That Other Coffee Place

If you take any of the spice shakers off the condiment bar and sit with it at your table for any length of time, you are being rude. Items on the condiment bar are there to be shared by all. By monopolizing it you are stopping other people from doctoring their own drinks. Leave it at the condiment bar and go back to add more as needed.

As we’re refunding her from our tips because we can’t open the register she leans in and says, “I like your coffee more but I’m just going to have to go to Peet’s across the street.”

hours are affected by the availability of your peers, last year’s sales, what our district manager will approve, and how the manager is able to fit all these crazy puzzle pieces together.

Me: oh... it’s not a rosé latte. It’s rose... like the flower. It tastes like roses

Interviewee: Personally I love the atmosphere of coffee shops more. You have a better chance of making someone’s day. Plus, I love the smell of coffee and I would love to go home smelling like coffee instead of french fries

Me:

Me: (in the zone making a drink) I'm sorry... I missed the question. Can you repeat that.

Customer: (slowly, as if I'm stupid) you're looking for help. who quit?

Me: oh that would be Katie and Erica. They both had better job offers on the table

Customer: well maybe the manager should have paid them more and not stiffed them on raises

Me: that's not what happened. they've been given hefty raises every year for the past 3 years. Barista is not a lucrative career path and this is normally a temporary fix until someone can start their dream job. They're following their hearts and even though we were sad to see them go, we're happy to see them succeed.

Customer: well it's a shame. they were better than everybody here.

Me: I have faith that  everybody here is on their game and can make just as delicious a drink. I think all my staff are superstars especially when you look at some of the other coffee shops in the area. We far outshine them in consistency and friendliness.

Customer: yeah but those two girls were special. like they'd just know that you like your drink double cupped so you wouldn't ever have to remember yourself.

Me: is this your way of telling me you like your drink double cupped?

... the man that is technically my boss 2 levels up....

... a man in charge of 15 stores and has been in business for god knows how many years....

.... the man that’s been on my ass about cutting labor and gets to make financial decisions for my store...

... the man that thinks I don’t have enough knowledge and business acumen to be a GM “just yet”...

just told me that that labor overages are caused by people not clocking in and out on time and it’s my responsibility to coach my team about the importance of sticking to their schedules.