Starbucks

Unlike others of its kind, this place is great mainly because I feel welcomed and appreciated for being a customer almost every time I come here. The baristas know me by name– maybe because of my Starbucks gold status which enables them to see my name on their register screen, but I like to think otherwise. I hold conversations (albeit, brief, but memorable) with some of the baristas, particularly Kurt and Andrew. I mentioned that I too used to be a Starbucks barista in my heyday. Kurt is really nice and friendly! He even remembered my name before he even rung me up! I think that’s what I like most about Starbucks– not because of their drinks (which are a plus too!), but because of the sense of community.
Atmosphere: it’s a small place, but there’s usually a seat open at a table you can grab even if you’re sharing it with another person. There are also still wireless charging stations! Some Starbucks locations don’t carry the wireless pad anymore because people steal the adapters, which is such a sad thing. This place still has it! They plan to renovate to create more space behind the registers for the baristas to move around in– they will be closed starting ⁴⁄₁₈ for about 2 weeks.
Overall, I give this place two thumbs up! And let me throw in a gold star!

I assume almost everyone here knows Starbucks so I won’t be going into details about their offerings or the taste. They have the same things on sale as basically any other Starbucks in the city or even the US. Coffee tastes like at any other Starbucks I’ve visited and espresso-​based beverages are about the same quality as well. In general, i would rate a good Starbucks 4 stars — I believe there is better coffee out there, but they are good and reliable.
Here is why this location only gets 3 stars:
— When you order a coffee with no room for milk, they still leave more than half an inch space in the cup — other locations usually leave less than a quarter inch. When I ask for more coffee, they act like it’s super difficult to carry and warn me not to burn myself. If every other Starbucks location I’ve been to can fill up the cup why can’t you? I have now started ordering my coffee as «a tall coffee in a grande cup» — I generally dislike when people do this since I feel they’re cheating the system, but here I get cheated out of coffee if I don’t. I need my caffeine!!!
— The location is weird. The sandwich/​pastry display case is about 2 feet from the entrance, so if there are more than 4 people waiting you have to stand outside. To leave you have to go through another door since this setup clogs the entrance. There is also almost no seating inside — one or two small tables is all there is. Outdoor seating is available, but here it’s almost always cold, foggy, windy, rainy, or a combination thereof.
— The wait can be a bit long, even when the line isn’t that long. The staff is definitely working at a very relaxed pace.

I work at UCSF so I come to this Starbucks just about 5 days a week, Monica, Dee and Jessica are my girls! They know my name without my badge lol they know exactly what I want unless I change my normal order. Everyone in the morning crew are fabulous and have great customer service.

I am back at this campus working and this Starbucks has greatly improved. The service is awesome and every single staff member has a smile on their face no matter what time it is. If you end up waiting a bit they sincerely apologize but the waiting rarely happens, they are super fast and know people are there in between meetings and what not. Just awesome and I hear ppl give crazy orders and they just smile. Staff and service is awesome!

Best service at a Starbucks ever! I loved the new flat white too! Wish the Starbucks by my house was like this one…

Chai Tea Latte is too sweet :(Great location though

Fast and friendly service, and their use of technology (electronic coupons, etc.) is good. But it’s Starbucks, and they’re taking over the world.

Aside from some clutter and limited indoor seating this was a standard Starbucks experience. They did have 3 people working which made the line move quickly and efficiently.

One of the best Starbucks I’ve been to, because of the consistency of drinks and absolutely wonderful service.
Working at a hospital, everyone is tired, run down, listless. It is common to see attendings and students knocked out in the library, asleep in the cafeteria, getting as much sleep as they can in between cases and meeting with patients. Their daily coffee is pretty important during the day, and the staff at this starbucks knows it. They treat all their customers, especially their regulars with kindness and respect, putting a smile on everyone’s face, and making sure that every one gets their good cup of joe.
They do honor many of the special promotions that other Starbucks have, such as the treat receipt.
Wish that it had more hours, but baristas gotta sleep too!

The nicest Starbucks in the area for sure!
Super friendly staff who seem to legitimately enjoy their work.
Clean dining area and clean bathrooms
Not too much room to sit and study, it’s more of a to-​go place

I love this Starbucks I just wish it were bigger. It is somewhat isolated at the very end of UCSF on Parnassus. On cold, foggy mornings it is exceptionally lovely to warm up with an extra hot milky coffee drink or Tea. On hot afternoons iced tea, or even Frappes. This Starbucks has very limited hours.

I’ve come in a few times and every time I have not had a single problem.
Pros: Great customer service, usually speedy, great fraps
Cons: Line can become annoyingly long = slower service, small Starbucks
The baristas are great, very friendly and work very quickly. All the times so far that I’ve come have been for fraps and they are the best I’ve had so far. The ice chips aren’t that big in these fraps and that is how I would prefer them. My only pet peeve with this Starbucks is that there’s not much space inside to sit since the store itself is a weird shape. Because of this, I usually just grab and go.

Pretty standard Starbucks that I frequent at UCSF. It’s pretty small and cramped– there are only a few small tables inside, so it’s not ideal for studying or working. There are tables outside too, but it’s almost always freezing and windy at Parnassus so not really an area I recommend hanging out at. The baristas are friendly and they make the drinks how they’re supposed to so no complaints there. Overall, just the same as any other Starbucks, but smaller and connected to a medical building.

Perfectly adequate Starbucks. Not the best. Not the worst.
Got my usual whole milk vanilla latte. It was made accurately.
The space is very small (not a place to curl up with a book). And the doors are right next to the register. So they are often open blowing cold air inside.

Laziest starbucks workers EVER. I sprinted to this starbucks at 4:56pm knowing that they were going to close at 5pm, and the doors were locked. I knocked and tried to make eye contact with the workers but they were so skillful to walk passed the door and avoid eye contact. Oh I’m sorry– when you have a sign outside that says that the hours are until 5pm, does that mean you guys get to clean up and close up at 4:55pm???
I hope the manager reads this. Please retrain your workers because they are LAZY.
By the way, no need to come to Starbucks when you can get Peets at the Children’s hospital cafeteria :). #legitcoffee #legitservice

The old Starbucks that I knew back in 2006 – 2007 has undergone a HUGE makeover. It has expanded, is cleaner, and is well-​serviced by a highly efficient and friendly staff. In addition to the usual drink options, this Starbucks is complete with La Boulange baked goods and plenty of other sweet and savory snacks to choose from. It’s amazing what a few years can do to a place.
So now, I love this place, as clearly evidenced by my neck-​and-​neck race with another similarly named Unilocaler for the title of Duchess! ;)

Seasonal Caramel Brûlée Latte!
This is one of my favorite Starbucks. It may not be the biggest or the fanciest but it has some of the most pleasant staff of any Starbucks I’ve been too.
They are always smiling. Always ready to help. Always speedy.
In general it’s a tiny place, only a few tables around the corner from the counter and a few outside as well. It can get crowded and the line can get long but they work hard to move us a long knowing we all more then likely need to get to work (or school).

Just have to say that a year later, these people are still the friendliest and most efficient baristas I have ever encountered at a Starbucks. Some staff have left and others have arrived, but the managers must be doing something right, because every employee is still friendly and awesome.
Seriously, whoever manages this location deserves a serious bonus from corporate. Not to mention everyone who works there. I am sad to not be around UCSF next year, because I will have to find a new location with baristas who can meet the standards set by these guys/​gals.
Just thought they deserved some more Unilocal love!

This review is based completely on the service.
The baristas are absolutely the best I’ve ever expierenced. I go here quite often and every single time, I am greeted with a smile and «good morning.» Something that is often forgotten at most locations.
My drinks are always made quickly and to perfection. The staff here is truly top notch.

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