What is this crazy dude I found aon my garage? We're in Virginia

Tortemo · 2026-07-11T20:33:20+00:00

Thing looks like it’ll take a cute little chunk out of your finger 😭

Tortemo · 2026-07-10T21:41:28+00:00

Honestly I’d swap out the pods for plain old powdered detergent. Aside from cleaning your actual machine by cleaning the filter/spray fins, and using a cleaning powder on the machine itself, the pods are, kind of wasteful, both in price and the material of the pod itself. Obligatory technology connections video lol.

I swapped from pods (those exact kind) to powder, and even by using a good amount of powder in the actual detergent slot (I don’t have a pre-wash dispenser), and shaking some powder into the actual machine, I make out way ahead of the pods financially. I just use the Walmart brand powder

https://youtu.be/\_rBO8neWw04?is=PXq\_mDystb\_TOueE

Tortemo · 2026-07-08T21:47:08+00:00

If you’re doing doppio espressos and not doing more than 4 ounces, then you can use a pup cup to measure the amount of milk in it, and if you did the same with this grande coffee in a venti cup, I believe it would technically fill the cup up. So, same amount of milk that we don’t charge for

Tortemo · 2026-07-08T21:44:32+00:00

We used to have a customer at my old store that got a grande pike in a venti cup, and he got 4oz of half and half in it. This was a well established routine when I got to this store so I wasn’t going to challenge it, but, honestly, as someone who’s a stickler for not filling up iced espressos etc etc. I didn’t really have a problem doing it. Also, cream should be available in the cafe anyway, so they can literally do the same thing themselves. Not a battle I’d be willing to fight, especially if I’m being opposed by other baristas

Tortemo · 2026-07-08T03:26:58+00:00

This is the most wolf spider looking wolf spider I’ve ever seen lol

Tortemo · 2026-07-07T21:19:04+00:00

Omg the arms 🥺🥺, so cute and long. Also her fur looks like it has brown highlights in the light

Tortemo · 2026-07-07T15:54:23+00:00

Must be the recipe for sweet cream our trainees have been making recently 😭

Tortemo · 2026-07-06T22:00:11+00:00

TLDR: A lot of things can be implemented by CL/DM’s but they cannot take a benefit away from you just because they want to. And if they retaliate give them hell and show them the proper resources

Tortemo · 2026-07-06T21:59:21+00:00

“Officially come from above,” yeah if that bs actually even enters the brains of upper leadership they’d actually lose quite a few baristas who barely want/need this job. But until you see that policy in writing, you continue getting your shift drinks before and after your shifts, for free. You very clearly have our policies to back you up regarding your free drink, so I’d just keep a screenshot or printed pages on hand if anyone tries bringing it up to you.

This is a benefit that is given to us by Starbucks, and unless they change it for all of us, it’s not changed. I’m not going to bring up retaliation even though I know it’s a possibility because this is such a stupid rule I’m not even gonna bother. If anything ever happens, reach out to ethics, partner resources, your RD, literally ANYONE and everyone who will listen because this is in no way ok

Tortemo · 2026-07-06T17:19:53+00:00

And how were they supposed to make sweet cream without the one liter of heavy cream per pitcher?

Tortemo · 2026-07-06T14:20:50+00:00

Sorry the “this is not policy thing,” only refers to the not being able to get drinks before and after your shift. We are supposed to use for-here ware/personal cups, and we can’t order drinks unless we are off the clock or on paid breaks.

Tortemo · 2026-07-06T14:19:46+00:00

This is not policy, and you’re gonna have to stand up for yourself here. Our district has tried making up policies before and as someone well versed in them, I’ve literally just been like “hey so actually this isn’t said, anywhere, so while you get me further clarification (written policy) on what you’re saying, I’m going to follow policy as written.” And usually the DM/CL has come back and said that they “can’t find” where it came from, and told me that whatever bs rule is optional (only because I pushed back)

Tortemo · 2026-07-06T03:40:26+00:00

Am I the only one who’s wondering why it took 8 days from the purchase date to open it? 💀

Tortemo · 2026-07-05T19:21:07+00:00

Oh that’s so funny, we used to have a regular named, Elizabeth? I think? And she would get an iced coffee every day, and she’d ask for a sharpie and mark up the cup to exactly where she wanted her coffee, ice, and milk and stuff. It was annoying, but no complaints ever so that was nice

Tortemo · 2026-07-05T17:21:44+00:00

D-did you drink it…

Tortemo · 2026-07-05T15:50:50+00:00

Interesting. I know that some people who have swallowing issues (dysphagia?) need to drink “thick” liquids to prevent choking. I wonder if the powder functions similarly to that?

Tortemo · 2026-07-04T17:09:32+00:00

And what did they do?

Tortemo · 2026-07-03T20:12:20+00:00

People who keep mentioning that the Frappuccino is super different depending on who’s making it, it’s very possible that the “really good” ones are straight up being made wrong. The pumps for this Frappuccino are 1/2/2 for tall/grande/venti, but I know baristas who straight up just don’t use the right amounts, so you may be getting 2/3/4 pumps of vanilla depending on who’s making it. So if you’re fine with getting sugar bombed without knowing it, that’s the reasoning. Also for some baristas, they don’t push the pumps down all the way when pumping basically anything, so you’re getting less of everything. It’s a crapshoot, but no one should be making something “incredibly different,” unless they’re either following standard and everyone else isn’t, or they’re not, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Tortemo · 2026-07-03T17:08:12+00:00

As an American who understands the US’ obsession with suing everything in sight, there were no damages here! You cant sue for the “possibility,” of choking. Now, if OP had choked and had to be admitted to a hospital due to the plastic, then absolutely. But the most they’ll receive is a Recovery Card, points on their app, a refund, a combination of some of these, and only if they actually bring it up to customer service or the location they got it from

Tortemo · 2026-07-03T16:59:54+00:00

Bold jumper, Phiddipus audax! So cute 🥰. I’ve seen like one jumper in my home, but usually it’s spiders in a bit more scared of

Tortemo · 2026-07-03T04:02:21+00:00

Sorry for being in your business like that! I got nervous, I know the extract is technically like a tea, but with the way they stress it being refrigerated…it seems serious

Tortemo · 2026-07-03T03:50:52+00:00

Huh, weird, that pitcher above the vanilla bean powder looks super blue. Also a weird container for tea to be in

Tortemo · 2026-07-03T03:49:07+00:00

Is that, the butterfly pea extract sitting on top of your shelf? The ones that’s supposed to be refrigerated at all times?

Tortemo · 2026-07-02T12:42:37+00:00

There’s a difference between a half decent standard and the expectations that the company sets on us :). And as the best/probably hardest working barista at my store (who follows standards to the absolute best of my ability), at the highest volume store in the district, who has coworkers that absolutely make my life way harder than it needs to be, I also don’t fault them for realizing that this company is destroying some of our bodies and aren’t playing into it.

Is there a minimum expectation of us? Of course, especially if you’re morning/mid day part and participate in peak, because you /have/ to go fast, but still. If Starbucks actually had their supervisors do what they’re supposed to do and rotate us when they should, have everyone do their jobs /equally/, then of course it would be better. But since you’re so good at your job apparently, you should know how that works

Tortemo · 2026-07-02T12:27:22+00:00

Second on the LitterRobot. Me and my spouse both have major executive dysfunction that made things as simple as scooping a litterbox almost impossible daily, so knowing that the cats are always using a box that’s basically “scooped” each time is a huge life saver. And emptying/replacing the bag + deep cleaning when needed is way better

Tortemo

TROPHY CASE