Gabrielle Northrop is a sophomore at DePauw this year planning to major in psychology. Not only is Gabrielle the proud owner of a tortoise named Abraham, but you can catch her almost everyday at the Starbucks on the square where she works. She’s here today to give us insight into the daily life of a barista.
HerCampus: Hey Gabrielle! Thank you for sitting down with HerCampus today!
Gabrielle Northrop: Absolutely!
HC: So how’s life working at Starbucks?
GN: Working at Starbucks is actually really fun! I worked there last year and I came back because everyone that I work with is great. It’s nice because I get to see people from Greencastle and not just DePauw; like I’ve made friends my own age who aren’t even DePauw students.
HC: That’s so cool! So what’s your craziest experience working there?
GN: Oh gosh, there’s always crazy stuff going on there. Sometimes there’s this group of high school boys. They had gone to Starbucks last year and would follow me when I left work. This year, while they haven’t followed me, they still come into Starbucks. So a few weeks ago they came in again and asked if I remembered them. I implied that I did, but wasn’t happy with the experience because, you know, they followed me from work. They took that as an insult and purposely left a mess and exited the store.
HC: Oh man, that’s pretty bad! I’m sorry about that. Well, on a lighter note, what is your favorite Starbucks drink?
GN: It’s funny because a lot of people ask me that question and I never know the answer! Well, from 6th grade to senior year of high school, I consistently got a grande double blended Java Chip Frappuccino with peppermint.
HC: No way! Java Chip was my sister’s and my drink too! She got me hooked, they’re so good!
GN: Yeah, my mom got me hooked on it, actually! Now some people don’t know this, but there’s actually a difference between the Java Chip and Double Chocolaty Chip. The Java Chip has coffee, the Double Chocolaty Chip does not. Some people will ask for a Double Chocolaty Chip with coffee and I’m like…that’s a Java Chip.
HC: I actually never knew the difference, that’s good to know! Now are Java Chip fraps your favorite drink to make?
GN: Actually no, this is a little weird but I love steaming milk. It’s really fun, like whenever I get there I always try to be on bar so I can make the drinks and steam the milk. Except the bad thing with that is that you get milk all over you. Then by the time you leave you smell like a spoiled latte. But overall it’s really fun!
HC: Now is it difficult to memorize all of the drink recipes?
GN: It’s surprisingly not difficult at all because a lot of the drinks have the same base and it’s really only the syrup that’s different; so for example we have Mocha Latte, White Mocha Latte, Pumpkin Spice Latte, and in the end the only thing that’s really changing is the syrup put in them. It’s super easy.
HC: Oh, that’s not bad! So if that’s easy, then what’s the weirdest thing someone has ordered?
GN: Well, in my opinion the Matcha Green Tea Frappuccino is pretty weird but people keep ordering, so I’m not sure. Like some people put strawberries in it, some people put chocolate chips in it, it can get really weird. And sometimes people will come in with the secret menu.
HC: Oh gosh, so tell me about the secret menu! Is that actually a thing?
GN: There is no magical special book at Starbucks that holds the secret menu. What the secret menu is is an online compilation of drink ideas people who either go to Starbucks a lot or baristas who just think certain things would taste good together make.
HC: So if I came into Starbucks asking for birthday cake frappuccino, what would you do?
GN: Well, if you have a recipe then it’s no problem, we just don’t have the secret menu memorized because it’s not official. Like if it’s on your phone then that’s great, just show it to the barista. Sometimes people will come in trying to order for someone who wants something off the secret menu and they don’t have a recipe, so we do try and help them out by almost deconstructing the description of the color and what the drink looks like overall, but without the recipe we can never be sure.
HC: That’s good to know, I’ll be sure to let my sister know who is obsessed with the secret menu! Okay, last question and be honest: what is your opinion on the Pumpkin Spice Latte?
GN: Okay, I don’t really like pumpkin spiced anything, especially in drink form. People get so excited about them, and I just don’t get it.
HC: I have to admit I actually agree, but I will say that I love the winter-themed drinks; they’re so good. Well, thank you so much for talking with HerCampus, Gabrielle! It was a pleasure!
GN: No problem, see you around!