Starbucks Baristas on October 1st: Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

It’s October 1st. You clock in for what seems like a normal shift at your local Starbucks, but the second you walk through those doors, you realize you’ve made a terrible mistake. Pumpkin Spice season is back, and there’s no stopping it. The entire population has collectively decided that today is the perfect day to get their first sips of fall.

Before you can even tie on your apron, the pounding on the door catches up to the rhythm of your heartbeat as a line forms down the street. As soon as you approach the door to unlock it, fear fills your heart and crowds of needy, Pumpkin Spice-hungry people rush through. You sigh to yourself, this is going to be a long shift.

A cacophony of “Can I please have a Pumpkin Spice Latte with extra extra pumpkin spice?” and “Can I please have a Pumpkin Chai with an extra pump of chai?” fills the room.

You automatically put your calloused barista hands to work and start concocting drinks full of pumpkin, cinnamon, and loads of seasonal flavors.

Your shift begins with fifteen mobile orders, twenty people asking for modifications, one customer performatively ordering a “regular shot of espresso.” ‘Tis the season!

But the true challenge lies in remembering which cup gets which foam, which cup needs the classic pecan syrup, and of course, how many pumps of pumpkin spice each cup warrants.

Not to mention, you have to write a positive message on every single cup while you're drowning in a pool of chai. At this point, you’re not a barista. You are a professional pumpkin enthusiast.

By noon, you’ve heard the words “pumpkin spice” approximately three-thousand times, your feet hurt, and you're questioning whether or not you even like coffee anymore. Still, you put on your best smile and hand over another cup of Pumpkin Spice Latte one at a time.

At Starbucks, October 1st isn’t just a day. It's a full-blown survival challenge. And, if you make it through the day without mixing up someone’s pumpkin spice latte for another’s matcha, then congratulations! You deserve a raise, a nap, and a free cup of Pumpkin Spice (if you still have the appetite for it).