The following is based on a discussion/debate that my family had. Imagine you are there…which side do you fall on?

The Setting: Airport Starbucks- it’s a small outpost- only two employees

If there is a line of people…assume at least three people behind you

Do you order a drink that takes several minutes to make, like a frappucino?

Is it rude to have the barista make a time consuming drink when others are waiting?

or

Are you going to Starbucks because you really want a certain beverage and you will order anything you want because you waited in line as well and are paying for it?

Which side do you fall on and why?

Discuss

74 thoughts on “How Bad Do You Want a Frappucino?”

  3. I don’t see a need to get something other than what you want. To me, it’s common knowledge that when you go to Starbucks, there’s a chance of waiting. So it’s a risk you take if you’re in a hurry. You’re a paying customer, getting something that’s on the menu. Plain and simple (or is it just me that sees it that way?)

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    1. I have a clear opinion on this but I’m trying to remain neutral until I see what people say. I’m interested in what the group thinks

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  5. I hope that people order what they really want, and I’m a straight coffee fan, but honestly, I do think I would consider the staffing the line of people waiting when making the decision to order a more time consuming drink

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  6. What is considered a time-consuming drink at Starbucks? I’m not being difficult, but I’m naive. I usually get a chai latte. Is that a time-consuming drink to make? That is the only item I would ever want from a Starbucks, so if I’m there, I am ordering it regardless of the line. If I wanted a coffee, I’d go somewhere else.

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  8. I would order the drink I want. It’s on the menu, with no special requests. I always get the salted caramel cream cold brew (such a long name Lol!). If the barista seems stressed, I would tell them “No rush, I’m not in any hurry”.

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  9. Normally I would get what I want but since you mentioned this takes place in an airport I would take in consideration the small staff and the people behind me. I also would hope they would do the same.

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  10. Only 2 employees at a starbucks, and in an airport?? That seems incongruous to begin with because of course that starbucks is going to be busy, it’s in an airport…small or not. Second I don’t do starbucks so I would walk past and when walking past I would assume that people are ordering exactly what they want and that, unless you have been living under a rock, you know that waiting in line is part of the starbucks experience, no matter where you are. I mean, look at all the free time to view social media while you wait in line. Isn’t that the whole point?

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      1. Sorry, I’m holding my ground on the general idea about starbucks expectations. You know, we ARE original starbucks up here. No one dares show any irritation while waiting. It just isn’t the thing you do to be in the presence of this icon! 😉

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      2. Also, I think I know you well enough by now to see where your opinion is heading and I get it totally. I have never embraced the starbucks concept and so sarcasm exudes from me when it’s mentioned. I would seek out a small independent business, or literally do without coffee before buying from starbucks.

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      3. I don’t drink coffee…so my Starbucks time is limited…I get it at the Barnes and noble cafe because it’s part of my treat to myself…drink a chai and read a book

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      1. Yes, I agree. I find their regular coffee bitter. But I like their Frappuccino. If I just want caffeine someplace as generic as Duncan Donuts will do. If I want to socialize or a particular drink then that’s another story.

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  12. If people like Starbucks, they should get what they want. If the line and wait don’t work for them, they should skip it. I don’t think ordering a complicated drink is a matter of being inconsiderate. It’s what the experience is about. Besides, dealing with airport crap entitles one to a treat, I think.

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  13. All good things come to those who wait. A regular Starbucks patron knows that there is a process and either they’ll order what they want or they’ll move on. I don’t think you’re inconsiderate for getting what you want but telling the barista not to rush would be helpful, both to them and to the other folks in line. If you’re in a hurry to catch a flight, you don’t stop. My 2 cents. Happy Thursday, LA

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  15. I say order what you want. Otherwise, whatever pleasant feeling you get from shortening the wait time for the people behind you in line will mix with your disappointment from ordering a beverage that you didn’t want. Are there people in line at Starbucks who expect to get their drink in seconds After all, Starbucks is not as quick as ordering a soda at a fast food restaurant. (I’m not a Starbucks customer, as I’m a tea drinker.)

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  17. I would order whatever drink you really want that is in the menu. Maybe at the airport Starbucks don’t ask for your “ 3 pumps this and extra foam, no that” but if On the regular menu I agree that people know you may need to wait at Starbucks.

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  18. I think I would order what I want. My orders are not complicated anyway but I think since I am paying premium for the coffee I should enjoy it. My trips to Starbucks are much reduced in the last few years. I still go occasionally. When I go shopping I pick up what I need and want to buy and don’t worry about how busy the store is and how long people will wait behind me at the cashier. I make sure I am not sluggish at the cashier, but I move along at my own pace. Is this the same question as driving when it is busy? Speed limit signs are they only suggestions? Is the “limit” part of the sign meaningless? No matter how fast we drive, how quickly we walk, or go through a line – the line is there, the car stream is endless. I think it is important to be content and breathe; you are in a public place and just the bike route signs say ” Share the Road”.

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  19. I’m of the opinion that if a chain set up in a location that is going to potentially be constantly packed with customers in an area where said customers are potentially in time crucial circumstances, then they have two options. 1) Fully staff the location to where, no matter what is ordered, no customer is forced to wait an ungodly amount of time for their order. or 2) only offer a pared down menu to ensure your shop isn’t creating major problems with time consuming orders. With that in mind, either situation allows for customers to order whatever they want from the menu. At the same time, it is possible that in your situation, they were just extremely short staffed due to illness, call ins or people just not showing up. I think I’m riding the middle on this and either way is fine because you really can’t know for sure, but leaning toward order what you want. Most people that are in a huge time crunch are going to see that line and just move on. The rest are probably just killing time until they can board their plane, so making them wait for your order is still not that big of a deal. The ones that are racing time just for a drink and would get impatient and upset over the delay would be the ones creating the problem at that point.

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  21. I would order what I wanted. At the SeaTac airport in Seattle, I’ve seen the Starbucks line close to 20 people long. I just skip it altogether and go somewhere else. Those people must have a lot of time to waste.

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  23. I don’t think it would be rude to order what I want. With two employees, they can handle a few people in line. I wouldn’t expect someone in front of me in line to get something they didn’t want just because I was waiting behind them.

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  24. If I’m going to wait, I’ll order what I want. The caveat being, is likely, in the scenario you describe, that I would pass altogether, and get something else from a different vendor. That’s happened to me before at a couple different airports. Different beverage, same situation.

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  30. Love your post. it is a good question of what people would do. Some would give consideration to the one person manning the front counter while others came off from a long flight and really don’t care. they want thier coffee.

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  31. Now I want a chai latte! Not from Starbucks though. They make chai lattes that smell like stinky socks…at least our Starbucks does. I don’t mind waiting as long as it’s good. I’m hoping the same for everyone else. They should have an express lane for coffee drinkers only! Mona

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  32. It’s a question I recently debated with myself in the queue at the doctor. I had a complicated query, there was one receptionist on duty, it wasn’t urgent and there were two people behind me with kids. So I left. It wouldn’t have been rude to have taken my turn, but it would have been inconsiderate. I had my answer by mail within the hour.

    In terms of queueing for coffee this is a fairly new thing in the UK as we didn’t have all these expensive, slow coffee places with choice. I don’t see why it’s all necessary.

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