Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Baristas reveal the 9 most annoying things customers do

Talia Lakritz
Wednesday 27 September 2017 14:49 BST
Comments

Baristas are trained to meet the needs of caffeine-deprived customers, but sometimes those needs are a bit ridiculous.

We combed through a Reddit thread where Starbucks baristas vented about their most irritating customer encounters.

Here are nine things that you should avoid doing next time you order coffee.

Getting upset about a drink that isn't yours

"A bother of mine is when a customer screeches, 'I said no whip!' for a drink that is not even theirs." -- Reddit user baileythedove

Ordering while on your phone

(rawpixel.com / Unsplash

"Pretty much anything a customer says while ordering while also still on their phone. Drives me crazy and is really rude." -- Reddit user mjz348

Missing your drink while looking at your phone

"My favorite is to place customers drinks/food directly in front of them and try to get their attention while they are on their phone. Walk away and then when they are looking around wondering why they haven't gotten their drink/food yet and I just point directly in front of them. Sooooo satisfying." -- Reddit user Dead_Inside_Barista

Slamming your money on the counter

"'Hi sir ho-'

"'Tall pike!' Throws cash on the counter.

"Gets. Me. So. Mad." -- Reddit user aichandesu

Messing with the scanner

Let them do their jobs.

"People who try to move my scanner so they can scan their phone. ESPECIALLY when I'm still entering their order." -- Reddit user kayleegean

Ordering through cryptic clues

"It still kills me when someone walks in and either won't actually tell me what they want or getting the entire order is like pulling teeth.

"Example a: 'I want a venti.' Okay, a venti coffee?

'No, a venti.' Venti latte?

'Dramatic sigh forget it.' Leaves.

"Example b: 'I want a coffee.' Okay, will that be a grande?

'No.' Great, a venti then?

'No.' Okay, a tall. Do you want room for cream?

..... Soul draining stare." -- Reddit user ladytaters

Asking for free water

"Once I had a barista just lose it and go 'ALLLLLL' sweeping hand gesture 'OF THESE PEOPLE PAID FOR DRINKS AHEAD OF YOUR FREE WATER. YOU CAN WAIT YOUR TURN.'"

"Wasn't even mad, I was just amazed. I guess technically I should have given her a CA [corrective action] but in that moment it was glorious and a sight to behold." -- Reddit user kimmyd

Mispronouncing "espresso"

It's not "expresso."

"This one drives me nuts. I have 3 or 4 coworkers who call it 'expresso' too, like whyyyyy." -- Reddit user bonnie_metal

Answering "Yes" to "Hot or iced?"

"My current favourite is an oldie but a goody: in response to 'hot or iced?' I get 'yes.' A lot..." -- Reddit user StormTheParade

Read more:

• A day in the life of 26-year-old fitness Instagram star Kayla Itsines
• 8 body-language tricks that are hard to master but will pay off forever
• 20 modern classic movies everyone needs to watch in their lifetime

Read the original article on INSIDER. © 2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in