forget that I want a grande drink. I know what the words grande and venti mean, but I only use them once every two weeks or so, so they don’t feel natural on my tongue. I figure that the barista who takes my order knows what I mean when I order a medium or large drink, so I don’t usually worry too much about it, but if it throws most people off their groove, I will try to be more attentive. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2008, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/55 "2008-12-12T18:27:52Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Really? Hot damn! 😃 > > I’ve run across people who give me a look like I’m a moron when I ask for a short sized cappuccino (that’s the only one I knew I could order as a short; I prefer lattes). Are newer Starbucks employees not told about the short size? No they should know about the short size. But that size is mainly just for shots of espresso. A short latte or mocha is like hmm why not just get a tall? Because after the syrup and the shot go in there you only get like an inch of milk > [@MissMossie](#): > > Is it okay that I just say medium or large? Sometimes I get performance anxiety when I get to the register and forget that I want a grande drink. I know what the words grande and venti mean, but I only use them once every two weeks or so, so they don’t feel natural on my tongue. I figure that the barista who takes my order knows what I mean when I order a medium or large drink, so I don’t usually worry too much about it, but if it throws most people off their groove, I will try to be more attentive. No we understand completely. The only time i have to ask is when they say they want a small hot chocolate when they have a kid with them. I ask if they want a tall or a short at kids temperature. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/56 "2008-12-13T00:50:38Z")
Did SBs used to be more “edgy”, in the beginning? For example, did there use to be art on the walls that would not necessarily appeal to the easily shocked or offended, and did the baristas once get to dress more individualistically? I will say I do still like SBs quite a bit, as long as there aren’t too many shrieking preschoolers around. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/57 "2008-12-13T01:28:26Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > We usually don’t like the people who think we like them more than we do. Which is a lot of people. We have regulars who think we LOVE them when its quite the opposite. > I will have to ponder more about this question.. Ooh, ooh, I have a couple! (former barista at a non-Starbucks) As a female behind the counter, I’m being nice to you, the male customer, because it’s my job. There are an awful lot of men out there who seem to think my being nice to them is because I’m attracted to them or something. NO! IT’S MY JOB! I won’t stop being nice to you because it’s my job. I can’t tell you to go pound sand because then I wouldn’t be doing my job. Please just pay, leave a nice tip if you feel you got good service, and move out of my line and on with your life! Get off the fucking phone. I will take the person in line behind you and continue taking the person behind you until you get phone off your ear. And the final one: we called them the clackers. It’s the nonfat sugarfree latte girls. They really fit a stereotype and you can hear them coming as soon as they come through the door wearing their clacky shoes that go “clack, clack, clack” across the room. The clackers all seem to be self-entitled women who don’t see the people working in the store at all. We’re servants who should be seen and not heard, apparently. It would be nice not to deal with these female pricks. I wish they could really order from a machine so I wouldn’t have to be a non-person in front of them. ---
**Author:** ![Morelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Morelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morelin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/58 "2008-12-13T03:27:55Z")
> [@ChrisBooth12](#): > > No they should know about the short size. But that size is mainly just for shots of espresso. A short latte or mocha is like hmm why not just get a tall? Because after the syrup and the shot go in there you only get like an inch of milk. I don’t know about anyone else, but I can barely finish the tall, and that’s if I don’t order food. I just can’t drink that much liquid in one sitting. I end up throwing away a cold hot drink or lukewarm cold one. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/59 "2008-12-13T04:28:25Z")
Have you met Winter yet? ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2008, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513/60 "2008-12-13T14:32:25Z")
I’m your boring “Coffee of the day, black, no sugar” person, but I was at Starbucks with a friend of mine who oredred one of those new Vivianno thingies. When she did, she asked them to give her the “extra” in a separate cup. It seems like the recipe makes a certain amount and it’s only sold in one size, despite the fact that the recipe makes more than will fit in that cup. Evidently, the extra is tossed unless the customer requests it specifically. That seems pretty wasteful. The barista that day said that the reasoning was that the nutritional value of the entire recipe would drive customers away (i.e., too many calories and fat grams) and so they only sell the amount that would come to 250 calories. Is this true? That seems odd and, as I said, wasteful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-starbucks-barista-anything-part-deux/476513.md?page=4)