Social Situation - Coffee Shop

Starbucks on a busy Friday morning

It's roughly around rush hour (8:45) as people are getting their coffee and other treats at the Starbucks. In the loop, many of the people are dressed in professional wear and a few random folks are wearing more leisurely attire like jeans, shorts, t-shirt, etc.

Everyone that's walking in the shop, is simply walking getting in line, placing their order, walking over to the pick up counter, and then walking out the store. There's only a few people sitting in the small tables however there are only in total 8 seats to sit in.

The customers that are entering the store seems to be in a routine, as there's very little conversation going on between each of the customers especially when they walk in on their own. From an outsiders view it appears to be a fluid motion of a assembly line. The customer or the "object" goes to each station to fulfill the next step. So 1) get in line 2) continue to move slowly up the line 3) when you reach the counter order your beverage 4) Pay 5) walk over to the pick up area 6) wait 7) pick up your drink when it's called 8) walk out the door. There's very little interaction between the customers during this period as they simply stand in place and only speak to the Starbucks staff. They say hello and thank you but scurry out the shop when they have their coffee in their hand.

The Starbucks staff is much more lively this morning. They are behind the counter, greeting each customer with a smile and some even asking if they'd like to also add a scone or muffin with their coffee. There's little conversation with the customer other than repeating the order and thanking them. Behind the counter the staff also appears to be taking on their own roles and sticking to it. There's little conversation going on as they simply shout out an order and ring the order up on the register for the customer. Each person is set a station (register, coffee machine) and stay there the whole time while you have 1 or 2 people going back and forth from behind the counter to behind the closed doors to the back. They appear to be the operations moving the assembly line along. There was very little difficulties during this morning as no major hold ups, or messed up orders/unhappy customers.

The flow of the process at times seemed like it was rehearsed. The were at times a rush of people so the line became congested however a starbucks staff member quickly walked out from behind the counter and started taking orders while they were inline rather than the walk up to the counter procedure I observed before. It was interesting to watch to the customers as many of them were ready to order their drink when asked, and very little of them even looked up at the menu.