Caffeinated Calling

Espresso shots!


Disgusting.
BLEH!
I am beginning to sense the difference between a good espresso shot and a bad one even though I don’t care for either.

Aerated milk!

Delightful.
YUM!
I can make an up-to-standard “meringue” type foam after a good 3-5 second aeration (usually).

Vanilla Iced Coffees!
Wow!
I could guzzle that one down.
But I will not!
(I have discovered I prefer iced coffee.)

I enjoy making people smile.
I enjoy getting to know people.
I enjoy rushing around.
I enjoy having a long list of tasks to complete.
I enjoy being in a hectic (yet controlled) atmosphere.
(Starbucks DOES use some forms of energy!)

Who knew?!
ALTHOUGH!
I have messed up on SEVERAL occasions already.
For instance, I neglected to brew more coffee…and we ran out of Christmas blend AND Pike Place, at the same time!
(Sorry, Starbucks has no coffee...)
I still have NO idea what a Misto is.
I have asked and read multiple times, but the concept escapes my understanding. Is it just steamed milk in the cup rather than water? Do you put brewed coffee in there? Does it get shots? I canNOT remember.

Major Problem: "Regulars" assume I already know the details of their order and everything about Starbucks.

FALSE!

I know nothing.


I think I enjoy morning shifts.
Rising early is absolutely glorious! Your whole day is left to you; open and unadulterated.
I love getting things ready and running around because there’s a rush!
(Except when I fail and feel quite foolish.)

Hmm…that sounds similar to another job I had before…now what did I do?

Oh yeah!

I taught.
(Momentary side note: the Lord is good. Starbucks is making me pay more attention to details and procedures. The very things I need to work on as a teacher AND He is allowing me to learn these lessons in a fun environment rather than in the confines of a desk job…where I thought my fate would most likely lie.)

Although I doubted and questioned and lamented my choice after making it, at this moment I am thankful that I took the Starbucks job rather than the daycare part-time preschool teacher. I think I would have been bored.

How can a person watching 22 preschoolers get bored??

Because I am not THE teacher and I am not teaching SCHOOL subjects.

I don’t like aimlessly trying to entertain children and/or adults.

Uh-oh.

What if Starbucks becomes “aimlessly trying to entertain children and/or adults”?

It could.
(Tough ….grounds.)
hehehehehe

And yet, you always have something new to find out about the person.
(And, after your customers leave, you have the other baristas to get to know.)

Plus, in these first few months I will be STRENUOUSLY trying to figure out how to make the drinks and then I will try to add SPEED to my ability of remembering how to make the drinks and THEN I will have to perfect my ability to easily converse with the patrons WHILE making drinks with speedy efficiency.

I do like to multi-task.

Although, I am a HORRIBLE multi-tasker when you need me to LISTEN and complete the task.

(Yes, problem! Writing an order on a cup.)

But, SEE?!
THAT is where the Lord is training me and refining me in a different way: my ability to listen and remember.

I absolutely stink at it.
I always have.

If you show me a list of items visually that is most often better.

If you SPEAK a list of items to me, it seems to go in one ear and out the other.

UH-OH!

But the Lord is faithful.
I don’t think He let me get the Starbucks job so that I would fail miserably…every day…for the rest of my Starbucks’ career.
Good thing they give you time to learn.
(Their patience levels truly AMAZE me!!)

Humorous side story:
Customers are already laughing at me. A mother and daughter tried to conceal their laughter as I was rushing about, but I knew and told them it was okay. They lost it.

Another "regular" who I have made stand in line for 5 minutes and messed up on his drink multiple times has told me that my personality would be perfect for a sitcom... because I am so funny. I received it as a complement.