From the mailbag: What's an appropriate holiday gift for a "special" barista?

Lori writes to STARBUCKS GOSSIP: What gift (if any?) is appropriate to bring a special barista at Starbucks, that has served me my lattes for 3+ years? I want to do something for the holidays for her (given she's dealt with me every morning, without fail, on my way to work), but don't know what an appropriate gift is. I perhaps should know, since I'm an ex-barista (Starbucks and Second Cup, in my pastlife) myself, but alas, I can't seem to figure it out. Also, is this appropriate to do while she's
on the job, and in the presence of her equally hardworking co-workers? And does this mean I should be buying the manager (who I rarely see) something?

My main question: Is it appropriate to just direct a gift to her, or should I be buying something communal (ie chocolates) and directing it to *everyone* at the store? BARISTAS: What (if anything) have been your most memorable customer gifts? Is it better to go with just a card (which is all I ever received, really), or is there something a special customer has done for you, to thank you for your hard espresso pulling work, day in and day out?

Comments

Our customers just usually bake us stuff and everyone shares it

[Donald]

There is nothing wrong with giving just one person a gift. If you have a (dare I say it) friendship with an individual, it's ok to let her know you appreciate it. Give her a ten dollar target gift card.

[sbuxgossiper]

Yeah, we get baked goods from regulars sometimes and we just put it in the back and everyone shares it ... I don't think it really matters if you give one specific barista a gift, seeing as you've known her for years, you should go ahead.

[Andrew]

If it's just something for her, keep it wrapped or in an envelope.

I got twenty bucks once from a cool customer.

[Becca]

It's perfectly ok to direct a present to just one barista imo.
How well do you know her? If your small talk has ever covered interests, that may help you. ex: has she ever mentioned reading? get her one of the new books (or alternatively a gc for a bookstore)

[sbuxmanager]

Money. Give your special Starbucks friend money. They will appreciate it way more than your crappy cookies. At least I would. There is nothing wrong with singling anyone out. If anything it will encourage others to provide better service.

[JA]

I don't suggest giving money. With the shared tip jar thing, it becomes awkward when customers try to give money to individuals, and I always feel guilty if someone tries to give me personally an extra buck or whatever, and just put it in the tip jar after they leave. Baked goods are nice, since we get so sick of looking at the same pastries that it's a nice treat to have something different to drool over. Cards are always appreciated, or gift cards, but if you really want to give a gift to one specific barista, I say go for it. Make sure it's wrapped or bagged with her name on it, so it's obvious that it's just for her, and don't be offended if she doesn't open it right away, because she might not want to open it in front of the other baristas and feel singled out.

[Florida Barista]

I would say food is always a safe bet.. but a 10 dollar gift card to the local mall would be good too :)

[Nick]

Look no further: buy them a gift subscription to Barista Magazine. www.baristamagazine.com (no direct affiliation)

my fave but lamest gift was from an old lady who i gave directions to during the holiday season...

she came back from the mall with this terribly tacky tree pin, that i swear i wore almost every day for a month!

what made it so awesome was that it was from her heart, and totally unexpected.

we're here to do a job, and when you appreciate it, we feel warm and fuzzy...

the gift card is a good idea, but totally not personal. go for something you think they'd like, that you've shared in conversation...

even if it doesn't cost you anything - hand-me-downs can be really cool...

[JustABarista]

I get a few gifts every year. Usually it's a gift cart for Target or a dinner for two card good at a local resteraunt (which I could NEVER afford to eat at on my own). But it's all very useful. Most baristas love Target, so any amount on a gift card is a great gift. It's also very easy to discreetly slip it to your favorite barista with a simple, happy holidays!.

[Rae]

3+ years? How about the Jobs section of the classifieds?

(I keed, I keed.)

[Lauren]

She's female -- so pair whatever it is with something handwritten. A note, a card, a something. You can give it to her, but don't make a big to-do. That way the next time she'll have the choice of approaching you with whatever sort of thank you she wants.

[harmaa]

Give the barista something nice and personal, a wrapped gift. Then stick a decent tip in the jar for the rest. :)

Since most baristas make such little pay, I suggest a gift card so they can get themselves something that they couldnt normally afford. I know it dosent seem very personal but I know it would be very much appreciated.

[Chi-towns best/angriest barista]

i this the idea of food is nice, but just be aware of dietary resirictions or allergies or anything like that, but maybe you know that after knowing her for 3 years. i think the gift card idea is nice too, something thoughtful but useful but also not overly conspicuous. anything that fits in an envelope is allright, so as not to draw major attention to it, since no one wants to feel jealous or left out during the holidays, and there are bound to be other people working around her.
i wish my customers were this nice to me, i bet you're quite appreciated.

[coco]

I would love a Starbucks giftcard for when I am not working. Even with the
30% discount, coffee is still expensive! I would also use it when I travel. Don't give $$, it would have to go in the tip jar to be shared.

[Andrew]

1- Money doesn't have to be shared if it's given to you in an envelope so you can open it later.

2- Don't ever give them a Starbucks card. Please.

[Tim]

I thought we weren't allowed to accept gifts? So I'd say you'd have to catch up with them after work or before it or something... otherwise, nice thought :)

[seattle]

TIM-There's really nothing in policy that says partners explicitly can't accept gifts. Of course, if you're at work, no matter what the job it's a good idea to use appropriate judgment about what to accept if you're on the receiving end. When I was in the stores regular customers would bring gifts in all the time around the holidays-treats, cards, etc. Sometimes they were intended for the store, sometimes for one particular partner. I always thought it was really nice that we meant enough to some people to think of us at the holidays.

At my first store we had a customer that would come in every single day, always ordered the same thing, and we all loved him but he never tipped on a daily basis. What he would do instead was around the holidays bring in an envelope with $500 in it for us all to split between each other in the next tip payout. It was sort of more special that way, because he thought so much of us that he would give us that amount of money at a special time of the year. But I digress.

Basically as long as it's an appropriate gift it's perfectly okay to give something special to either the store or to a barista that is special to you.

i agree that the tips to share is nice - or just a holiday card with cash usually makes a barista feel good.
i don't think that it really matters -it is the thought that counts, and the idea of being valued and appreciated.

[kingleo]

Screw all the other employees! They are obviously not providing "legendary service," otherwise this would not be an issue.

I loved the suggestion of a Gift Card; make it a Starbucks gift card to be ironic.

How about juggling balls or glow in the dark stars?

Hey! If you are real pain in the ass customer, how about giving her a week off from your insessant annoying personality? That would be a great gift.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

As a manager, it would not bother me a bit to have one barista singled out...in fact, it would make me proud!

[the dmr]

Baristas can not accpet gifts from guests. I believe it is stated somewhere in the Starbucks Corporate Policy Standards/Ethics Booklet (It is Green Book comes part of the new hire/partner packet)

I will post it later when I get a hold of it, dont feel like going through all the books tonight.

~~the dmr~~

[Lori]

Thanks for the advice...

Anyway, would giving her something to do with her likes/dislikes, look very stalker-y (like I paid too much attention)? I just want to come across as good-will-to-all-men-y....

I found some neat coffee stuff-- scented candles, coffee quotes book-- but I think that's a bit kitsch, and besides, if you work with coffee all day, do you really want it with your Christmas? ;-) Plus, not everyone that works at Starbucks actually LIKES coffee ;-p It may be overkill...

Thanks for the advice/ideas...

As for communal gifts, what else have you been given (I don't bake!) ;-p

Re: Gift cards... maybe I should be evil and give her a coffee gift card for Second Cup/Timothy's, or Tim Hortons ;-p heh

[Lori]

ps in response to legendary service: All the baristas provide legendary service, so that's why I asked if it was unfair to single out one. It's just that she's always the one that happens to be up at the time I'm going to work, and happens to always be the one I run into...

I just didn't want to seem like a creepy customer, is all!

[cornfrost]

Maybe it's just me, but I would be totally weirded out if a customer gave me a holiday gift.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

My customers give me "gifts" all the time because I perform a wide-range of "services" not done by most baristas. However, some customers have simply given me gift certificates to go out to eat or to the movies. I hope I get something nice this year from them.

[Ryan]

technically by starbucks rules, a partner is not supposed to accept any gifts from a customer anyway...

[coffeeguy]

Honestly a gift certificate for a movie or a box of choclates is perfect. It's saying thank you and giving the person something to enjoy without going overboard. :)

[PunkyBrewster]

I've gotten gifts from some of my regulars, but they were usually small gifts from their respective places of work i.e a "free gift" pack from the lady who worked at the malls cosmetic counter. It made me feel great because I knew they hadn't gone out of their way to get it for me (and it most cases cost them little to no money) so I didn't feel too awkward receiving it, but showed they were appreciative and thinking of me. If someone tries to tip me individually for a specific gesture, I either put it in the tip jar, or split it between everyone on the floor.

Honestly though, if a man brings a female barista a gift, it's usually a creepier gesture than they probably want it to be in most cases. Most of the men that have attempted it have never quite recovered.

I love it when our regulars that we know, love, and most importantly trust, bring us snacks. I used to work in a mall SBUX, and I would end up doing paid-outs for dinner for everyone because we couldn't get out of there. Some of our regulars would bring us a plate of something and it would make out night. The best gift is a larger than usual tip during the stressful holidays.......followed closely of course by a Target gift card ;).

[Linda]

I gave money to my favorite baristas last Christmas and plan to do so again this year. I simply put cash in a small card that wished them a merry Christmas and happy New Year. I also plan to slip a particular store manager a monetary gift this year, he goes above and beyond with customers each day and I could never work with the public the way he does. Happy holidays to everyone here, I enjoy reading this gossip site.

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

What about when a male customers gives a male barista a special gift with that twinkle in his eye?

[mkebarista]

I would recommend giving the gift on the side, out of view of other workers if you are giving the gift to just one person. It's ussually a team effort, especially during a morning rush to get your drink to you.

[~NiTOXina~]

maybe it's just me, but i would never accept money for myself directly from a customer because of ethical issues, even if it is just a gift. i would rather just have a card or some small gift for the store to share. if they want to individualize it, i would recomend a card because even though it's not as useful as money, it still shows that the customer cares and i don't have to worry about ethical/moral issues like i do w/ money.

Give whatever you feel like giving. If you know this person well, give them something personal. Money is great and all... my store has a few special customers who tip individuals... one guy will come in once a month, ask how many people are working and then proceed to count out that many hundred dollar bills. My favorite gift though... was a Candle shaped like something different. Of course this is from a customer who i know well and will write playful little nothings on her cup, like.. "Whore" or "Miche*le likes her coffee like she likes her men... decaf" Oh...sporting events are also nice gifts.

you know, playful things, like:
'whore'...

ahhh, the playful banter of partners and customers...

[imabarista]

If you take money from a customer and do not share it with your partners you are stealing from your co-workers.

How hard is that to understand?

[coco]

I do not eat any of those wonderful Holiday treats that customers make for us. Too many "weird" customers have access to "weird" ingredients in their kitchens!

[Your Not A Barista If The Machine Makes The Shot For You]

Why not buy her a college education? That would be real nice. So she doesn't have to slave away making your coffee everyday.

[canadian manager]

gifts we have been given

-promo items from people's work ie. from liquor reps small gifts like key chains etc
-candy
-oranges
-one sent over food from the restaurant next door
-christmas ornaments
-cards and letters, honestly those mean the most, even with nothing in them.
-coupons or invites to events
-shoes (it was odd but it came from a clothing store owner)
-concert/hockey tix when they couldn't go
-money ($100) to buy drinks for all the people in line that it could (giving back)
-a donation to the food bank on our behalf
-books for our book drive
etc

[imabarista]

Shouldn't that be "You're" instead of "Your"?

[Perky ASM]

Some of my favorite ideas...
• A bouquet of flowers with an attached sign that said that the team rocked!
• Someone learned dollar bill origami and would give a dollar tip every day in the shape of something cool. Like a bowtie, rhino, peacock, dress shirt with a tie…
• (one of my very favs!) The guest behind a really nasty guest said ”Here, I’ll say it for you “b-tch”!
• Took pictures of baristas and gave them appropriate holiday cards (hand made, really nice) with their picture on the card. One particular one for a barista who couldn’t be with his son for Christmas (son was overseas) with instructions to send it to his son.
• Calling corporate, RM, DM and SM (e-mail also) telling them great things about certain people and the store. This was especially appreciated since our DM literally hates our store.
(DT store)
• 2 dozen roses individually attached to the limbs of the bushes on the drive through lane. The entire next two days was spent trying to figure out "who" did it. AND the other guests loved it!
• Hand warmers for the DT baristas!!! Through out the winter almost every day.
For me the money is a nice thought, but it’s the thoughtfulness that makes it amazing!

[Lou Sussler]

I give the gift of a smile and a thank you all the time. It's also the only gift I really want to receive from someone who isn't a loved one.

[Lori]

It's ussually a team effort, especially during a morning rush to get your drink to you.

*Good point!

As for not eating treats baked by customers... that's why I wouldn't bring in homemade stuff. Why should anyone trust me? ;-P

Thanks for the ideas!

[Coffee Slinger]

I would suggest a small gift card to target or borders or something. I worked at the same Starbucks for 5 years. Like you having a favorite Barista... I had my favorite customers. It was always nice to get a note and a small gift from them during the Holidays.

[mr. starbucks]

remove your cellphones from your faces and make eye contact when a barista talks to you, that would be an awesome holiday gift from anyone guilty of that.

attend the holiday coffee seminar series with your friends. be engaged and have fun. this is especially meaningful for the coffee masters in training. (couldn't hurt if you buy something too in the end)

[Boston Starbucks Rebel]

Just because I am the Starbucks Coffee whore doesn't mean you have to hate me, I have to pay for college somehow. I too write little messages to my favorite customers, although most of them say something more appropriate like my phone number for a good time.

[Lech]

If she's a cute little barista, how about holiday-themed lingerie?