Ah, Starbucks. Now, look: I don't drink aside from the social cocktail or two. I don't smoke. I don't take drugs that aren't prescribed – heavily – by my doctor. But I am 100% addicted to the 'Bucks. And since there is one on every street corner, it's only natural that some unwritten rules come into play.
#1: Figure out your order before stepping up.
#2: It's OK to say "small/medium/large". Don't worry about the tall/grande/venti thing and ignore the eye-rolls.
#3: Don't invade the barista's space! Grabbing the soy milk from their counter or, god forbid, grabbing your drink before they serve it to you, is just plain rude.
#4: Do check on your order, but only if a reasonable amount of time has passed. If you just put in your venti green tea frapp and you don't see it within 10 seconds, calm down. Blended drinks take a little longer.
#5: Be nice to your barista.
If they like you, they've been known to add a little extra ice or give you a freebie if you've been waiting too long, or whatever.
#6: Don't hog the milk station. Just grab your straw and step to the side. If you need to stir in cinnamon, 2% milk, sugar, and dump 1/2 of that into a grande cup of ice...we hate you.
#7: When ordering: Get. Off. Your. Cell. Phone.
#8: We know you're cyber-commuting on your Mac, sitting at that table there, but if it's super crowded, just pretend you're still drinking that latte. (Confidential to Beard Guy: turn off the porn.)
I feel like I have to clarify #1, about figuring out your order in advance. I think we all have a threshold when it comes to the amount of time we'll wait on line. And as a group, we're patient enough to wait even if someone has a question about the item they're purchasing or wants to change their order.







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