A former Starbucks employee has opened up about what he believes are the chain’s best-kept secrets, learned during his time working as a barista.
Shabaz Ali, of Blackburn, Lancashire, has made a number of claims about things he learned during his days behind the counter.
Amongst other claims, he has said that baristas use coffee syrup rather than real coffee in Frappuccinos, while alleging that they also serve decaf coffee to rude customers.
Shabaz, 28, who now works as a teacher, has also advised customers as to how to get themselves some free goodies from Starbucks - including free drinks and baked goods.
The ex-barista says he began working for the world-famous coffee brand back in 2014, and really enjoyed his time there, being a fan of Starbucks to this day.
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In a fascinating TikTok video that has clocked up more than 553,000 views and over 51,000 likes, Shabaz has now shared alleged insider knowledge from his barista days.
Shabaz said: "I was going through training and the manager told me about purposely writing names on the cups wrong for free publicity.
"[They also told me] to look out for influencers or younger people who seem the type to make a scene about it on social media, as they’ll definitely post about it.
"I was shocked, as this was probably the reason my name would be spelled wrong in the past. Frappuccinos don’t have espresso coffee; they have a fake flavour version – so if you want real coffee, you have to ask for an espresso shot".
He added: "I was also told to pretend that something wasn’t in stock if it would hold up a queue. Frappuccinos would usually take a long time to make, so on a busy day, I would tell them some syrups were out of stock or the ice machine was broken. This really shocked me, as I know other companies must do this as well".
He went on to reveal a few hints and tips to bag Starbucks freebies, including free beverages and has also explained exactly what happens to leftover items.
Shabaz said: "You get a free drink on your birthday if you tell the barista. At the end of the night, the bakery items need to be thrown out – so if you ask a barista, they might give these away to you.
"Some of this is taken to homeless shelters or given to the homeless, but most stores just bin food waste. If someone is a regular, you can give them syrups and other goodies for free.
"Most food is tried by the staff before it comes out, so always ask for their recommendations. They will also try a combination of all sorts and have their own secret special drinks, so ask them for advice and they’ll always get you what you want".
He added: "Drip/filter coffee can be refilled for free if you sit in. If you hate your drink, ask for another one, as the barista will always change this for you.
"If you ask for a medium drink, but want it in a large cup, chances are the barista will fill the cup for you because they always make a bit extra – so you get a large drink for free".
Sadly, some Starbucks customers may be dismayed to learn that, according to Shabaz, there is no secret menu.
Aghast fans have since expressed their surprise at some of the more unexpected revelations, with one person commenting, "the decaf bit scared me".
Another remarked, "I heard the name thing but wasn't fully sure, glad to get a confirmation", while a third person laughed, “I said my name’s Michelle they wrote McHale".
Starbucks has since been contacted for comment.
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