I work in a local small shop that’s been around for around 10 years. Most of our customers are every day regulars. I try to remember their names but honestly when I’m talking to a co worker about a specific customer it usually goes something like this:
“Hey you know that guy who gets a small extra hot mocha with half flavor?”
Or
“You won’t believe what 16oz iced americano with a splash of oat and lots of ice said to me today”
This is to the point where if I run into them in a public setting I’ll be like “Hey! I know you, 20oz iced triple caramel macchiato with an extra pump of vanilla!”
Anyone else?
Edit: a few hours after posting this I scrolled past this on instagram. Couldn’t believe it. But it describes it perfectly lol
Barista
by Be_HaPpY97
11 Comments
Same! We have a loyalty system where we put the customers name down for a free coffee every 10, but sometimes they ask us to put their company name instead or something entirely else. A handful of regulars we have I have 0 clue what their real name is and only know them by their company name lol
Our shop was frequented by regulars like “4 Shot Americano Andrew” (as distinct from “Cold Brew Andrew”) and Cappuccino Matt
We also knew the dogs’ names over the humans’ names.
“Drooly Pete’s lady is next, then 20 iced latte”
Or their work vehicles.
“Metro-med Roger is next.”
I never remember names. I don’t think it’s as important as getting them the right coffee. Quickly.
The two jovial men who owned a small web design company would stop in together and order the same thing, so I’d confirm their order with Iced chais for the nice guys?
Yeah this is how my new cafe is and it honestly bothers me. Like they’re here often enough and I feel like we should know their names. But at the same time I feel like my regulars would tell me their name if they wanted me to know.
My old cafe had 3 bobs though and they all had nicknames. There was FBI agent Bob (he was a retired fbi agent, saw the badge and everything), Sugar Daddy Bob (awful nickname I know), and then Bob and -wife’s name-. And then there was Italian Mob Boss guy, always paid cash, would roll up in a nice spotless Mercedes, looked Italian, had the slicked back hair, gold chain, slightly unbuttoned shirt and a gold Rolex. One of my fav regulars. Always so polite and always said please and thank you. I miss all my old regulars dearly
As a sbux barista (embarassing, Ik) im more shocked at seeing “local coffee shop” and “caramel macchiato” in the same post lol
As a bartender and liquor store employee, those are way better names than “double makers old fashioned guy” or “three red top Smirnoff shooter guy”
Do baristas get hit on all the time by customers? Does it ever work?
Not a barista but I was cashier/deli, me and my coworker would explicitly refer to regulars by what cigarettes they order or what food they get from the hot case.
I wouldn’t know their names so sometimes I’d be like “oh camel blue shorts said…..” or “the southern cuts lady came in ” or “oh I saw three corndogs guy”. Easily the same would be true if I worked in the coffee shop!!
1000000000%. Luckily we have a rewards system where they type in their number when they order and their name pops up on the screen so I can at least tell them “see ya later, (name)!” When they leave lol