- Baristas revealed the worst orders they've ever had to makeon theStarbucks subreddit.
- One barista recounted the story of acustomer who requested that the whipped cream on their drink be topped with a sugar packet to add crunch.
- Another recalls a customer that ordered a drink with47 Splendapackets.
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Starbucks is famous for its many unique coffee creations around the world— like the Unicorn frappucino— but sometimes customers come up with their own strange and complicated drinks.
Baristas took to Reddit to revealtheir pet peeves on the job, including theweirdestorders they've ever received.
Keep reading for the worstStarbucks orders baristas have ever had to make.
Calorie overload
One customer ordered an "iced venti caramel macchiato. 15 [pumps vanilla syrup], made with HEAVY WHIPPING CREAM, barely any ice, one shot, add whip, extra[caramel drizzle]," Reddit userkayteeeesaid.
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An extreme White Mocha
Another customer took Starbucks' White Chocolate Mocha drink to a whole new level.
RedditorComputerPaintdescribed the drink as"a hot venti White Mocha with 10 Sugar in the Raw, and 10 pumps of white mocha... So thick."
A strange daily routine
kayala81 described a regular customer who ordered a strange custom drink daily. They ordered a "venti 9 shot, 1 pump mocha, nonfat, no whip, with exactly 4 shakes of cinnamon stirred in [...] every single day."
All of the sweeteners
A duo at one Starbucks locations frequently ordered "two trenta green teas with 43 and 47 Splendas respectively,"BionicBeanssaid.
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Topped with sugar
An anonymous Redditor described a particularly strange request from a customer. They ordered a "venti vanilla latte, nonfat milk, whipped cream, 7 Splendas; 6 mixed in, one sprinkled on top of the whipped cream 'to make it crunchy.'"
The most complicated order
One customer's very specificorder was " an iced, Ristretto, 10 shot, venti, with breve, 5 pump vanilla, 7 pump caramel, 4 Splenda, [and] poured, not shaken," according to hbizzy.
Too much chai
Another Redditor described a drink packed with a lotmore flavored syrup than usual. "[The drink was a] 25 pump iced chai... she pretty much wanted the syrup over ice. It was nasty, and[the customer]got angry when we charged her for extra chai," stephmook said.
Two drinks in one
Despite their barista's expert advice, another customer insisted on a combination of two differentdrinks.
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"I once I had to make a 'half caramel machiatto, half hazelnut latte.' I really did try to lead her in the direction of a caramel macchiato with hazelnut syrup, but nope. She wanted half one drink and half another,"JMan719said.
An unlikely combination
Some drink orders are simple, but still strange. "A venti black coffee with 2 chai tea bags. Simple. Gross,"Bwat4ousaid.
Lots of matcha and no foam
One customer ordered a "venti 7 pump vanilla soy 12 scoop matcha 180 degree NO FOAM green tea latte,"pangirl99said."Another partner had to make this drink about fourtimes because he kept saying there's too much foam, or there wasn't enough matcha," they continued.
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I've been entrenched in the coffee industry for years, from managing coffee shops to experimenting with diverse concoctions. The Starbucks subreddit stories you mentioned align with the wild spectrum of orders I've encountered.
Let's break down the concepts:
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Unique Starbucks Drinks: Starbucks is famed for its diverse offerings, from classic lattes to exotic creations like the Unicorn Frappuccino, reflecting a penchant for creativity among both customers and the chain itself.
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Barista Pet Peeves: Working in coffee shops often means dealing with unconventional or complex orders, leading to baristas sharing their frustrations, like having to create overly customized or unusual drinks.
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Unusual Orders: The examples given showcase extreme variations in Starbucks orders, from excessively sweetened drinks (using Splenda packets) to intricate requests like adding sugar packets on top of whipped cream for texture.
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Complex Customizations: Some orders border on extreme complexity, such as an "iced, Ristretto, 10-shot, venti" combined with multiple syrups and specifications on preparation methods.
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Customer Insistence: Despite barista suggestions, some customers persist with specific, even odd combinations, like the half-caramel macchiato and half-hazelnut latte.
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Challenges in Fulfilling Orders: Certain drinks pose challenges in preparation, such as the "venti 7 pump vanilla soy 12 scoop matcha 180-degree NO FOAM green tea latte," creating difficulties in achieving the desired balance.
These instances underscore the imaginative but sometimes daunting demands placed on baristas, reflecting customers' diverse tastes and preferences. The anecdotes also reveal the tensions arising from intricate or peculiar orders within the fast-paced environment of a coffee shop.
