When senior Bre Tays gets in her car on a Wednesday morning, she knows where she’s going. She doesn’t think twice about packing up her things and picking up her friends. As she finally reaches her destination, the familiar aroma of Starbucks coffee is already enough to kick start her day. However, the morning isn’t so bright for others. Past the crowd of teenagers and beyond the cluttered counter are rushing hands and shuffling feet that no matter how hard they work, it may never feel like enough. But the busyness isn’t a new phenomenon; it’s just the usual for a Starbucks worker on a late start morning.
All of this chaos that coffee businesses are seeing is a result of a boom in business from the late start mornings at NHS, a forty minute delayed start built into Wednesdays so that teachers can meet together. For students, this means forty more minutes to rest, relax, and most importantly: get coffee. But success doesn’t come without a price. Baristas at both chain stores and locally owned businesses are seeing their abilities tested as they work to accommodate the crowd of coffee lovers that Wednesday mornings bring.
Junior Avyn Jones is just one of the many coffee shop workers aiming to please customers.
“Wednesday for the Noblesville locations [is] definitely one of our peak days for sales and business,” Jones said, “Since many people want drinks before school, there are a lot of high schoolers who come in.”
The swarm of customers isn’t the only factor in a stressful late start morning; Jones says that it’s everything that goes into making coffee too. Starbucks has an infamously complex menu that doesn’t even take into consideration the customized drinks that customers make up on their own.
“It can be stressful on us because it’s very fast paced and you’re expected to hand out drinks at a quick rate,” Jones said, “So customers are satisfied along with getting all of the drink customizations they create correct.”
As much as baristas want buyers to get the best that they can, it can be strenuous. Business may double in the name of teens needing a pick-me-up, but the faces behind the counter are forced to fight to keep it together. The frantic rush to keep up can lead to longer wait times for folks looking for their caffeine fix.
“Inside I see ten or fifteen people, but the drive thru is always wrapped around the building. It’s crazy,” Tays said.
While an extra forty minutes on a Wednesday morning might be a blessing to coffee-crazed students, it’s not nearly as fun for the workers. And while they try to keep up a brave face, consumers take notice.
“I feel like they all look like they wish [the late start] wasn’t happening. [They’re] super stressed out, but they work really hard,” Tays said.
The increased crowds aren’t limited to just the big-box coffee houses. Local businesses are impacted just as much. At Noble Coffee and Tea in downtown Noblesville, junior Xander Marshall sees that it’s the same inside.
“There’s definitely more [people] than I might see on a random day,” Marshall said.
Even though it’s a demanding job, the workers behind the counter can find some comfort in the customers who appreciate what they do. It’s not just a morning — consumers believe that it makes their entire day.
“On late start mornings, I feel energized because I actually have caffeine in my system. I have a lot of fun with my friends when I go to Starbucks,” Tays said.
Whether it be a locally owned shop or a big name like Starbucks, it may take longer for consumers to get their drinks. Nevertheless, baristas are doing whatever they can to lift the spirits of those who come in.
“It takes forever to get through,” Tays said, “You just have to keep an open mind that people are working hard.”
