Ex-Starbucks barista reveals insider 'secrets': 'Look for the person in the black apron'

An ex-Starbucks barista has revealed some insider 'secrets', from how baristas avenge rude customers to why they always seem to be spelling our names wrong.

Posting to TikTok, Shabaz Ali, who goes by @shabazsays, suggests the store's baristas aren't actually that hard of hearing in their busy cafes.

"Most of the time we spell your name wrong on purpose. We just get told, 'Spell the name wrong, they'll do free advertising for us,'" he claims. Watch the video above.

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"You're going to put it on your social media, you're going to talk about it, if it goes viral, you've just done advertising for the company."

In his video, which now has over 51,700 likes, the ex-barista also revealed staff don't always simply move on if a customer rubs them the wrong way.

"If you're rude to your barista, they will give you decaf coffee," he claims. "Tastes the same, you're just not going to get the coffee kick you need."

But he also said customers who are nice to their baristas might get some extra perks, like free add-on flavours, shots and syrups.

"The love you give them, is the love you're getting back," he says.

Ali then gives one of his most coveted insider secrets for coffee lovers — how to know which barista is the "coffee master".

"Look for the person in the black apron," he says.

"Now, I don't know if they do this anymore, but those people are coffee masters, they have been trained to make beautiful coffee. They know what they're doing, they'll make it expertly."

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He also advised customers to ask staff for their recommendations on food and drinks, and to go with it, even if what they offer isn't on the menu.

"Get them to make you something that they think is nice, 'cause I'm telling you, it's always a winning combination," he says.