My Second Home

So this is the actual store I work at. Considering I work a whopping average of  35 hours a week, I like to call this place my home, away from home. I've been to a lot of Starbucks stores, and I can honestly say that the store I work at is nicer than most. The fact that our store has a cafe, plus a drive thru is already a bonus, but our cafe itself is spacious, and it is always kept sparkling clean. Most Starbucks I've been to doesn't keep up with their cleaning and it tends to ruin the image of their store. I'm proud to be a part of the store I work at's team. 

Typical Work Day

New Addition to the Starbucks Family

So I received news tonight that Starbucks will be adding a new addition to the "cake pop" family. Stores will be introducing the new "Lemon Cake Pop" soon! I'm not too sure when the exact date is, but I do know it is coming very soon. Also, there is a returning item, the "Raspberry Pound Cake" is coming back! Apparently, the pound cake is to die for. I'll keep you guys updated as to when they are coming out if I hear any news on it. Other than that, you might just see them pop up in your local Starbucks one day. 

Starbucks Refreshers for $2

When you go into any Starbucks stores, make sure you get a receipt with every order you get. On the bottom of every receipt, there is a coupon for a grande refresher offered for only $2 (originally $3.45) every day after 12 pm, up until April 9th. Refreshers are available to you in "Cool Lime" or "Berry Hibiscus." I personally love both. They sure do look like teas, but they are actually made from espresso extract, so yes they are caffeinated drinks. These refreshers are also naturally sweetened and they are just the perfect summer drinks to refresh yourself with! 

Experiment #2

So this drink is on Starbucks' "secret menu" and as you guys may know, I like experimenting with these "secret" drinks. Especially since I get them for free when I'm working. So this one is just a "Green Tea Creme Frapuccino" with white mocha sauce, peppermint syrup, and java chips all blended together. Let me tell you, it was scrumptiously delicious. I said it before, but I'm not really a fan of chocolate, but white chocolate I can tolerate. Especially if it's a chocolate-mint type drink. So next time you go to Starbucks, go ahead and try this drink out!

The "Grasshopper"

Raspberry Caramel Machiatto

So a customer ordered a "Caramel Machiatto" but with Raspberry syrup instead of the standard Vanilla flavoring we use. I've made this drink before the same exact way, it's just I never got to take a picture of it, until now of course. Isn't it just beautiful? The bright, luscious pink on the bottom, and the brown espresso shots on top, making it blend smoothly together. 

Experiment Gone GREAT

So I normally don't like chocolate. But white chocolate I can tolerate. So when someone ordered a "Java Chip Frappucino" with white chocolate mocha sauce instead of regular mocha sauce, it actually sounded delightful, and tolerable. So I made a small sample for myself and drizzled caramel and mocha sauce on top of the whipped cream. Supposedly, it's on the secret menu and it's considered an "Oreo Shake." So next time you're at Starbucks, go and try this cup of deliciousness! 

Baristas Dancing at their Finest

Here's me teaching my shift supervisor a line dance because we had absolutely nothing else to do and it was an incredibly SLOW night. 

Working Hard, or Hardly Working?

Wyatt is texting on the job, Monica is sampling drinks on the job, Brittny....I don't even know what she's doing, and me of course, I'm taking the picture. But it pretty much explains our night crew in one picture.

Go Bananas!

So...one of the shift leaders accidentally ordered 18 too many banana walnut loaves and they were all marked out to be thrown in the trash after tonight. I looked at the stack, and just couldn't bare to think of all those delicious yummies going bye bye. So I felt the need to buy three whole loaves, 6 slices in each loaf, just to help contribute to not wasting. Oh, I also bought a loaf of chocolate cinnamon bread just because. Looks like I'll be having breakfast for the next two weeks!

Delicious Drinks Under 200 Calories

Michael Buble and Starbucks?

Who loves Starbucks? Who loves Michael Buble and his angelic sounding voice? Now who loves Starbucks, PLUS Michael Buble singing in a video together? I sure do. 

I found this picture and I thought it was really cute and just had to share it with you guys. The cartoon-esque pictures make it look so....tasty? I'm not too sure, but I can tell you guys that these are probably the most common Starbucks frapuccinos.

"Secret Menu" Part 2

Starbucks Secret Menu

2.      Red Eye - This is a shot of espresso in regular drip coffee.

3.      Black Eye - This drink has 2 shots of espresso in regular drip coffee.

4.      Green Eye - This drink includes 3 shots of espresso in regular drip coffee.

5.      Poor Mans Chai Latte - Order a Chai Tea Misto with extra foam, two tea bags, and half cinnamon and half vanilla syrup.

6.      French Pressed Coffee - If you want coffee served fresh from a French press you may have it with any variety in the shop.

7.      Chocolate Cream Frapuccino - This is a frapuccino made with chocolate syrup and chocolate frapuccino base.

8.      Cake Batter Frap - Order a vanilla frappucino and ask for both the vanilla bean and almond flavorings. It will taste just like cake batter.

9.      Crunchberry Frap - Flavored like the crunchberry cereal, this is a strawberrys and cream frappucino with hazelnut flavoring.

10.   Strawberry Blended Lemonade - Although this had been taken off the menu, most locations will still blend the strawberry flavoring with lemonade for you.

11.   London Fog - This is made with vanilla flavoring in Earl Gray Tea.

12.   Zebra Mocha (also called a Tuxedo or Penguin Mocha -marble mocha macchiato-) - This is a mix of the white chocolate and regular chocolate mochas.

13.   Red Tux Mocha (also called Bleeding Penguin) - The same mix of white chocolate and regular chocolate mocha with raspberry flavoring.

14.   Captain Crunch - Strawberries & creme frappe with a pump of caramel, two pumps of toffee, one pump of hazelnut & two scoops of chocolate chip.

15.   Neopolitan Frappucino - Ask for a strawberries & cream frappucino with some vanilla bean powder & a pump of mocha. 

16.   Raspberry Cheesecake - Order a white chocolate mocha (iced, hot, or as a frappe) & add a few pumps of raspberry. 

17.   For a chocolate turtle flavor - Any drink that has mocha, caramel, & toffee nut.

18.   For a French vanilla flavor - Any drink that has half toffee nut & half vanilla.

19.   Oreo Frappucino - Ask for a double chocolate chip frappe with white mocha syrup instead of the regular mocha. 

20.   The Nutella  - order a Cafe Misto with a pump of chocolate, a pump of hazelnut with caramel drizzle. For the sweet toothed people, you can also ask for a caramel drizzle inside the cup.

21.   Super Cream Frapp - Ask the barista to blend some whipped cream into the drink so that the drink will be more smooth than icy. this works especially well for the mocha frappuccino.

22.   Three C’s - Order a cinnamon Dolce latte with a pump of caramel & a pump of chocolate mocha syrup.

23.   Chocolate syrup - Order a pumpkin spice latte with chocolate syrup for a drink that tastes just like pumpkin chocolate chip bread. It also tastes great in frappuccino form.

Fun Fact

So I found this neat picture on Tumblr today and thought I'd share it with you. For those who are aware of the "trenta" size at Starbucks, this picture shows that it is equivalent to the capacity of an adult stomach. Probably rethink of getting this size next time huh?

Top 5 favorite Starbucks Snacks & Drinks

Snacks/Food                                              
1) Strawberry-Blueberry Yogurt

2) Spinach Feta Wrap                                                          

3) Protein Bistro Box                                                            

4) Cake Pops

5) Classic Oatmeal w/ All Toppings

Drinks

1) Lemonade w/ Raspberry Syrup

2) Iced Caramel Machiatto w/ Extra Caramel

3) Iced Green Tea w/ Extra Sweetener

4) Cafe Vanilla Frappuccino w/ Extra Caramel

5) Berry Hibiscus Refresher                               

Brittny, shift supervisor/mother

Brittny is definitely my all time favorite shift leader. Or in other words, shift supervisor. One closing night, I tell her how I'm starving, and craving for something sweet. She tells me to go on my "10" which means my ten minute break, and soon after, there she is with this chocolate chunk cookie heated up with whipped cream, caramel drizzle, and mocha drizzle on top. It's like she's heaven sent with mother qualities.

Starbucks Haunting at Home

Two coffee machines, one especially made from Starbucks Company itself, Starbucks syrup bottle, Starbucks 'K-cups,' and tons and tons of Starbucks Verismo pods. It's like I can never get a break from work, even when I'm at home! My mother is a coffee addict, so when I first got hired, she used her addiction to her advantage the very minute she could. She makes sure I get my weekly mark out. Weekly mark outs consist of a "free item." It can usually be a pound of whole bean coffee, Keurig cups, Verismo pods, or even a bottle of flavored syrup. Surprisingly, I don't even use any of these machines. I already have enough caffeine when I'm at work. Did I mention how I bought the Verismo (machine to the right) for her for Christmas? This machine was two hundred stinkin' dollars. Click the link below if you're interested in learning more about this fascinating machine. In quick detail, the machine makes espresso, lattes, americanos, and coffee.

Starbucks Verismo Machine

Starbucks "Acceptance Letter"

Guess what I got in the mail today?  I got my Starbucks Partner Card!!!! When my manager handed it to me, in the beautiful brown envelope, I told her that it was equivalent to getting your very first college acceptance letter. Getting your Starbucks Partner Card is like being finally accepted to the company, officially. When you first get hired, you're given a paper card with your partner number, which allows you to get your partner markouts and your partner discount. But now, I officially have my cold, hard, plastic green card! The feeling is beyond me. 

Starbucks goes GREEN!

A picture of my very own Starbucks reusable cup

Technically, Starbucks has always been going green. Even from the start of the color of our aprons. But economically, the company has always been about recycling, conserving energy, etc. A few months ago, Starbucks released the $1 reusable cup. Since the release, it has been a hit, especially in the store I work at. The best part is, it's only $1 and it's good for about 30 uses. Some say even more, it was just based on if the cup goes through the dish washer. If not, then you can expect the cup to last even longer than just 30 uses. The cup is made out of good, hard plastic material, and looks exactly like the cup the store uses. The cup allows for cold and hot beverages, but make sure to grab a sleeve if a hot beverage is being filled!

Also, if you have noticed, Starbucks stores now have trash bins with blue colored trash bags. These indicate materials used for recycling. So if you can guess, all the plastic and aluminum materials go in those bins. Each store should also have a "landfill" and "recycle" trash bin.

Perks of using this cup, or any other personal cup when buying drinks from Starbucks? You'll get a 10 cent 

personal cup discount! 

Yeah, it's just 10 cents, but it will all add up one day. Besides, you're helping save the planet as well! Get yours today!

Want to learn more about the goal Starbucks has planned for our community? Click the link below.

Starbucks Responsibility

Best friend of the year

Last night was one of the slowest nights I have ever worked at Starbucks. Luckily, my best friend, decided to come by and surprise me with box full of HOT AND FRESH KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS.

What did I do in this world to deserve such an amazing best friend? I do not know. But I shall not question it any further. Of course, since I am so loving and caring, I decided to share them with my fellow baristas as well. We enjoyed them, maybe a little too much. We were all craving a big, cold, refreshing glass of milk after we devoured the box. Fortunately, we have multiple refrigerators stocked with all sorts of milk! teeeheee. 

"Crafted by hand & heart"

hazelnut macchiato

Barista Fun

Us Starbucks baristas, like to have fun while we work. I cannot emphasize enough as to how much our store employees like to have fun while at the workplace. But keep in mind, we still make sure we get our job done! One closing night, it was completely dead. No one was in the lobby, no body was coming through our drive thru. So, we decided to leave a little fortress of cups on our bar. For the laughs of it, we did it for our openers to open up to when they arrive in the morning. The day after, they sent us a video of the results of our fortress of cups. Unfortunately, I couldn't upload it. *sad face*

It was a video of the openers doing some ninja punch to our beautiful fortress and knocking it all down. I don't know what was more tragic, seeing our fortress fall, or seeing so many cups go to waste.

"CLO-PENING"

Yeah, that sounds strange doesn't it? Well, "clo-pening" means having the closing shift, and having the opening shift. Last night, I closed and this morning, I didn't open, but I had to come back in at 6:30 AM. Yes it is technically still obeying all laws of an 8 hour time in between shifts, but really though? That is so not ethical. If you think about it, you still have to drive home, shower, etc. So in reality, you're not really gaining a full 8 hours of sleep. That was my night/morning. I feel like my boss gives me these shifts often too. And let me tell you, it sucks. I felt like a walking zombie this morning. And to make it even better, I had a 6:30-2:30 shift. That means I went through TWO rushes. The morning rush, AND the after school rush. To put the cherry on top, I was placed on bar for both rushes! It is beyond me how I am still alive and kicking to write this blog to tell all of you about it. But for some odd reason, I feel like it made me even more alive. Today, my boss called me the "drink making machine." Which is nice, because any compliment or praise from the boss lady is awesome. But I felt like I was on fire when I was making drinks. So maybe these "clo-pening" shifts make me a better barista......?

P.S

I FINALLY GOT MY 6 MONTHS RAISE! *WOOOOO*

Get ready for Easter

Easter is March 31st, do you have a gift for your daughter? Son? Grandma? Parents? Neighbor? Anyone who doesn't live near you? Send them an eCard now! eCards are like gift cards, but they're delivered electronically. Visit the website for more details, or to get your eCard started!

Starbucks eGifts

Get into the Spring Spirit

Starbucks Company loves to get into the spirit of whatever upcoming season, or holiday, that is approaching. The link listed below is the site where you can do a little online shopping for some of the season's new merchandise that displays an array of bubbly, spring colors that will start you off the season in the right way.

Starbucks Spring Drinkware

It's Spring Time!

Today, Starbucks launches their new spring time favorites. The new HAZELNUT MACCHIATO, CHOCOLATE TRIO, AND TRIBUTE BLEND. The new hazelnut macchiato can be served as a hot latte, over ice, or even blended in our frappuccino form. It is very similar to the famous "caramel macchiato" but instead of the caramel drizzle, we drizzle a savory hazelnut sauce. The chocolate trio includes the oh so delicious cheesecake brownie, the new and improved chocolate chunk cookie, and the chocolate cinnamon bread to die for. The Tribute Blend is back, and has never been better!

"Starbucks Tribute Blend combines four of our all-time favorite coffees: Ethiopian sun dried beans with an exotic flourish of dark cherry; Aged Sumatra, loved for its syrupy body and cedary spice notes; juicy herbal and complex coffees from Papua New Guinea; and our Colombia coffee, bright, balanced and nutty." - www.starbucks.com

The new Tribute Blend comes in whole bean, K-cups, and Verismo pods for sale.

TRY THE NEW SPRING PROMO ITEMS TODAY!

What it's like to be a Starbucks Partner

Describes your barista perfectly in 2 minutes. 

Starbucks Rewards Program

How To Get Your Gold Card Today!

Get $5 Free!

A lot of you know about the awesome Starbucks Rewards Program right? Well if not, then starting today, through March 14th, is the best time to be knowledgeable about it! First, buy a gift card at any Starbucks store near you, and put money in it. Once you do that, go online at www.starbucks.com and register your card. Once you register it, use it whenever you go to Starbucks when you buy drinks or food items. Once the money in the card runs out, keep reloading it! After you reach about 30 "reward stars" you will receive your very own Starbucks Gold Card. It's pretty neat actually. It has your own first and last name on it. After you receive your Starbucks Gold Card, you reload it every time you need to put money in it. After every 12 gold stars, you will start receiving free drinks and food items! Start the Starbucks Rewards Program today through March 14th and we will offer you a free $5 card!

Register Your Card Here

Who says work can't be fun?

So here at Starbucks, the baristas like to make their job fun. Especially at the store I work at. Which is absolutely great! Work should be fun. You should enjoy coming into work. But of course, you must get the job done at the same time. Brittny, our shift leader, was stocking the stir sticks in the condiment bar one night, and little did she know, the box of the stir sticks was opened at the bottom. Totally not her fault. Some dumb idiot left it like that. So the after math is the picture on the left. So Alexa, Brittny, and I decided to make a game out of it and started playing Chinese Pick Up Sticks. Of course it was when the store was closed! We would not do something this stupid and irresponsible while the store was still opened. Come on, afterall, we're 

Starbucks Baristas.

Dishes 101

Have you ever seen a sink filled like this with dishes? Maybe so if you work in some type of restaurant-fast food place. Maybe not if all you do is dishes at home. Be glad that's all the dishes you have to do in your life. So you may think this would take about an hour, or maybe more, to accomplish right? WRONG. Some partners take forever to wash dishes, which end up screwing up the closers in the evening. So for all you out there who's not aware of how to do dishes in a timely manner, consider these steps. Take it from me, the partners at my store call me......the dish ninja.

STEP 1: Rinse all dishes that have residue. (This will help you keep your wash bin clean.)

STEP 2: SCRUB all dishes. I cannot stress this enough. It is the most disgusting thing ever finding dried milk on milk pitchers, or moldy crusties underneath the blenders. 

STEP 3: Once you accumulate enough dishes that are sparkling clean with no left over residue, rinse them with hot water. Soapy, hot water in the washing bin will also help take the dried milk off faster.Then soak your dishes into the sanitizing bin for a good minute.

Step 4: Stack dishes properly on the drying shelves. Use your common sense and put the most dry dishes on top and not the most wet. 

Step 5: Put dry dishes back before you start stacking soaking wet dishes on the shelf. If you skip this step before you stack wet dishes, your dishes will NEVER dry!

I can guarantee you will finish dishes as many as pictured above, in a timely manner if you follow these steps. This is not rocket science people, it's just washing dishes!

Happy Valentine's Day

So its the most wonderful time of the year! I'm totally kidding, it's not Christmas. Or Thanksgiving. It's Valentine's Day. There are definitely mixed emotions about this holiday. Depending whether you're single, or taken, this blog will definitely be beneficial to you. Go to any participating Starbucks today after 2 P.M, with a valid coupon, and get two drinks for the price of one. This coupon only applies to a grande  Vanilla Spice Latte, Hot Chocolate, or Mocha. And they must be only served hot for the discount to apply! This is a way for your lovely baristas to say "Happy Valentine's Day! You're not alone!" So take advantage, and enjoy it.

"So like uhhh, do you know what a schish-mac-bab-labab is?"

I love my customers. I love my regulars. I love working with the public. But i CANNOT stand the customers who ask if we know how to make a drink that is not on the menu. Yes, we do have something so called a "secret menu" but most of the time, customers just make up their own drinks and call it whatever they want. So when they ask us if we know how to make a (fill in the blank with some weird name for their drink) and we respond with "no, we don't know what that is and what it consists of" they ALWAYS give us either attitude, or a weird looking face. Us baristas are trained to know what is on OUR menu, not the secret menu! So next time you walk into a Starbucks and order a "schlamacblibab" and we aren't aware of what it is, DO NOT GIVE US ATTITUDE! Afterall, we are still the ones making your drinks.

For those who never heard of the "secret menu," go ahead and take a gander. 

Starbucks "Secret Menu"

Work of art, or work of boredom?

Clearly, I have an issue with drowning my drinks with caramel. Believe it or not, there are some who are worse! And when i say worse, I mean worse. Customers will get upset if their drink is not to their liking. especially when it is not enough caramel. Us baristas, like to call them, "diabetes in a cup." Because it literally looks like you will get diabetes after drinking it. But I can understand where our valuable customers are coming from. There's just something about coffee and caramel mixed together. It's almost like "heaven in your mouth."

First Day!

I remember my first day at work like it was just yesterday. Yesterday, marked my "5 month monthsary" working there. Since then, our store has lost some of our partners. Mixed emotions really. I love my partners, but some of them I CANNOT stand. Especially one of the newer members. But Starbucks is all about making everyone a part of the "team." I try my utmost best to keep my cool, since that is part of being a starbucks barista!