You probably drink coffee or most probably know someone who drinks coffee at least every day. And chances are at least one of such people drinks at Starbucks. The world’s largest coffee retailer also attracts the world’s most premium-type class of citizens who walk into Starbucks daily to proudly use Starbucks lingo to order even the simplest of drinks. These customers walk in and order coffee like it was an order of all variety of events in one’s life. People customize their drink down to the boiling temperature that they would like to taste. This is Starbucks. This is exactly why people consider Starbucks coffee a premium lifestyle instead of a coffee choice.
Like any other business, Starbucks also gets many different kinds of customers. Walk into any Starbucks and you may notice rich people, poor people trying to act rich, poor people trying to feel rich, strange people wearing jackets in summer, people bringing their dogs inside when they clearly know dogs are not allowed, people running into Starbucks before meetings or yoga classes just to try and get some coffee within 30 seconds, people who stay at Starbucks all day to pass their daily life or to try and get free internet. Many famous Starbucks locations even have the homeless people staying inside for warmth and a place to sit at, while also sipping coffee and taking showers inside the restrooms using only water from the sink. Starbucks has it all, and it still manages to keep a very classy brand image alive and thriving.
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz in his book “Onward” outlines many of the different routes and obstacles Starbucks has faced in the last 10 years to become the world’s most desired brand to get coffee from. What Howard Schultz does not talk about, however, is the coffee addiciton of Starbucks customers who walk in daily and do or say stupid things in almost every Starbucks location around the world. I visit Starbucks regularly [never to get coffee, by the way], and I notice so many stupid customers doing stupid things that it is amazing how people can feel so important and proud ordering the premium Starbucks coffee in front of everyone while also acting stupid on a human level.
Because of the premium lifestyle image that Starbucks creates for its coffee drinkers, more and more customers start to feel as if they are buying a Land Rover and need full time customer support and nurturing in common sense and courtesy. I do not like businesses that treat customers badly, and I also do not like customers who treat businesses and their employees badly for no good reason, even when seen from the shoes of the business or the customer. Maybe one day soon I’ll write about the 10 stupid things Starbucks Baristas do. Today I’ll focus on the stupid customers I’ve seen or noticed myself in the last year.
Here are 10 top stupid things I have seen Starbucks customers do or say on a regular basis. Amazing how coffee can make you feel proud but not make you smarter or more considerate.
10 Stupid Things Starbucks Customers Do
- People who say “That’s a tall? I wanted the biggest one!” or “I don’t speak Starbucks” or yell “I don’t know what size!“
Look at the menu, idiot. You can order complicated drinks in Starbucks lingo to show off to everyone but you don’t know what cup size you want the drink in?
- Customers who stand in long lines only to get to the register and then decide what they want, making everyone else behind them wait even longer.
Many times when I’m at restaurants or in lines at fast food places, I can’t decide what I want and I wait to get the waiter over or get to the cashier so I can simply blurt out the first thing that I can think of within 5 seconds or so. I then stick with that order. But people in Starbucks lines get to the cashier and then start looking at the menu to decide what they want, as if the menu was hidden from them on purpose before they got to the cashier.
- Demanding a free drink because Starbucks ran out of coffee, because the drink wasn’t cold enough, or because your drink wasn’t made within 30 seconds of your order.
Amazing how people feel rich and try to portray a luxurious lifestyle in front of others while also trying to score a free coffee fix.
- Ordering customized drinks or foods that are exactly the same or worse than their non-customized counterparts.
Many people simple want to feel and appear smarter publicly, and after a while such people start believing their own lie that their custom order is what is really better for them. “Grande extra hot, soy, caramel macchiato, no foam, stirred, with whip, extra caramel, at 200 degrees.” What the hell does that even mean? My mouth just drops open or my eyes go wide in shock when people request that. Am I too weak to taste anything that’s hotter than a bit hot? Yeah, as if 195 degree or even 100 degrees won’t be hot enough for your tongue or as if you’ll know the difference in temperature because you’re a Camel.
Or “asiago cheese bagel [what the hell is that? :O], the middle one right there, toasted, triple toasted, and 2 cream cheese on the side.” Triple toasted apparently makes it kosher, as double toasted or toasted even one would still get you raw bagel, wouldn’t it? Or “extra whipped cream” on “non-fat” drinks. That’s the same as ordering a full menu burger at Carl’s Jr. with a diet soda and hoping the soda will help make others not call you fat.
- People grabbing any drinks that the baristas call out, without checking their own names on the drinks.
And then drinking those drinks and only then coming back and complaining that they do not have the right drinks. Check your name on the cup or ask any barista before you pick up a cup.
- People who empty the condiment bar without being considerate.
People love emptying milk at the condiment bar without notifying anyone or by using too much milk, and then complaining themselves also sometimes about not having enough milk. And when I walk up they simply walk off, knowing fully well that I’ll look at them and ask “You drank the whole thing like it was Nesquik Chocolate Milk?
- Saying “I have a Starbucks card!” or “Ring that order separately!” after the barista has taken all of your order and rang you up.
This one happens a lot, and every time this happens, the line behind gets longer.
- People who tell cashiers “Others [other baristas] know my drink.“
Who cares? That so and so barista is not taking your order. Tell this current Starbucks employee about your drink if you want to order anything. Or get out of the line and wait for your barista to come and make you the drink so you don’t have to repeat your order since you apparently have no idea what the heck you drink.
- People who cut the line and interrupt customers giving their orders to baristas, only to ask for a cup of water.
I have had people interrupt my pastry or chocolate brownies orders just to get water or extra napkins. Wait till the barista in question is not taking any order!
- People who order their drinks and immediately act impatient, demanding their drinks right away.
So many people order their drinks and immediately start saying “I’m late for work” or “I’ve to be somewhere.” This is a Starbucks, not a vending machine. Your drink will take as long as it takes to make your drink. If you’re in a hurry, you shouldn’t be stopping for your Starbucks cocaine addiction fix you junkie.
What do you think? Are you a stupid Starbucks customer?
Do you drink Starbucks? Have you acted like any of the above customers? What do you think is the rationale behind such behavior? Do you think I am just not part of the Starbucks crowd and thus not cool enough to realize all of the above are valid Starbucks customer behaviors?
Share your thoughts, coffee stories or whatever is on your coffee addicted mind in the comments below. You can sip your 200 degree coffee while typing too.
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Please comment & RT.
It seems that Starbucks mights be one of the best place to sip coffee of the life. But I am a great tea lover. I normally use to drink lots of tea with varied flavor.
You get your tea at Starbucks? Have you ever dealt with people mentioned above?
I was only once a customer of starbucks. So many years passed. But in that event, I haven’t noticed any customer of that stupid kind. One thing I can say is that, maybe those customers who did those stupid things you mentioned do just want to grab the attention of many.
Many people do go to Starbucks just to get attention. The entire frenzy of wanting coffee randomly with so many customization, when in the end it’s simply the caffeine that does the trick, makes people feel so proud of what they ordered. And then they brag about it too.
Why did you stop drinking coffee, or do you get coffee elsewhere now?
I don’t frequent the starbucks.
Can’t seem to grasp the benefit of paying as much for a drink as I can an entire meal elsewhere… but thats just me.
Funny stuff here though.
Maybe you’re in the profession where you know coffee is bad for your health?
Ha Ha. I loves Starbucks Coffee, but I hate the people that sit there with their books an junk acting all great. Funny post, I just sent it to my mom.
Espresso bars are popping up all over the country. For those new to ‘coffee culture’, this article offers a helpful how to on how and what to order.
I think that a problem with Starbucks as a company does is make their drip coffee burnt on purpose so that customers like me need to order expensive drinks to cope.
BEAN there done that (haaha?), anyway yeah…Starbucks is a very strange world. But it tastes good though!?!
Mmmm
I’m not a coffee lover but i do like the cakes they have at Starbucks and the free Internet of course
Yes Yes Yes! I have seen (and maybe done) a few of these things….. Great post.
lol. What do you usually order? Or do you work there?
The first stupid thing that Starbucks customers do is get their coffee at Starbucks. They can brew better coffee at home at less cost.
rofl!
I hate the smelly, rude bicyclists at my Starbucks… read about it here:
What Stinks At Starbucks
http://iworkatpencils.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-stinks-at-starbucks.html
thanks!
This is a great article and is a true representation on some of the customers at sbux. I also love the customers who ask for no foam on a cappuccino
(for anyone who doesn’t know cappuccinos are half foam half steamed milk)
I work at Starbucks, have to deal with these morons every day, my personal pet peeve is when you launch into a 45 second tirade of drink modifiers without giving me the god damn size first, I can’t fucking ring you up without it, and not only that, when I ask you what size, you either ignore me and repeat your ridiculous drink order or you stare at me like a deer in the headlights because even though you order this damn drink every day you don’t know the fucking quantity you want it in!
Dude, this is funny! It just seems most people are clueless and so unaware of their surroundings not to mention their lack of courtesy. We are such a society of “me first” even if they are as dumb as a box of rocks. The worst for me is sitting down to enjoy my drink and then to have some jack-ass that thinks everyone in his group is deaf and talks non-stop as if what he or she is saying is actually interesting. To each their own but some people should have never been brought into this world. The specialty coffee’s are expensive but they are nice once in a while.
I’ve dealt with this at the place I work at. Its even worse with call in orders. Sometimes I’ll have customers call in and immediately tell me their order.
No hello, no name. Nothing.
After they are finished with there long list of orders, I have to go back to each and every order to ask them what size they want, what sauce they want, ect ect.
Don’t people realize that I’m a human being and not a machine you just shout at to get orders. Like the author said, I’m not a vending machine!
I have noticed some of those scenes from other people. Funny, yet true!
I was a Sbux barista when I was in college, what you’ve wrote is totally true, I guess the top 10 list applies everywhere..btw I’m in Malaysia. Honestly I never liked this so called fancy premium coffees, I’m more of a Nescafe kinda guy..sigh…I worked for Sbux coz they pay better.
How much did you make working there? When I worked there, they didn’t pay worth crap!!!
Two things:
1) I want to physically attack people who, when I’ve waited calmly in line, discuss their coffee drink options among themselves.
2) I caused an uproar in the lounge that was full of laptops, becauce I pulled out a, gasp, book.
Staggo,
Thanks for the reply. Hmmmmmm, can you share more what you mean by the uproar? People were mad at you for having a book and not a laptop? Which city/state was this in?
Undeniably imagine that which you stated. Your favourite reason seemed to be at the internet the simplest factor to bear in mind of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed whilst folks think about worries that they plainly do not know about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the top and also outlined out the entire thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks
The thing that really bugs me about Starbucks is all of those silly people who spend all of their time there. I mean, finish your coffee already and let someone else grab a seat! And i don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way. Have you noticed SB’s is removing their soft cushy couches and lounge chairs, and replacing with hard tops and hard chairs? I also heard SB is considering banning wi-fi because their coffee shops have turned into internet lounges. I used to enjoy a few cups a week but rarely go there anymore.
Hey D,
Thanks for the reply. Wow, that’s interesting to hear! Where did you find out (online?) that Starbucks is thinking of banning wifi?
I worked there, for 5 years! Best thing, stupid cina Beng’s and Lian’s order “Blended Cappucinno” or “Hot Frappucinno”. And i have those orders at least 10 times per day.
Stupid Arabs eat with hands and smeared the cheesecakes at the tables, chairs- i wonder do they smeared their shit in the toilet too?
Stupid niggas from Lim Kok Wing order single shot espresso and request for a Venti Ice Water, everyday…and sat outside smoking and open up the glass door so he can enjoy the air-cond at a same time.
Stupid Monash/Sunway kids who don’t have enough money and steal drinks from handout counter.
Ask me, i’ve seen the good, bad and ugly.
I have been a barista for 10 years all over the place from Alaska, Oregon, to Idaho. There is nothing that p*sses me off more than when “Starbucks” customers order drinks from me, as if Starbucks lingo is common knowledge since I am a barista. WRONG! I do not go to Starbucks because it’s over-priced as all get out! People come to my coffee stand window asking for a “Vente half-calf skinny extra foam no whip sugar-free macchiato 195* (which use your common sense… milk scalds at 180*)…with that vanilla powder on top *deep breathe* AND……….I need a grande frappuccino….” (not even letting me write it down) I simply ask them what a Vente is (although I know this from the few experiences at Starbucks) but I like to screw with them, don’t freaking come to my stand demanding crap that means nothing to me! Grande.. that one really gets me, I grab a 16oz cup and they go, “NO THE BIG ONE!” HA! Dumbashhhhes… Or a frappuccino… that my friend is a TRADEMARK of Starbucks! I don’t have the stuff to make that! Go to Starbucks if that’s what you want! Otherwise, read my goshdang menu and tell me what you want by the stuff that’s listed on it!!!
There are no true “Baristas” at Starbucks. Any Barista with an ounce of integrity would never set work there, let alone set foot in the door.
“poor people trying to act rich, poor people trying to feel rich…” What are you, an ignoramus trying to look and fee important? I suppose this also means the majority of Starbucks customers have more dollars then sense.
How about when they order their drink and then immediately go stand right in front of the counter where the drinks come out?? So that they block the counter for the 7 people who have already been waiting for the drinks which will come out before theirs! That is my biggest SB pet peeve. Especially when they grab each cup that comes out checking for their name.
You got this one nailed my friend. I work for Starbucks as a manager and see this all too often. Have you ever tried our drive thru? Love the customers who come to the DT and not know what they want, only to put their friend on speaker phone and expect us to have superman hearing. Then to come to the window and continue their conversation and act snotty when we need their attention to.. idk maybe pay? And then to have said customer spill their coffee all over themselves because they are too good to put their cigarette down or look at what they are grabbing…. yea. Fng HSIT customers and HSITtier company. Oh, btw, idiots… Starbucks is the equivalent of McDonalds when it comes to fat! that mocha just gave you as many calories as an fng big mac, idiot.
Oh, and the company treats their “partners” likes slaves and they are not environmentally friendly. Enough said, grrrrrrr.
I am a social Starbucks customer. What I mean is if my friends are heading there on a day out or I’m walking by one and just need a coffee now. I generally go to the local island coffee shop ( Serious Coffee its awesome) The thing is I used to work there. I know EXACTLY what you’re talking about and love you for it. And I still catch myself using the lingo and I cringe every time. Even to the point of correcting my boyfriend after he orders. I know I’m terrible, but I don’t do it aloud. Thing is though the coffee I get there is consistently bad, just as bad as the service. Don’t get me wrong, not all the baristas are bad. I just cant get over their priorities at the till. Sorry different topic. Even to the point of Yelping ( yeah I’m one of those too, for shame) about it and having the stores manager contact me to apologize for my experience. Having three years as a bar bitch under my belt I met all you’ve described and then some. The “I ordered my latte 155 degrees and this is not 155″ or ” this was supposed to be 1% and it isn’t.” Note that when I was a barista we only had whole and skim. When told this customers get angry stating they have always ordered 1% and have been for years. And I reply “and for years we’ve only had skim and whole, you’ve been getting an eyeball’d mix of the two for years. So which amount of which milk have you been drinking for years?” Another note, my attitude would eventually would lead to my being ” let go.” As they so politely put it.
My “stupid things at Starbucks” is people who go “oh I don’t drink coffee” when you suggest meeting at Starbucks, or when you are already at Starbucks, in line.. so… you don’t drink, water, tea, eat pastry or sit in a comfy chair at this convenient location? Inevitably the “well where do you want to meet than?” is met with “oh Starbucks will be fine I guess.” sometimes even followed with an unsolicited elongated story of “I just don’t drink coffee, never have. Tried it once just didn’t care for it.” I get frustrated with the fact that people feel Superior because they “don’t” drink coffee… I don’t smoke but you can still see me stepping outside with a smoker if I’m trying to conduct business and they want a smoke.
People act like Starbucks is a form of religion, its just coffee folks..
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