Will Starbucks' New System Mean Longer Or Shorter Lines?

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Starbucks consumers are panicking today because of a report in the Wall Street Journal about new coffee-preparation procedures being handed down from HQ. Starbucks baristas have been instructed to "stop making multiple drinks at the same time and focus instead on no more than two drinks at a time." In addition, baristas are now required to steam milk for each drink instead of steaming an entire pitcher for several beverages. They're also being told to use only one espresso machine instead of two. So many rules! The Journal thinks baristas are being asked to "slow down," and worries about long lines, but over on the Starbucks Gossip blog, some employees predict this will make service faster.

It works, if you actually give it a chance, and do it right. Yes, you only make two drinks at a time. However! There are no wasted moments... and that is why it works. I understand why it bothers people, many people including myself had been doing it a different way for literally years. However, if you really do it the way it is supposed to be done, and you really give it a shot and get it down right, it works.
Let me give a bit more detail on the why, I mentioned no wasted moments, that's because you are always doing something every moment to prepare a drink. Every moment you have while something is happening for that first drink, where it doesn't require you, such as the milk finishing steaming and shots still pulling, you are preparing stuff for your second drink. Before your second drink is finished, during every moment you are not doing something for that second drink, you are preparing stuff for that third drink. If you do this right, you do not waste a second and yes, it works. Why are wait times slower right now? Because people are not used to the system yet.

We're saved! That is, if you believe this anonymous website commenter. But who else are you gonna believe? Negative Nancys like commenter espressobean? "We've started using the new 'routine' and it's been super slow," moans espressobean, who just won't get with the program. "Our DT times are supposed to be 30 seconds and when the bar barista was working during the rush working on two drinks at a time, we were averaging 5 minutes at the DT. It's hard because the bar person takes the drink from start to finish, adding time where we used to be able to help and set up drinks, start steaming milk, etc. It's horrible, we had so many complaints answered with 'sorry! we're introducing a new drink system and just getting used to it'. Generally, it seems DT customers are coming to get a quick coffee and are willing to sacrifice a little quality if they can hurry on their merry way."

What do you think? Are you will to wait longer for a latte that's prepared in a manner more in tune with NYC's other upscale coffeeshops, like Oslo or Joe? Or do you go to Starbucks because it's a convenient place to score a quick caffeine hit and use the bathroom?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Food on October 13, 2010 5:50 PM

Comments [rss]

HairyG

People always comment about how expensive the coffee is. It is no more expensive than that colored water they serve at dunkin donuts. The largest size is 2.50 after tax, and the strength and robust taste and worth every penny. I like a good independent shop, but they are not much less expensive, and not as ubiquitous. Sure it's nice to make a good cup at home, but since many of us employed types spend extended hours away from home, that is not always an option.

Unfortunately there is some inconsistency in the brewing of regular coffee at starbucks. Some days the coffe is much better than others, but it is never undrinkable. The real problem for true coffee lovers is that we have to wait in line behind others ordering half regular half decaf lattes with skim soymilk and 2 shots of syrup and make sure you skim the foam etc. The fancy drinks sometimes make it a long wait to say

"venti pike" and get a basic cup of strong fresh coffee.

Starbucks, you need find a way for people to get a quick cup of coffee.

The bathrooms are also greatly appreciated.

Dolomite

I love how people think people go to Starbucks to pay $7 for a cup of ``coffee.'' A) I have never paid $7 for anything at Starbucks. B) I do not drink their coffee, and I would like you to find me a place in many American cities (outside of NY) that knows how to make a proper cappuccino, or anything espresso-related for that matter. C) Jokes about `their coffee sucks!' are about as original as asking why the chicken crossed the road.

Love Your Life

Starbucks' for idiots, love their bathrooms!

d

I'm glad to see they're headed back towards good espresso drink preparation. But they're not going to get all the way there until the bean quality is improved (and head back machines with more manual control). I'll still wait the extra time at Joe, Gimmie!, et al.

Madly Hatting

Why is a picture of King Kong on a 20?

Love Your Life

Gorilla Coffee, which is actually great coffee... brilliant!

random transplant

Starbucks is great. My in laws side of the family from about a half dozen households can all gather in one spot, for a couple hours, and the local starbucks isn't put out at all.

You go into any given starbucks outside the city, and chances are half the patrons are related to or friends with the barista's. I wish it wasn't the case sometimes, but Starbucks is the new soda fountain - and the soda fountains were no less corporate, they just paid less and had no health insurance.

If you don't like four dollar cups of coffee, order the 2 dollar large plain coffee instead.

I grew up on Gimmie! coffee since before my first cavity, and I don't know why having impoverished barista friends living in 2nd world conditions is something worth fighting for. It isn't as sanitary - I know that much from my own work experience.

That said, their espresso drink's quality is wildly inconsistant. Hopefully this helps.

healthstudent

Every time there's an article about Starbucks, the same lame "their coffee sucks" comments pop up. It's seriously getting old. If you want to shop somewhere else, go for it. In the meantime, stop complaining. They aren't Walmart. They provide their employees benefits, there's free bathrooms, and some of us actually like the taste.

So basically, suck it.

Jeff

I don't know what they are complaining about. I worked for Starbucks in the mid-late 90's and this is how we operated. One person on the bar, handling 3 brew heads and not a lot of space. You could only handle about 2-3 drinks at a time. And you know what...people loved us because we moved fast and got the drinks out. Stop complaining and just do your job.

ilovejapgirls

u city dwellers don't noe, even though starbucks is nearly wiped out from cities, suburban and rural areas still depend on starbucks. Most people out there will never trust a hip coffee spot, nor knows what tha hell Yelp! is about

jibbly

Huh? Do you actually live in New York? Have you visited the borough of Manhattan? Even though they cut a bunch of stores a year ago, Starbucks is as ubiquitous as pharmacies and mega-bank branches.

Bike Rider

people go to starbucks for something besides a quick call of nature?

whitecastlerock

Their coffee is terrible-I can brew much better stuff at home

eitan

If people who willingly pay 4-7 dollars for a cup of coffee cant wait a few minutes for it, then the terrorists have won.

schadenfreudian mensch

Won't someone think of the f'ing children????!!!

Phil

Why does every teensy weensy inconvenience become a damned tragedy these days. So what!

John L

I can't afford their coffee but I sure do appreciate their bathrooms.

Thanks Starbucks.

FunChop

Reading between the lines it looks like they may have some safety and sanitation issues that they're trying to deal with without being too obvious about it....

asakasan

If they wanted to improve the customer experience, they could finally put Clover machines into service in the Starbucks stores ... otherwise one might think that Starbucks bought Clover only so that they could prevent competitors (including indy shops) from getting them ... but Starbucks is all about the coffee, they would never stoop to anti-competitive corporate practices ... ...