15 Starbucks Etiquette Tips

Did you know there is Starbucks Etiquette? If not, you’re probably breaking the rules.

While eHow has a short article explaining the etiquette of ordering, there so much more! People apparently lose all common sense when they smell their newly created Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte.


Follow these common sense tips for proper Starbucks etiquette:

1. While there are multiple registers, there is only one queue.
2. Learn the vernacular at Starbucks. There is no such size as small/medium/large. Use short/tall/grande/venti instead.
3. Know what you want to order when you arrive at the counter. If you’ve never been to Starbucks before, check out the menu on-line prior to your visit. Otherwise stand to the side of the line to study the menu before queuing up.
4. After ordering, have your money or your Starbucks card at the ready to pay.
5. Once your drink is ordered, do not crowd the counter where the barista is making your drink. The barista will call your order or name when the drink is complete.
6. Make sure you pick up YOUR order and not someone else’s.
7. Do not bring outside food into the Starbucks. The only exception is a small meal for a little one provided you purchase a drink and food yourself. If you find yourself using this exception often, you might want to consider skipping Starbucks and eating elsewhere.
8. Make sure you actually purchase Starbuck’s product if you plan on enjoying the Starbucks atmosphere. It’s just broken to skip the purchase and just use the free WiFi.
9. For every 2 hours you occupy a seat and/or table at Starbuck’s, you should order a refill or new product and tip the barista. As an example, if you spend an entire 8 hour day occupying space at Starbucks, you should have tipped about $10 and ordered food and several drinks.
10. Setup shop at an appropriately sized table. For example, if you are by yourself, choose a table for one or two people but not a four seater or multiple smaller tables.
11. If you plan on running a meeting in a Starbucks, make sure you watch your volume and keep the number of participants to four or less.
12. Keep conversation quiet.
13. Keep computer or mobile device noise confined to headphones.
14. If you need to use the phone for more than a minute, take the call outside.
15. Leave the kids at home unless you have well-behaved kids and something for them to do. My four year uses my iPad with headphones and consumes Starbucks product (kid temperature hot chocolate and English muffin breakfast sandwiches).

One etiquette tip I wish was commonly accepted is no smoking on the Starbucks patios. Unfortunately there apparently is a high concentration of smokers where I live and the Starbucks patios are always used as a hangout for smokers which means non-smokers are relegated to enjoy their coffee inside.

On my most recent trip on a lovely Sunday afternoon, I ran up against several violations. One lady took possession of a four seat table for over two hours and from the looks of her spread, she was probably there much longer. Additionally, a man came in and took over two single tables (plus he had an Alabama sticker on his laptop which is just wrong). Finally, a family of four came in with their Burger King meals looking for a large table (and free WiFi) and figured that the father’s coffee would justify the use of space.

Seriously folks, Starbucks is a business, not your home!