How Starbucks Baristas Really Feel About Your ‘Secret Menu’ Orders
If you’re a fan of Starbucks’ Pink Drink, Butterbeer Frappuccino, or the Thin Mint Frappuccino, you’re technically ordering things that don’t exist, but baristas are skilled enough to make them all happen.
I’m talking about items on the “Secret Menu” of course, and while your local store might be cool with making an espresso-filled blended drink called a “Chola,” try ordering that at another store, and they’ll look at you with an Aubrey Plaza-like face of befuddlement.
Baristas took to Reddit and expressed how they felt about customers barging into their stores and ordering these imaginary drinks.
Their reactions may, or may not surprise you, but at least they’re being honest about our crazy requests.
Know the Ingredients
It’s not necessarily irritating if you know what the ingredients are. It’s really only frustrating when people come in and say something like “Let me have a Twix Frap!” and they expect us to know how to do it and say it is on the “secret” menu. But as long as you know what goes in it we’ll be happy to make it for you! We just want you to be happy with your drink. 🙂
Don’t Get Mad If the Barista Doesn’t Know What You’re Talking About
Only frustrating when people get mad when we don’t know what’s in it. Nobody actually minds, as long as you have the recipe. My main policy is if we don’t have a button for it in the special section, and you don’t have a recipe, I’m not getting my phone out to google whatever $8 frap you want. You obviously don’t want it enough.
Some Baristas Get Really Freaked Out
For fuck’s sake, some of us are hardly trained on the regular drinks. Seriously, beyond the latte(which I already knew how to make), nearly all of my barista skills have been developed on my own time.
Don’t Be A Dick When Ordering Something That’s Not On-Menu
The people that order them are what make the drinks themselves annoying. Recipe, fine. When people act like it’s a thing for us, fuck off.
Ah, The Infamous Pink Drink
Cust: “It’s on the secret menu, I know you guys have it”
Me: “Oh yeah, it’s a secret to us too”
Cust: …
Me: “but if you know the recipe I’d be happy to make it for you”
Cust: …
Me: ….
Cust: “Venti Caramel Frappuccino”
I don’t even mind the [Pink] drink so much, it’s just the principle of the matter
They Do Charge For All Those Extra Secret Ingredients
I will make anything you want, I don’t care, as long as you bring in the recipe and don’t get angry about any extra fees.
Have Some Mercy On Them During Rush Hours
I wouldn’t mind if it didn’t seem like secret menu stuff was only ordered during busy times.
If you see the Barista Holding Lighter Fluid… RUN!
Every time someone says they have a drink off of the secret menu, I cringe and imagine setting their hair on fire.
