- Starbucks is bringing back several classic in-store features, including personalized cups, milk and sugar stations, and free refills for people who drink in-store. The changes went into effect this week.
Get ready for baristas to massacre your name on your coffee order once again.
Starbucks has rolled out a series of changes that bring back policies and habits that haven’t been seen since before the pandemic as the chain looks to increase sales and traffic. Among those? Workers will once again handwrite customers’ names on the cups with a Sharpie, which could (and likely will) result in some comical misspellings of names like Shauna, Leigh, and Bianca.
Beyond the handwritten names, the chain is offering free refills on some “for here” orders, a perk that was previously restricted to its loyalty-program members. Those will be served in ceramic mugs or a personal cup customers have washed and brought from home. (Free refills will be offered for hot brewed or iced coffee, or hot or iced tea after ordering any beverage.)
Milk and sugar stations are making a return as well, which will not only let people prepare their coffee just how they want it, but will lighten the load for baristas and should result in quicker turnaround times for getting your drink.
“Our customers are asking for it and our baristas are saying it would help them deliver the speed of service that they want to provide,” CEO Brian Niccol said in a recent earnings call.
Vaping will no longer be allowed in Starbucks stores, and only paying customers will be allowed to use the restrooms.
Starbucks has seen its stock climb in the past year, but for the past three quarters, it has seen declines in sales, most recently a 7% drop globally. The company reports earnings after the bell on Tuesday.