Order like a Barista

As a Starbucks barista, I encounter all types of customers.  There are those that come in every day
and know how many ounces each size contains, and those that come in and when I ask if they want "drip coffee" they say, "No, just normal black coffee" (my boyfriend belongs to the latter camp).  As someone who thought of themselves as a Starbucks aficionado before I got a job there, I now realize how much I did not know!  Here are the absolute basics to help you sound more knowledgeable at any Starbucks.

Size
Size is the first thing that you should say when you begin your order.  After all, nothing can happen with your drink until we know how much you want of it!  Hot and cold drinks have different sizes.  Here's a helpful guide:

Hot                                     Cold
Short - 8 oz                        Tall - 12 oz
Tall - 12 oz                         Grande - 16 oz
Grande - 16 oz                   Venti - 26 oz
Venti - 20 oz                       Trenta - 30 oz  (only Iced Teas, Refreshers, and Ice coffee can be this size)

Drink
Now that you know the size you want, you've got to say what you want!  There is a large temptation to now say all of the special things that you want, but do not get ahead of yourself.

Modifiers
Now is the time you can get all fancy if you want to!  Some common modifiers are :

• Milk - The default is 2%
• Syrup - Do you want to add another flavor?  More or less of what already comes in it (default for a grande is 4 pumps)?  Here's the place!
• Temperature - Do you like it extra hot (170%)?  Kids temp (135%)? 
• Ice - Light ice will allow more of what you want in your cup!  Downside is it won't be as cold for as long as it could be.  Depends on which you want more.

Now here are some random tips you should know:

• Iced coffee and iced tea always come sweetened.  You can either nix the sweetener, or substitute another sweeter (not a sauce, though, like mocha or white mocha). 
• A venti hot drink comes with two shots of espresso, but a venti cold comes with three (hence the price difference).
• Even when you get a mocha/white mocha iced, the default is to come with whipped cream.  Some like it, some do not, just up to you!

Now you're all done!  Enjoy your drink and bask in the knowledge that your barista now loves you.

I'm back!

Hello all!  Yes, I have been gone, and yes, the entire 100 views of this blog probably felt a gaping void in their lives, but never fear.  I have returned!  There have been many reasons for my absences, chiefly:

• I have graduated college!  I now have three degrees:  International Diplomacy, East Asian Studies, and Chinese.  Hard work = paid off!
• I moved back from Ohio to Minnesota.  Not hatin' on Ohio, but Minneapolis is much more my speed.  As in it's actually speedy and, well, large.
• I have two (for awhile it was three) jobs, one big kid and one part time.  I have a part time job at Starbucks and a full time job as the International Student Program Coordinator at a private high school.  Basically it means I am creating an International Department while I am operating it.  Super fun but super stressful!

I also feel it is time to return to blogging because:

• Blogging makes me try new things!  I have been cooped up for so long (and by cooped up, I mean working 12+ hours a day) that I feel I have no life.  Feeling obligated to actually do something will make me actually do it.
• I need a creative outlet.  While my big kid job certainly fulfills the logical side of my brain (fulfills... makes explode, eh, same thing), I need some beauty and fun in my life!  
• My goal for this blog is to help me meet more people and perhaps get involved in actual things and meet more people.  That might mean you!

I look forward to actually having this in my life again (and actually finishing the layout...)!  I already have some great ideas and I'll definitely  be seeing you all soon!