When espresso reviewer Kristen Alk pulled as much as order at her native Starbucks drive-thru, she did what so many TikTokers have executed in current months — she ordered a “shock me drink.”
The concept behind the #surprisemedrink pattern is to present the barista an opportunity to get inventive and ship an off-menu, hand-picked concoction of their very own making. Previous movies have proven baristas serving up all the pieces from a Rainbow Sherbet Frappuccino to a Scorching Butterbeer Latte.
However Alk obtained a shock of a unique kind.
The incident was captured in a video that has since gone viral, with almost 1 million views in 3 days.
Reasonably than settle for the problem, the Starbucks worker on the opposite aspect of the microphone responded dryly, “I can get you an iced water. That sounds good.”
Alk, who appeared bowled over by the sassy response, appeared on the digital camera and stated awkwardly, “Properly, are you able to simply make me one thing that sounds good?”
@kristenalk The barista did NOT cross the vibe test? #starbucksbarista #baristastarbucks #rudebarista #starbucksfail #starbuckschallenge #surprisemedrink #surprisemestarbucks #starbuckssurprisedrink #starbucksbaristarecipes #badstarbucksvisit #challengegonewrong #gonewrong #pickmydrink #starbuckschallenge2023 ♬ authentic sound – kristenalk
Later, Alk claimed the barista “didn’t cross the vibe test.” However she additionally admitted it was a busy day on the drive-thru, with a 35-minute wait for patrons to get their order.
A divided response
The video has garnered almost 6000 feedback, with viewers cut up between being pro-barista or pro-Alk.
On one aspect of the divide, commenters appear shocked {that a} Starbucks worker could be impolite to a buyer. In any case, because the outdated enterprise mantra goes, “The shopper is all the time proper.”
“Nooooo u ought to def e-mail Starbucks ‘trigger that is not acceptable,” wrote smhh..b.
“As a barista, please ask for shock me drinks; they’re all the time so enjoyable. Sorry, she was so imply to u,” wrote jimen
A Tiktok viewer named Syd joked, “That is some dunkin’ conduct.”
However, some commenters discovered the entire #surprisemetrend insensitive and presumptuous, particularly throughout a busy time when baristas are simply making an attempt to get by way of their orders.
“I am on the barista’s aspect. There’s nothing worse than somebody coming throughout/proper after a rush, asking for a shock,” wrote Chasia Binney.
“As a quick meals employee, it isn’t that we do not need to make it, however we do not know what your style is, and never solely that some come again bc they do not prefer it,” Rosie defined.
Maybe either side are proper.
As Alk stated diplomatically on the finish of the video, “I really feel prefer it was just a little bit impolite, however I do perceive that it could be annoying when individuals do not simply say what they need to order.”
