30 Starbucks Facts Your Barista Is Trying To Keep A Secret From You

Bring your dog into your local Starbucks and ask for a Puppuccino with your order.Most baristas know to give you an espresso cup full of whipped cream for Rover to devour while you caffeinate yourself.

It might cost you a buck or two depending on the store, but whipped cream is technically safe for dogs to consume (unless they have health issues).

Many coffee lovers won’t drink Starbucks because the beans taste burnt. That’s because the coffee chain roasts their beans more than others.Why?

Well, they sell it as an Italian-style roast, but if you’ve ever been to Italy you know the coffee doesn’t taste like that. Instead, some say they do it so you’ll want to upgrade to a sugary drink to cover the taste.

Starbucks isn’t making the big bucks from black coffee – it needs you to get a venti frappuccino or cinnamon latte for a few dollars more.

The company has spent millions creating a premium image that makes caffeine lovers feel like carrying around anything less than a Starbucks cup would make them look like dilettantes.People are happy to spend extra money on something they feel is “exclusive” and Starbucks (and every other company) knows that.

That’s why it’s hard to even hold their cups in a way that doesn’t show off their logo.

Don’t need steaming hot coffee on your hand first thing in the morning?Order your drinks at “kids’ temperature” – they’ll be handed over much cooler (140 degrees) than a regular drink (which is between 200-212 degrees) and you won’t have to wait until it cools off to start slurping.

Most Starbucks employees wear green aprons. But if you spot a person in a black apron behind the coffee bar, it means you’re in the presence of a “coffee master,” who has taken more courses and seminars than other employees.If they don’t look too busy, ask if they can make your drink.

Reddit user jadium told readers that there are lots of ways to order drinks that can make them cheaper than the menu price.For example, an iced venti latte is $4, whereas a “doppio” (which is two espresso shots) is $1.95. But if you ask for a cup of ice and two added shots you’ll be paying $1.20.

Then, you can head over to the condiment bar and add as much cold milk as you want to make it a latte.

Voila!

You have to do some of the work yourself, but you just saved a bundle on an iced venti latte!

Look like a VIP for your Insta peeps by asking for holiday drinks a week or two early. A Reddit user said they’ll usually have all the ingredients in-store earlier.But you’ll have to get lucky and be nice to your barista if you want them to do you that special favor.

If every customer sat around for an hour sipping on a cup of coffee and using free Wi-fi, every Starbucks in the world would exceed its fire code in a matter of minutes.Especially in high-traffic areas where the customer turnover needs to be high to keep business flowing, Starbucks (and other eateries) use different furniture designed to keep you from getting too comfortable.

If you see a Starbucks on a popular corner in a big city, you may notice that there are very few tables and chairs at all.

That’s all on purpose. They want you to get in, get your drink, and the move along so the next customer pony up their dough.

Reddit user _neon_ told readers that the only difference between a grande and venti espresso-based drink is the amount of milk and syrup involved.So, if you order the larger one thinking you’ll get an extra shot, you’re wrong. You’re just getting more sugar.

They said: “This is true of most standard Starbucks beverages. You can always ask for an additional shot in any beverage size.”

Many people custom order their drinks, but using the Starbucks app is a good way to know what a drink is made of without having to ask.Then you can ask for that extra shot of espresso or whipped cream if you know you’re going to need it.

All drink prices end in 0 or 5 (before tax) and there’s a reason for that. When prices go up, customers tend not to notice if it ends in one of those numbers.The problem is, you may notice if the final amount comes to a new number that doesn’t end in a 0 or 5 after tax, but by then you’ve got a line in front of and behind you and it’s harder to back out.

Next time you go in, try to remember if that new $3.65 latte used to be $3.60 on the menu.

A Reddit user who used to be a barista admitted that plenty of employees accidentally hit the wrong button when getting a decaf coffee, simply out of habit.But if you order a decaf drip, you can’t go wrong since that comes out of a separate pitcher. (Although they also admitted that it’s not alway very fresh since it might sit out for hours – but that likely varies by store.)

The brew used for iced coffee is stronger than the regular stuff since it’s going to be watered down as soon as that ice melts.That means you can technically ask for a steamed iced coffee and get the strongest version they offer. And, of course, you can get it without the ice.

Just don’t be surprised if you have to explain it after an odd look. It’s probably not a request they get very often.

Lots of companies prey on your fear of missing out (or FOMO) when it comes to getting exclusive goods. That’s why they have so many “limited edition” and seasonal drinks.Need to Instagram your annual pumpkin spice latte? They rely on that need – and they love to switch things up just a bit (even using special holiday cups) so you have to come in and see what you’re missing.

Known to baristas and Reddit users everywhere, the cruelest trick a Starbucks barista can play on you is to sub out your regular coffee for decaf.You’re certainly not going to know if you order something with a lot of bells and whistles.

It’s a favorite passive-aggressive trick of cafe employees everywhere who feel they’re being treated rudely.

ALWAYS be nice to your barista.

A Reddit user did dieters everywhere a real solid when they revealed that iced coffees and iced teas are automatically sweetened using a simple syrup.If you don’t want a pump of syrup in your iced coffee, you must say so up front.

Let’s face it, we don’t go to Starbucks for fine cuisine, but you’re kidding yourself if you think those croissants were made on site.All Starbucks food is reheated frozen food.

Ok, granted, you might not be able to finish your drink. But you need to imagine changing a trash bag half full of liquid.In addition, you’re likely to drip some on the floor when you tip it in, so you’re making twice the mess as everyone else.

There’s a reason everybody knows about the so-called “secret menu.” Because it’s not a secret.Reddit user Raskov75 said, “Former Barista here. There is no secret menu. Those drinks are just special orders.”

Baristas also get (rightfully) annoyed when people order off this “menu,” especially when it’s busy, because those drinks often require extra steps and break up the normal flow of work.

Since, as we just said, there are no secret items, that means anything you see on Instagram or some super-“secret” website is just a fake drink name.A barista isn’t going to know what you mean by some influencer’s lingo, so you need to know the ingredients.

And remember how annoying it is when you custom order a drink while business is booming! If you’re going to ask a barista to do extra work, at least have your info ready.

If you’re a regular and there aren’t 15 people behind you in line, you might take the opportunity some time to ask your favorite barista about their favorite drink.They get to play with ingredients to make their own stuff, so chances are they have a good sense of some creative “special orders” that might be really great but aren’t on the menu.

But, seriously, don’t try it while other people are waiting or when your barista is obviously busy. Timing is everything.

While none of the regular Starbucks syrups have milk in them, a Redditor points out that the caramel drizzle and the “thicker syrups” – such as white mocha, pumpkin spice, and caramel brûlée – do.So if you’re vegan, that limits your choices.

But knowledge is power.

Starbucks Card holders and those who have signed up for the company’s mobile app are eligible for a free drink or food item on their birthday each year.And you don’t even have to make a purchase – just show proof that it’s your big day!

Uniformed police officers, firefighters, and members of the military will often get a discount at certain stores, but it’s not company policy.That means if you’ve been the beneficiary of one of these discounts, it’s the baristas, store managers, or even other customers paying it forward, not the company itself.

But it’s all to thank you for your service!

Even aside from trying to order a specialty drink off the fake secret menu, there are some drinks that are just a pain to make, especially when the place is busy.Anything sparkling and frappuccinos are likely to make your barista scowl.

They’re still going to make it for you, but it’s good to know how not to annoy the person making your drink!

The darker a roast is, the less caffeine it has.Don’t expect your barista to explain the whole process, but don’t complain when you’re still drowsy after your dark roast.

Expect an eye roll if you tell your barista how you’re jonesing for that pumpkin spice because you just looooove pumpkin. There’s none in there.Pumpkin spice contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice – roughly the same combo that goes into pumpkin pie.

So really, you just like pie (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Starbucks baristas make a minimum wage that does not depend on tips (not necessarily the case for cafes).So while you don’t have to tip, it’s certainly a nice thing to do if you’ve ordered something off-menu or come in for a big order that one person is busting their butt to finish for you on time.

Oh, do you need 14 different orders all on separate receipts? Granted, it’s not your fault, but you certainly shouldn’t expect to see smiles when you walk in the door with that request.Work in an office where you give your intern a bunch of credit cards to go get your coffee? Get your acts together and bring some cash to pool! (Or else you might get punished with a decaf.)

If you have a registered Starbucks Card or the store’s mobile app, you can get a FREE refill of brewed coffee (hot or iced or cold brew) or tea (hot or iced).You’re not getting another mocha latte for for free, but you can enjoy all the coffee and tea you want for as long as you’re there.

Unless you leave the store – then your next drink is considered a new purchase.