Starbucks is a safe bet. You will always get the same product the only thing that is different from location is the baristas. I came to this Starbucks to pick up my mobile order. I ordered an iced quad espresso over ice in a venti coffee with a splash of whole milk. I walked in and I see my order with the shots in the cup under the espresso machine. The shots are finished pouring from the machine and just sitting there. The barista is listening to the orders being taken at the registers and makes those first before finishing mine. I understand that as a barista you have to make so many drinks and sometimes do it out of order. However I worked at Starbucks for five years previously and know that espresso shots "die" if they aren't mixed with water,ice,milk,or syrup. So my shots were left there for about 10 minutes until she filled the cup with ice and some milk. A dead espresso shot taste like a bitter ashtray. I pay full price now that I don't work there anymore so I would like my drink to be correct. Full of quality and it tastes good. So I try to ask the barista " Gi" Gi was her name. Excuse me but she put my drink on the counter and continued to make other drinks. I tried to call her a couple of times "I'm sorry to bug but" "do you mind" and nothing. She looked like she hated her life. She look angry and like she didn't want to be there. As if we the customers were bothering her. At HER job. Where she is supposed to be happy or could at least try and fake it if she was having a bad day. So as I continue to wait for an attempt to ask her a guy next to me asks if he could have some Splendas because they weren't at the counter and she said I guess and then grabbed them. ????? Don't understand why she is a barista if we are an inconvenience to her. So I gave up and went to the register line to ask for it to be remade. I just ask the guy if there was any way I could have my drink remade but this time maybe she could scoop the ice before the shots pull from the espresso machine, that way if she gets busy making other drinks my espresso shots wouldn't be "dead" and taste terrible and I still could drink it. The guy says yes and tells her to remake it and she says what is wrong with it I just made that??? Clearly the world revolves around Ms. Gi and she has no interest in making the moment or drink correct. She grabs the cup out of his hand and proceeds to "remake my drink" ... however now she is mad that I said something in which I waited 30 minutes for my drink. it was a very busy afternoon but she made sure not to fix the problem right away and have my wait. Then again I see my drink sitting with the shots in the cup. No ice or a splash of whole milk. Again the shots sitting in the cup passed 8-10 seconds let alone about 15 minutes. So again I go to the register line because at this point she is not making any espresso drinks made with high quality taste. And I don't want my drink. So by the second time I get to the front of the line I had the barista "Jhonal" help me. He completely changed my mood around. I told him I'm so sorry to bug but is there any way I could get a grande cold brew black? I informed him of the situation. How I ordered espresso and the drink was made wrong. How I asked for a remake but Gi was taking it out on me and pointed the drink out at the espresso machine and he took the cup and it said my name and my order. He instantly apologized and asked if I wanted him to remake the drink and he would do it immediately. I said no it's okay I just want to go can I just have the cold brew. He grabbed me a cold brew in that moment and I had it in my hand 30 seconds later. He apologized to me again. He offered me if I wanted anything else or if there was anything else he could help me with.
I go to Starbucks because it's consistent but having baristas like Gi who are unhappy to be there, don't want to make things right, aren't friend, and create such a unwelcoming and hostile environment make me want to go to other places. Go to other coffee shops that will be more expensive but at least those baristas take pride in their job and care about the job and making someone's day from an experience to the cup of coffee. But then I get a barista like Jhonal who completely changed the situation from his positivity, immediate actions to make the moment right, apologizing, and telling me to have a great day.
Another thing about this location is that it is messy, unorganized, and the girls looked homeless. Gi had a loose ponytail that held half of her hair? Half was out... didn't look clean at all. Just super messy appearance. Then Jhonal looked clean and fresh.
Final notes are if you walk in and see the barista Gi walk out... don't waste your money,energy, or time. An interaction with her will ruin your day with her negatively and with a bad cup of coffee. If you see Jhonal go ahead and order and enjoy your experience. read more