The Starbucks Food Ordering Trick That Baristas Appreciate

Baristas — like any other food service employees — are only human. After interacting with customers all day, they can easily develop a long list of pet peeves that happen far too often and create more work for their entire team. If you frequent Starbucks, you may be aware that some drinks are easier to make than others, so your order can make or break a barista's shift. There are certain drinks you absolutely should not order if you'd like to keep a barista happy.

But the way you order your food at Starbucks can also determine whether you land on your barista's good side. If you tend to order both food and drinks at Starbucks, the way you order each matters, and timing is everything for your baristas (per The Takeout). While this might sound needlessly complicated, this food ordering trick is actually pretty simple — and it's sure to bring a little bit of happiness (or at the very least, relief) to your exhausted barista's day (via Buzzfeed).

If you frequent Starbucks, you know that a happy barista equals a much happier life — especially if your barista is one of the first people you see daily. You probably already try to stay on your local Starbucks employees' good side, but according to The Takeout, if you want to make them extra happy, you just have to do one simple thing: order your food before your drinks.

Employees claim that Starbucks' food generally takes longer to make than their drinks, so to keep service moving along quickly, it's best to order your food first. This rule of thumb applies to ordering from the drive-thru and in person. Come to Starbucks with a clear idea of what's currently on their menu and which type of food you want so that the employees can start on it as soon as possible. You'll get your order more quickly and probably make your barista smile.

Ordering your food before your drinks is far from the only way to make your barista love you forever. Starbucks employees also recommend knowing the best order to say all of the components of your drink so that they can punch it in easier. If you want your drink iced, say that first, then follow up with whether or not it's decaf. The drink size comes next, followed by the type of drink, any syrups or kinds of milk, and any changes you'd like to make to the drink (via The Takeout). This may all sound complicated, but once you get the hang of saying your order this way, your barista will be able to put it into the system even more quickly.

You may love the Starbucks secret menu, but it's often a hassle for your perplexed barista when you ask for an apple pie Frappuccino. Employees aren't trained to make secret menu drinks, so they won't know how to make most of them. A former Starbucks employee told BuzzFeed that while ordering secret menu drinks might technically be okay, you should come prepared with a list of all of your drink's ingredients. Ordering your food first will make your barista's life easier — but there are also many other ways to be a top-notch Starbucks customer.