Starbucks!

Ah! I just got my first real official job at the Starbucks near where I live.

Does anyone have any tips/warnings etc.?

Just want to see if anyone out there has worked there and has any knowledge for me! Thanks! :)

don't eat anything.  ever!

except for a tall skim latte. or bottled water...

Haha. Okay.

I haven't worked at Starbucks but I worked at a local coffee house and I would say the biggest thing for your first job is get very comfortable shoes (trust me, you will thank me later) and be friendly and outgoing to the customers. Especially if you have regulars, get to know them a bit. They love it if you can ask about their kids, wives, etc. (They may tip better too!)

Ya. My manager told me that. And Sketchers actually makes Starbucks approved shoes! Ridiculous!

Screw Sketchers.  My sis, who works full time at Starbucks and has for several years now, has Danskos and her feet thank her for it.  They're expensive, yes, but they have excelent support and padding.

I haven't ever worked there, but here's what she's said:
1) SMILE!  This is a huge one.  You're there to be charming and      
     friendly, that's what they pay you for.
2) Grey is not black, neither is navy blue.  Faded black won't cut it,
     either.  (Dress code is something her minions don't always get, for
     some reason).

Today's tidbit: Green is not a natural hair color.  Neither is crimson.  Her quote? "I'd have fired you, but ASMs don't have any say."

Top Reason to get your Black Apron certifcation?  You get a black apron instead of Starbucks Green.

The logo on starbucks gift cards can be cut out to make a spiffy tie-tack.

And always float the shot in a caramel macchiatto.  That's how it's supposed to be made (this is her pet peeve).

Not terribly helpful, I'm afraid, but then, few ever escape the Cult of Starbucks, so I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to learn.

I'll agree with the first posters, dont eat or drink anything they serve unless it's black coffee.

Also, make sure you bring plenty of healthy food to work. I work at a pizza place, I always have diet soda's, apples and special K bars in the fridge. You do NOT want to get hungry when you are around 400 calorie cookies (or pizza in my case).

I would suggest not eating anything because it isn't fresh at all...yuck! Upon eating a few very dry and tasteless items I asked politely where they got their food from...somehow slowly it dawning on me that there wasn't a bakery in the back and they said from Vancouver, (four hours away!) THEN I said "you know, every time I have eaten something here it has been a little dry, just thought I'd let you know" I'm sure they love me. I watch they don't spit in my drink.

I second the Danskos!  Don't work at a coffee shop but I love mine & my nursing friends swear by them.  Also - they are expensive, but will last for years.

Opposed to what people are saying...... the food is FINE 10x better than most fast food quick fixes etc. Some, such as the low fat vegan brownies dry out really fast so I make sure I ask how long its been since theyve put them out to make sure what I get isnt dry. The limited time reduced fat cakes as well I find are ALWAYS moist. Plus, not too high cal. Some day on break read through your joint's nutrition info list for the snacks and decide whether or not/how bad you really want them. Most are around 350-400 calories. Take advantage of the free coffee and have the occasional non fat sugar free latte! Its just like a glass of milk really... Tall is around 120 cal. (no whip)

I actually have never worked at Starbucks... I just drink there alot and when I have time I ask for the nutrition booklet. And really... be FRIENDLY! I stopped going to one of the starbucks in walking distance (sadly the one with the faster service as opposed to the drive through) because there is one newly hired girl who is so damn angry looking. If you try to say anything but your order she ignores you completely or gives a brief and rudely mannered answer. Dunno how she got hired...

If I were you, I wouldn't even drink the regular coffee.  It apparently has an extraordinarily high amount of caffeine, so that not only do people become addicted to caffeinated products, but specifically to STARBUCKS products, which also cost an arm and a leg as far as coffee goes.

Oh, Im an addict and I love it :P Second Cup is also pretty highly caffeinated so I can go for that or even Timothy's... I think most joints load up on the caffeine or people think they do... I heard that Tim Hortons has nicotine in their coffees (which taste really bad anyways so I dont drink them) I personally go for starbucks more just cause its better quality and more accesible than the stuff at non-specialized places. Best ever though are the little organic places that no one knows about. Thats the BEST coffee in the world and usually freshly baked treats!

niiko...you are dead on about the little guys (sosoooo goood!)

Worked there for 2 years.  Here goes:

• Sister, you are in for 80 hours of coffee training.  Classes, reading, training.....be prepared! 
• Coffee is a SCIENCE!
• You will learn that the light roast blends are higher in caffeine than dark roasts or espresso (the longer they roast the bean to extract the more rich flavor, the more caffeine is burned out)
• You will learn the difference between a "good" and "burned" shot of espresso, and "good" and "burned" milk.
• You will HATE the people that ask for "half caf venti 3/4 shot mocha at 175 degrees" that will then WATCH you steam the milk and check the thermometer (oh, they're out there!)
• It's VERY difficult to avoid drinking/trying the beverages.  When I worked there I was 19 and skinny, so I went balls out on everything.  You will probably try near all of the drinks.  They are a treat, maybe just remember that?
• Your favorite drink may end up a single iced grande 1/2 mocha, 1/2 hazelnut soy latte.  Try it.  AWESOME.
• Smile til your teeth hurt, but also be able to keep 67 things straight at once
• Try not to show up late.  or hungover. or both.  Three times or more.  They will fire you.  Um.  Oops.

HAHAHA, you are going to love it!  it was actaully a GREAT experience:-)  (and tips are nice, too!)

Hi, I had a friend who worked there and she said her regulars loved her so much they gave her christmas presents, and cash for when she graduated! It sounds like there are lots of perks :o)

My boyfriend worked there for a long time. He ate TONS of desserts but also tons of coffee, and he claims that coffee must speed up his metabolism since he never gained any weight LOL...lucky guy!!! I don't think I'd take that at face value though :P

if your workin, like the first person said for food from there, drink black coffee, or hot green tea..

the coffee for energy and the green tea has that and anti-oxidents. Also both of these will speed up your metabolism

Feel free to eat there, just be careful.  I, for one, love their sandwiches but the selection at yours may vary.  Starbucks stores each get food from local(ish, obviously) places so the cookies in one may not be available in another.  My sis eats and drinks there, even the caloric ones, but it is not a sedentary job, so she's actually lost weight while working there.  *is soooo jealous*

Now she drinks iced espresso with 1 pump of some kind of syrup and thinks it's sweet.  Ugh.

Have fun!

your regular drinks should be:
coffee
non-fat latte
americano
tea
all hot or iced, unsweetened or sweetened with splenda, or a sugar-free syrup. yum!
but feel free to have a yummy mocha from time to time ;)
you burn tons of calories rushing around the espresso machine, crating milk around, running between the syrups and the blender, etc.
the food is not really that great, so dont bother with it. its loaded with calories. even the low-fat options are no good for you, but indulge in one occassionally if you really love them.
your partners will be amazing!! so love them!
and your customers will be great! get to know them all, because they really all have something special to offer. oh, and try really really hard to remember the regulars' names!!! it can be embarassing when you have to ask a guy who comes in every morning what his name is! :(
have fun!

i work at a place 'like' starbucks. we have to start asking for names now and it really sucks cuz iv seen these people come in for 6 months and i dont know thier names. i feel so bad =/.....especially when they somehow know my name heh.

i usually drink a sugar free soy mocha latte... or with skim. i dont like most of the other sugar free syrups.

stay away from the powdered drinks (not sure what starbucks has.... but we use a powder base for the frozen drinks.... very high in calories). i love it when people are like 'large mocha icestorm...extra syrup, skim milk, whip cream'.

I read an article that said Starbucks was rated as one of the best places to work in America. 

I've tried their bakery things and received dry stuff most of the times, but this last time their cheese danish was awesome! 

Living in Seattle, I've got the 3 major options, Starbucks, Seattles Best & Tullys.  I like Tullys bets.  (and Starbucks owns "Seattles Best", but Seattles best is a lighter roast)

Good luck with your job.  Good ethics will climb you up the ladder fast, no matter what type of job it is.  Do you best.

Ticker