This Annoying TikTok Trend Is Angering Starbucks Employees
Starbucks already has imaginative and trendy drinks on its menu that blend flavors like mocha, sweet cream, caramel, brown sugar, and more with several milk, coffee, and espresso options. Customers also conveniently get to modify anything and everything. Because of this, there's now a viral trend exploding on TikTok and Twitter to see who can come up with the most original and extravagant drinks — much to the dismay of some employees.
One employee named Josie recently took to Twitter to showcase an order from a customer named Edward. It was a Venti Caramel Crunch Frappuccino ordered through the mobile Starbucks app, but Edward wanted a few additions…extra caramel drizzle, extra whipped cream, extra ice, extra caramel crunch, heavy cream, 7 pumps of Dark Caramel Sauce, and 5 bananas, plus even more for a total of 13 special requests.
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On todays episode of why i wanna quit my job. pic.twitter.com/vKAtRKNRwe
— Josie (@ProjectJosiee) May 2, 2021
The tweet went viral, and not only inspired customers to try their hand at creating extensive and lavish orders but also roused up other employees.
i raise you this pic.twitter.com/07mhU0IyED
— bucky barnes stan account (@victoriasarberr) May 3, 2021
Edward may never have ordered the extravagant frap if the trend hadn't taken off on TikTok recently. The app is full of videos of drinks off the main menu and how to order them. The hashtag #Starbucks has over 12.8 billion views on the app, and #starbucksdrinksyoushouldtry has over 45.3 million.
Most of the videos don't meet Edward's or Mohammad's drink level, but still require step-by-step instructions on how to order them.
@secretmenudrinksHOW TO ORDER THE ROSE GOLD REFRESHER! #starbucks #secretmenustarbucks #starbucksdrinksyoushouldtry #tiktokdrinks #PepsiApplePieChallenge♬ bee – Burbank
The app makes it easy to customize, but as comedian Ashley Nicole Black points out, it's also saving employees and customers from potential embarrassment from such long orders.
I knew it had to be an app order. No one would order that out loud making eye contact
— Ashley Nicole Black (@ashleyn1cole) May 3, 2021
Others argue that ordering drinks with so many special requests should come with something for the baristas who craft the drinks.
Orders with more than 8 changes should automatically charge a tip for the baristas. Like what they do when you go to a restaurant with a large group of people.
— Mike Johnson (Weather Mike) (@weathermike24) May 3, 2021
In a statement to the TODAY Show, Starbucks said that customizations are part of the experience at the chain, and it's unlikely that they will tell customers to limit them. "There are many ways for customers to modify their favorite beverage at Starbucks and a majority of customizations are reasonable requests from customers," they added.
It's safe to say that adding so many sauces and flavors into your morning coffee is also not very healthy—but don't worry, here's what you should order, according to a registered dietitian. And to get all the latest Starbucks news delivered right to your email inbox every day, sign up for our newsletter!
