Starbucks Interview Cheat Sheet

Starbucks Notes

Coffee Sizes

  • Trenta (Extra Large, 30 oz)

  • Venti (Large, Iced, 26 oz)

  • Venti (Large, Hot, 20 oz)

  • Grande (Medium, 16 oz)

  • Tall (Small, 12 oz)

  • Short (Extra Small, 8 oz)

Coffee

  • Pike Place is one of their most famous brewed coffees.

Espresso Beverages

  • Macchiatos

  • Lattes

  • Mochas

  • Cappuccinos

  • Americanos

  • Espresso Shots

Frappuccino

  • Starbucks frozen beverages.

Brewed at Home

  • Whole Bean (need to grind)

  • Ground Coffee (already grinded)

  • K-Cup (Keurig)

  • Pods, Portions, & Filler Packs.

  • Verismo (Starbucks own coffee machine)

Food

  • Breakfast Sandwiches

  • Bakery Goods

  • Lunch and Bistro Boxes

  • Fruit & Yogurt

Other Products

  • Via is their instant coffee.

  • Their loyalty card is called My Starbucks Rewards.

  • Ethos Water aims to provide children access to clean water.

Responsibility

  • Ethical Sourcing: Fair working conditions and decent wages in coffee-producing countries.

  • Environment: Building greener stores, recycling & reducing waste.

Starbucks Mission Statement

  • To inspire and nurture the human spirit - one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time.

Barista Training Questions and Answers

  • How long does it take to pull espresso shots? 18-23 Seconds

  • What is the black scoop used for? Pie, Dark, and Decaf Coffee Beans

  • What is the blue scoop used for? Blonde coffee beans

  • What and when do you brew coffee in the afternoons/nights? Pike coffee, every 30 mins

  • In the Morning what coffees get brewed and how often? Pike, Blonde, Dark; every 10 minutes until the end of peak hours.

  • How many pumps of syrup do you use to make whipped cream? 4 pumps.

  • What does CBS stand for? Cold Beverage Station.

  • What all is included in the cold beverage station? Tea, base, roast, chips, syrups, sauces, ice, dried fruits, powders, lemonade, and juices.

  • How do you add caramel drizzle to a caramel Macchiato? Four waves up and down, four waves left and right, and two circles around.

  • How many bags of tea do you use for a tall cup? 1 bag

  • How many bags of tea do you use for a Grande cup? 2 bags

  • How many bags of tea do you use for a venti cup? 2 bags

  • In what order do you make an iced tea beverage? Tea, lemonade or cold water, syrup, ice, shake, pour, and rinse.

  • How many scoops of coffee equals ¼ batch? 1 scoop

  • How many scoops of coffee equals ½ batch? 2 scoops.

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Answers to Starbucks Interview Questions:

  1. Customer Dissatisfaction:

    • I would be polite, apologize for making the wrong order, and offer to make a new one. If it was beyond my control, I would get the manager.

  2. Employee Misconduct:

    • I would approach the employee nicely and explain that I don’t believe that’s how we’re supposed to do things, and discuss it from there.

  3. Supervisor Disagreement:

    • It depends on the issue. I would present my opinion with reasons and seek a way to merge our ideas for a common goal.

  4. Reason for Working at Starbucks:

    • As a consumer, I love Starbucks for its atmosphere and the experience beyond coffee. I want to contribute to that experience as an employee.

  5. Building Connections:

    • I shared my experience as a student athlete, where we built great connections to achieve team success.

  6. Customer Service Philosophy:

    • Customer service means providing the best experience possible, ensuring customers are pleased enough to return. This perspective comes from my experience working at my mom’s restaurant.

  7. Dealing with New Members:

    • I mentioned my experience transferring to a new school, where I took time to know my teammates and coaches for effective teamwork.

Additional Interview Information:

  • Free drinks are provided during interviews.

  • Expect lots of cleaning and heavy lifting.

Possible Interview Questions:

  • Tell me about your customer experience at Starbucks.

  • Why do you want to work for us?

  • What excites you about being in a customer-facing role?

  • Describe a time you made a customer connection as a barista.

  • How would you handle an unhappy customer?

  • Recall a time you received exceptional customer service.

  • How did you handle a differing opinion in a group setting?

  • Discuss a time you achieved a goal as part of a team.

  • What wowuld you do if you caught a teammate doing something wrong?

  • How would you teach or help a team member in need?

  • Do you have any follow-up questions?

  • Do you have full availability?

  • We might need to adjust times; let’s figure that out now.

  • You’ll receive paperwork reviewing the position in detail.

Key Points to Mention at Starbucks:

  • I’m here and always on time.

  • I’m good at multi-tasking.

  • I’m a fast learner.