One of the things that I bugs me are customers that walk in talking on their cell phone, order while talking on the cell phone, and walk out....still on their cell phone.

What's your irk at work?

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Having to explain what a macchiato is.. And why we only have one price/size. When they finally decide on a *$'s drink, they are charged *$'s prices. ;) revenge is sweet money in the till.
chantelle said:
when customers say "I'll have it here....but in a to-go cup"
I always laugh a little when someone says a 'real cup'. Like the paper ones are fake.
When the piledriver across the street causes the whole cafe to shudder, with every hit, all day long for a month. I know we need a new city hall and all, but all the drinks end up looking like the T.Rex scene from Jurassic Park. Sigh.
THat's funny

Ian Shaughnessy said:
When the piledriver across the street causes the whole cafe to shudder, with every hit, all day long for a month. I know we need a new city hall and all, but all the drinks end up looking like the T.Rex scene from Jurassic Park. Sigh.
Just a quick note on the steaming your milk to 104 degrees, and you may have already thought of this, and if so please don't take offense and completely disregard if you have avoided, but be careful doing that, since you are not steaming your milk to at least 140 degrees, you are leaving you milk in the heart of the danger zone for bacteria growth, maybe something that you should ask your supervisor about, I don't know how you would avoid this but if you have I'd love to know what how you have because I understand the positive that you are shooting for in doing this. Again please don't take this as me being a snobby barista, just trying to help. :P

Logan Demmy said:
I feel like the only time ive really gotten mad is when older barista came into our shop and treated like i knew nothing because I was clearly younger than her. She told me that I was making her 20 ounce (Im not the manager and I dont choose the sizes) iced latte wrong that i was going to water the drink down...
(slight segue) We steam the milk for an iced latte to ~104 to break down some of the enzymes making the drink sweeter and have a nice micro foam top. Then pour it over a full cup of ice, because less milk is used the drink is actually less expensive than the similar sized hot latte. Some customers are confused by this, but I always try to get them to try it a new way. Of course if they are not happy with this method I am happy to remake the drink in the fashion of their choosing.
It was just infuriating for an older barista to treat me as dirt, and complain about me watering down her 20 ounce drink.
This happens a lot at my shop as well and it always makes me think of the scene in high fidelity where Tim Robbins character comes into the record store and asks Cusack's character to stop coming around and it goes through the the three different scenes of the employees beating Robbins up, but then ends with him just taking it. In my head, every time I am screaming "You just experienced a standard North American greeting, please at least acknowledge, before you make the permanent decaf list!" Of course I have never put anyone on the list:) but oh man, that IRKS me. And they always get a smile. haha

That is all.

Laurence said:
I get this a lot as well. Irritating.

Alex Negranza said:
"Hey there! How you doin?"

"16oz NF SF Hazelnut Cappuccino."

.......

I wish I could somehow save the inner peace that's brought about by the confusion of that customer interaction and their drink order.
20oz bone dry cap... half caff
Agree!!!

Jay Caragay said:
What irks me at work?

Music- too much attention on listening to your favorite tunes than focusing on the craft
Attention to Detail - like, why don't you actually place the bagel in the bag and fold it for the customer?
Sense of Urgency - the customer is waiting so maintain focus and get the product to the customer.

These are the details (or lack of) that irks me at work. Quite honestly, I don't care if the customer is on the phone.
I always joke that 'just in case' there is an asteroid storm they need it in a to go cup. I would want to take my coffee with me! lol

The "would you like to start with it here; we can grab you a to go cup when you're ready to leave?" has worked somewhat for us as well.

Brady said:
chantelle said:
when customers say "I'll have it here....but in a to-go cup"

Oh yeah... "just in case". In case what? The only time I understand that is when its one of our customers from the local PD.

I've started offering to transfer whatever they haven't finished into a to-go if they need to leave, and this has worked reasonably well. Guess what? Most of them can actually stay long enough to finish a small coffee.
I Love it when people order an iced cappucino or when you add an extra shot of espresso by request to their drink they hand it back and say "It taste like coffee" DUH !!
Talbott Harrison said:
20oz bone dry cap... half caff


Luckily, we offer 8-16oz drinks, the cappuccino only in 8 & 12! Maybe a similar limitation to your menu would alleviate this ?
Mike Love said:
Agree!!!

Jay Caragay said:
What irks me at work?

Music- too much attention on listening to your favorite tunes than focusing on the craft
Attention to Detail - like, why don't you actually place the bagel in the bag and fold it for the customer?
Sense of Urgency - the customer is waiting so maintain focus and get the product to the customer.

These are the details (or lack of) that irks me at work. Quite honestly, I don't care if the customer is on the phone.
I have run across the music issue more than once, mainly because we allow laptops behind the bar, as our cd collection is ruined and or sucks, which leads people to distraction from work when choosing music. I have allowed computers behind the bar, but only if a sufficient playlist has been created, or pandora is used instead. These two choices really make a difference in work quality and beverage consistency.

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