My coffee addiction began at a pretty young age, and that's what inspired me to apply at a coffee shop. Whenever I tell people that I work in a coffee shop, they always laugh and go, "Oh man, what an easy job." Now, I'm not saying that slinging coffee beans and steaming milk for 6-8 hours is the HARDEST job in the world. What I am saying is that, when your drive-thru line is gridlocked and every single customer wants a 32oz blended drink, or your decaf shot isn't pulling, it's not the easiest job.
These are 10 things you'll know to recognize if you work in a coffee shop:
1. Regular Customers
Every coffee shop has their set group of regulars who come by every single day at the same time. Scotts gets a medium quad iced mocha, Bob gets a medium hot coffee with hazelnut, and Michael and his wife order a large iced coffee with nonfat and a medium light iced chai. You know the cars the drive, what they have done the last three weekends, and always have their order ready when they arrive. There is nothing in the world I love more than chatting with my regulars daily.
2. Getting to work before the sun rises
Nothing says "Good morning" like having three alarms set for 4:15 AM, 4:30AM, and finally 4:45 AM. Sometimes you'll close one night and then go in to open the shot the following morning. It always pays off in the end when you get to watch the beautiful sunrise.
SEE ALSO: 5 Types Of Coffee Drinkers As Told By A Barista
3. Constantly smelling like espresso
Without fail you will leave every single shift smelling like a straight up espresso shot. Some people dig it and other people feel like it's utterly disgusting. All I know is that the kid I used to sit next to in my Tuesday night lecture after I got off the Mid Shift would lean over and whisper, "I like your coffee scent."
4. When a car orders 15 drinks
Every barista has experienced this. There is a line of 6 cars and they're all classic, easy to make drinks. Then you get that one car who orders four 32oz blended drinks, four different hot drinks (all with different milks to be steamed), the other are all either decaf, have ten different flavors in each, or want to change their order when they get to the window. The entire shop seems to go up in flames with these orders arrive.
5. "Can I actually get that light iced and half sweet?"
We've all been there before. The order was sent in as a "medium iced vanilla latte" and the drink was made and ready to go. But when the customer gets to the window and you repeat the drink order they reply, "Oh, I meant to order that half sweet and with light ice."
6. Spilling drinks you just made
Sometimes, you just start moving way too fast on machine and your brain is moving faster than your hands. Next think you know you're covered in a large iced green tea and a medium hot white chocolate mocha.
7. When customers order using Starbucks lingo
With how often it happens, I should honestly know the difference between a venti, tall, and grande. But sometimes you get so caught up in the order it's hard to translate over. Doesn't small, medium, and large just make more sense?
8. When customers complain about the wait
I promise, your barista is moving fast as possible but sometimes the shot pulls at 32 seconds instead of 22 and the milk was steamed too much. Other times a customer orders two extra drinks at the window and sometimes there is a trainee on bar. Regardless, complaining to the cashier just makes the wait even longer.
9. People who order while talking on their phone
My favorite part of the job is getting the chance to talk to customers and getting to know them. The worst thing is when a customer comes through and talks on the phone the entire time. Not only is the order difficult to take, but I miss out on that opportunity to have a conversation
10. Becoming friends with your coworkers
Sometimes working at a coffee shop can be difficult. Crazy rushes make you lose your mind, AM shifts are hard to wake up for, and some days you just don't want to talk to people. But the people that you work with make those shifts so much better.
If you ever get the opportunity to, please become a barista. Not only does it make it easier for you to order your drinks in the future, you learn a lot about customer service and about yourself. I now know how I work under pressure, how to handle difficult people, and what it's like to work in the morning. It's truly a learning experience that I wouldn't have traded for the world.
