Pros: 30% discount, complimentary beverages, great benefits, engaging managment
Cons: long, early hours, caffeine withdrawal after a shift
Barista's at Starbucks are the partners that work hard to make sure each customer gets a drink that is to the quality standard that Starbucks trains it's partners to achieve.. for each customer. Upon entering Starbucks for a shift, I would begin by ordering myself a complimentary partner beverage and proceed to the back room to chat with co-workers
– more... and drink coffee. Work would begin with a time punch and an "Ok, let's go!" attitude which coffee often contributes to the morning. As a barista I learned to be responsive to the unique shift I was working on any given day. If I was opening, then my responsibilities involved stocking the pastry case and being ready for customer numero uno to arrive directly at 5:30pm. If I was a mid shift, I might have duties beyond that of serving customers coffee and pastries. I might be a pre-closer responsible for cleaning the washrooms, sweeping and mopping the floors, restocking the condiment stands and changing the garbage and the organics. If I was closing barista, then I would be bar-closing, which meant cleaning down the entire machine and work surfaces including the cold beverage station and fridges, and ensuring the espresso was stored for freshness. The diversity of tasks under the job title barista were new to me and I appreciated management greatly in their in depth training. Working alongside other baristas under a Supervisor at Starbucks, I quite enjoyed the interactions we got to have while serving customers and keeping the store running cleanly and efficiently. The hardest part of the job is time management and co-ordination of tasks. I had to make sure that I was accomplishing my tasks throughout the night, and not forgetting them as I served customers as well, so that the store could close on time.The most enjoyable part of working at Starbucks as a barista was the fun interaction with co-workers and regulars as we worked to provide great service to our customers. – less