Former Starbucks Baristas Are Opening Up About The Worst Customer Habits

There are over 15,000 Starbucks stores in America, and millions visit them every day for their routine caffeine fix. But there are some things these regulars do that actually really irk the baristas on shift — and some of them are pretty surprising. Read on to discover the very worst habits of Starbucks customers and see if you’re guilty of any of these offenses!

1. Shouting their order

“I’LL HAVE A SMALL CAPPUCCINO, A LARGE LATTE, AND AN EARL GREY TEA PLEASE!” Okay, customer, we hear you. There’s no need to shout. In fact, not surprisingly, a pet hate of Starbucks baristas is patrons who bellow their order at them. So, speak only loud enough so they can hear you, and take a chill pill, please! You’ll get your caffeine fix soon enough.

2. Ordering super-hot lattes

Starbuck baristas don’t tend to like it when people ask for their lattes to be hotter than normal. The standard heat of a late is around 160 °F, but some people want them much warmer, which usually amounts to them being heated by around 120 °F. The baristas likely worry about the potential danger of such a hot drink, and the fact that their creation will naturally be lower in quality. So, keep it cool, people!

3. Using a fake name

Bet you think it’s funny giving a fake name to a Starbucks barista when they ask what to put on your cup. But the reality is, the coffee maker on the other side of the counter is likely not amused. They’ve heard them all a million times before, from Batman to Ben Dover to Mickey Mouse. So, just give your real name, and spell it out if it is a difficult one to spell.

4. Dumping liquid in the trash

Have you ever thrown a half-full coffee cup in the trash can? It’s shocking how many people do this. Starbucks baristas certainly won’t thank you if you’re one of them. One former barista called Audrey told BuzzFeed that this was the worst thing customers could do, and she revealed how a split, wet trash bag they were replacing soaked their shoes and socks five minutes into a shift. Yuck! Waste not, want not!

5. Over-customizing drinks

Customizing your drinks at Starbucks is possible, sure, but some people over-do it to a remarkable degree. A Seattle-based barista revealed anonymously on Reddit about a woman who came in and ordered herself a Trenta-sized iced coffee with “four added shots, 16 pumps of white mocha, and six pumps of vanilla.” She then wanted whipped cream on top but then balked at the price and claimed that she was on a diet! Wow.

6. Asking staff to throw away trash from their car

For some reason, numerous customers who use the Starbucks Drive-Thru proceed to pass trash from their vehicle to the server in the window. Barista Audrey told BuzzFeed that not only is this annoying, but it is actually “a health code violation.” Think about it, they won’t know where your trash has been and what it has been contaminated with. So don’t get annoyed when they won’t take it off your hands. Throw away your own trash, people!

7. Asking for food inside their coffee

Starbucks, like almost any other refreshment business, encourages you to buy food alongside your drink. But some customers to Seattle’s most famous coffeehouse don’t want their cake or donut on the side. No, they request for it to be put inside their coffee or Frappuccino! Which is not only gross, but it also risks damaging the store’s equipment — namely the blender.

8. Making a mess of the sofa and chairs

We’ve all got to a Starbucks and found the sofa and chairs covered in crumbs, or maybe a little coffee spill. But one barista told the Starbucks gossip blog about a particularly egregious situation. They said, “We have had one particular man destroy two of our comfy chairs by urinating in them! The crazy thing is that he still comes in the store! Add his child running crazy around the store and fear of urination and you have one stressful time.” Yes, that sounds terrible!

9. Ordering drinks before food

Here’s one you might not have given any thought to, but it makes a difference to baristas under severe time pressure. Being in a Starbucks coffeehouse, your first thought is likely to order a coffee or tea. But if you’re looking for warm food, it’s good etiquette to order that first. Why? Well, food such as the breakfast sandwich takes about 90 seconds to warm up. So, baristas will appreciate it if you get them placing it in the oven whilst making your drinks.

10. Failing to specify what type of drink they want

One of the pet peeves of Starbucks baristas is when customers don’t specify how they want their drink — whether their chai latte is hot or cold or their coffee is covered in cream or whatnot. Indeed, a Starbucks barista named Brian Beckwith told The Daily Mail that he got annoyed by customers who suddenly say things like, “I wanted that iced” or, “I didn’t want whip on that.” He said, “We are baristas, not psychics.”

11. Picking straws up without asking

People reaching over the counter and just grabbing straws is a bugbear of many a Starbucks barista. You’ll most likely be getting in the way of what they are doing, and you could potentially even cause an accident. The message from baristas old and new seems to be very clear on this: please ask for a straw or anything else that’s behind the counter; don’t just go ahead and help yourself.

12. Marching up to the collection point and asking, “Is this mine?”

We’ve all seen and heard that person waiting at the end of the counter, who suddenly steps up and asks, “is this mine?” to the baristas. They’re talking about a drink left in the collection area, and it’s most definitely not theirs. Barista Beckwith told The Daily Mail, “I don’t get this. You just ordered a small hot drink one minute ago, so, no, this large iced drink is not yours.” Pay attention to your order! They call out your name for a reason.

13. Ordering cappuccinos with non-dairy milk

Making cappuccinos for customers is a big part of life as a Starbucks barista. But did you know that many of them hate it when you order a cappuccino with non-dairy milk, such as almond or coconut? Well, it’s true. And the reason is the proteins in the milk. They’ll need to use numerous steamers to try and get the consistency of a good cappuccino, which is easy with ordinary dairy milk. More and more people these days love their coffee dairy-free, though, so baristas might have to change their minds on this one!

14. Asking for plain coffee

One thing that really annoyed Audrey working at Starbucks — and doubtlessly many others who have toiled behind the counter there — is customers coming in and asking something along the lines of, “Have you got a plain coffee?” Audrey remarked, “Yes, they do. They have three blends: dark, medium, and blonde roast. All you have to do is order a size and roast, like a tall dark. That’s the regular cup of coffee.” Lesson: be more specific and check the menu!

15. Being on your phone whilst ordering

Talking on your phone whilst you are ordering at Starbucks is bound to annoy your server. Is it too much to ask that, until you have picked up your order, they should have your full attention? Likewise, shoving your phone into the barista’s face so that the person on the line can explain what coffee they want is not particularly polite either. So do neither! That said, sometimes there’s an emergency, or you have to take an important call!

16. Helping themselves without permission

Back on the Starbucks Gossip site, a commenter called Wellington Grey shared this horror story of someone helping themselves without permission back in 2009. They wrote, “There’s a crazy lady at my local Starbucks who comes in and just takes the milk and drinks it all straight from the thermos.” Yuck! Don’t just wander into a Starbucks and help yourself to milk. It’s not polite, nor is it hygienic for all the other customers. Baristas probably shouldn’t have to spell that one out..

17. Giving sweaty money to the cashier

Money is money, right? Well, it is, but some Starbucks baristas don’t appreciate being given sweaty dollars from patrons in their store! As a general rule, if you have to reach into your sock or bra to give them the cash, then it’s probably sweaty — and not something your barista will want to handle. if you’re headed out for a run or workout before dropping by Starbucks, you could always keep it in a little bag or use your card or app instead.

18. Not putting their mobile orders in before arriving at the store

Here’s a silly one that really annoys staff at Starbucks. Some people have been known to put in a mobile order outside or in the store and then almost immediately waltz up to the counter and demand their drink. Erm, that’s not how it works! You should make a mobile order before you arriv and realize that it’s still probably in a line of other mobile orders. You cant instantly jump to the front of the queue!

19. Not cleaning up trash and leaving stuff on tables

Here’s ex-barista Audrey again to put the world to rights. Or, more accurately, Starbucks customers who don’t clean up their trash. She told BuzzFeed, “Please don’t leave straw wrappers or unused napkins on the table when you leave. It’s like... five feet to the trash can. Additionally, straw wrappers are the worst thing to pick up and throw away because they’re little and annoying.” Clear up after yourselves, coffee lovers!

20. Micromanaging the barista who is making your drink

Asking a Starbucks barista for a certain kind of drink and then attempting to micromanage them as they set about making it is a big no-no. Remember: they are trained baristas and know what they’re doing. It’s also kinda rude. Plus, they might be making someone else’s drink while you’re jabbering in their earhole. Anyway, if they do it wrong, they’ll happily remake it for you!

21. Trying to beat the return system

Don’t be like this woman in Ohio, who, in 2012, tried to beat the return system in a devious way. As per Bath Township Police, this lady marched into a Starbucks and “grabbed two coffee presses off the shelf and tried to return them.” Unfortunately for her, the baristas saw her do it and refused to allow the return with no receipt. The woman left and was eventually picked up by cops for numerous offenses.

22. Sitting in disabled parking spots

You’d hope this one doesn’t happen often. But at least one customer in Peabody, Massachusetts, did this quite ridiculous thing. He kept moving the outside chairs to a disabled parking spot and sitting down there. Eventually, cops had to come and remove him from the spot after he became “belligerent” with staff.

23. Taking photos of staff

Reddit user YungB00mer told a Starbucks thread about a particularly creepy customer with a strange habit. They wrote, “There was a guy in my store [who] would take pictures of all the customers and baristas. The baristas felt uncomfortable but none of the higher ups cared and the manager at the time said Starbucks wouldn’t really do anything about it. Apparently, it went on for months until one barista just unleashed her wrath on him and he never came back. He goes to Tim Hortons now lol.”

24. Ordering coffee travelers in a busy store

Barista Audrey wasn’t keen on customers ordering coffee travelers when they were in a rush. Why? Well, as she explained to BuzzFeed, “Coffee travelers require baristas to brew an entire pot of coffee fresh, then transfer it into a to-go container. It also requires baristas to get coffee accouterments like cream, sugar, cups, lids, and stirrers all together for the traveler. They take like 10 to 15 minutes and require a little patience.” So, make sure you have plenty of time if you’re looking to order a coffee traveler.

25. Overreacting and abusing staff

Not surprisingly, Starbucks baristas don’t like abusive customers. Like this lady in Pittsburgh, who according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “stormed into the middle of the store” and “threw up her hands and staccato screeched at the baristas, ‘How... about... making sure... the lid is on?!’” The woman — who had coffee stains on her khakis, then rushed outside, “steered her car onto the front sidewalk” and “jumped out with the remaining coffee and hurled the entire cup at the Starbucks front door.” Crazy!

26. Leaving wipers on at the drive-thru

Leaving your window wipers on whilst you proceed to the Starbucks drive-thru window is a big no-no. Doing so risks your vehicle flinging water into the face of the server trying to give you your order. So, remember to turn them off when you are about to collect your cappuccino, or you risk the wrath of the staff on duty!

27. Ordering S’mores Frappuccinos

A former Starbucks barista revealed to Business Insider the drinks they hated to make the most. High up on the list was the S’mores Frappuccino. They said, “Many baristas know that Frappuccinos are pretty inconvenient to make, but the seasonal s’mores one takes the cake for me. When I was a barista, I remember thinking this drink was a nightmare because of the sheer amount of time it took to make it.” Happy Holidays!

28. Ordering secret menu drinks when you don’t know the ingredients

Secret menus are a feature of most fast-food restaurants and coffeehouses. But if you’re going to try and order something from the so-called secret menu at Starbucks, then it’s a good idea to know what you’re asking for! The barista won’t have a clue, as they’re not actually taught this menu at the famous coffeehouse. But if you guide them through what you want they might be able to make a bespoke drink for you.

29 Queue jumping

Don’t go into a Starbucks and ask to jump the queue. It’s not okay, the other people will immediately dislike you, and you’re most likely not the only person who’s in a hurry to get to work or a meeting. If you haven’t got time to wait in the queue, then you haven’t got time to get a coffee. Simple.

30. Paying with large bills

We know that sometimes this can’t be helped. But if possible, Starbucks baristas would really appreciate it if you didn’t pay with a $50 or $100 bill. Doing so will mean they use up more $10 and $20 bills when providing you with change. And that means they’ll run out of them if many more people do the same.

31. Returning things to a random store

Let’s say you purchased a Starbucks flask or mug in a moment of impulse and wanted to return it. Be aware that it’s not possible to make a return at just any location. For instance, you can’t take such a product back to a Starbucks counter in a Target, or a bookstore that merely says “we proudly serve Starbucks.” Take it back to the store you got it from or an official Starbucks coffeehouse elsewhere.

32. Ordering multiple sweeteners

Starbucks baristas will typically add sweeteners to your drink. But if you are someone who wants a ridiculous 12 stevias in your coffee — like one frequent customer mentioned to Business Insider — then you might annoy the barista or the people in the queue behind you. Generally, if you want more than three, perhaps consider putting them in at the condiment station on your own time.

33. Coming in store to moan about loyalty stars

Issues with your loyalty stars? Well, don’t come into the coffeehouse and moan about it. Ex-Starbucks worker Audrey told BuzzFeed, “Baristas have zero control over your stars and can’t see anything related to your Starbucks account. Anytime someone asked me, I directed them to the phone number on the back of Starbucks gift cards because I couldn’t help.” Lesson learned!

34. Making baristas star on their TikToks

A message to all you TikTokers out there: baristas are in Starbucks to work, and probably have zero interest in co-starring in your latest attempt to go viral. Nor are they there to learn some strange drink recipe you’ve found on the social networking site. So let them do their job and all will be well in the world.

35. Failing to specify cup size

When it comes to Starbucks, size does matter. What we mean by that is, it’s really important that you tell the barista what size cup you want. As barista Brian Beckwith said earlier, they’re “not psychics!” There are four options: short, tall, grande, and venti. Beckwith lamented in a piece written for Spoon University that around a third of customers fail to do so, meaning the barista has to ask.

36. Butting in to order water

Ever collected your order, went to sit down, and then thought, “Ah, actually I’ll have a water.” Well, please don’t do what many customers do, and butt into the queue to ask for a glass of H2O. It’s kind of rude, and will likely irritate the barista — not to mention other customers. Make sure to ask for water when you first order your coffee, or be prepared to get back in line and wait.

37. Moving furniture and not putting it back how it was

If you’re one of those people who alters the chairs and doesn’t put them back, then you’ll be an annoyance to many Starbucks baristas. They’re busy people and often don’t get time to deal with it. It’s fine to rearrange the seating if you have a large party, but make sure you put things back as you found them when you eventually leave.

38. Asking for dangerous amounts of espresso

Okay, there’s no law against doing this. But Starbucks baristas are likely to be alarmed by anyone who comes into the coffeehouse and orders around 10 shots of espresso in their coffee. It’s just not normal, will keep you awake for days, and you might end up getting mentioned on one of those Starbucks employee forums!

39. Making overcomplicated orders

Customizing your drink can be a fun thing. But those who take it too far will risk annoying their barista. Yes, Starbucks coffee makers aren’t too fond of people who make a ridiculous amount of modifications to their drink, with different pumps of syrup, cream, chocolate, and sugars. They won’t want to get your concoction wrong, so the more customizations you make the more chance there is of that. Keep it fairly simple!

40. Ordering pour over coffee late in the day

Finally, Starbucks baristas aren’t too keen on customers who order pour-over coffee when the place is hectic, or more particularly, at the end of the day. But why? Well, the reason is that the coffee chain halts its large-scale dark and blonde roasts nearer closing time. Instead, they offer such roasts on a per-customer basis, known as the pour-over. These take a while to do, grinding the coffee and all, and will likely result in a large queue of disgruntled customers behind you.