Starbucks — Restaurant in Aiken County

This is my favorite Starbucks EVER! I come here to study almost every single day, and there’s almost always a table open! The environment is very cozy despite them remodeling semi-recently. The music is a very good mix to satisfy a wide range of tastes, and it’s not too loud to where it hinders concentration abilities! The absolute best part about this Starbucks though is the amazing baristas! Most of the baristas know me by name and greet me when I walk into the door, and they know my regular order so I don’t even have to tell them what I want half of the time! They even recognize my voice in the drivethru sometimes! Marley is my favorite barista ever, even when she’s swamped with orders she still takes time out to talk to me and ask me about school and we always have a nice conversation. She knows my name and drink order! She’s very cheerful and friendly, and always greets me with a big warm smile! It makes my day, and it creates a very friendly environment! Ryan is awesome, he is so funny, sassy, and always just cheerful and pleasant, not to mention that he knows my name and drink order! I sit here for hours everyday, and he knows so many people’s names, orders, and details, and always takes time out of his busy rush to greet people and just make them feel a warm welcome! I think very highly of that. Anthony is really cool. He’s worked to remember my name and he is just very pleasant, funny, and cool as a cucumber. Alex is such a sweetheart. He’s very soft spoken and he has great drink suggestions when I’m stumped! He’s very descriptive and just amazingly helpful. He is super nice and funny and just a pleasure to be served by! Zoey is so sweet! She’s one of those hot mess people in a good way, I can tell, and she’s just so nice, and remembers my name! One time my card kept getting declined, and she just let me have a free one! She, along with all of the other baristas, really seem to have a great bond amongst one and other. Austin is pretty fantastic. He is so polite and nice, and he along with Marley take the time out to bring my drink to wherever I’m sitting instead of me having to get up and get it! I think that’s just really, really cool. They almost always make fantastic drinks, but if there’s ever a little blip and I end up not being fully satisfied, they make it again without a second of hesitation! I like to experiment with drinks at times, and they never get agitated with my stuttering or stumped - ness at the register, which makes me feel really secure considering that I’m very indecisive. They don’t make you feel pressured to decide, and they’re always very helpful by asking what kind of drink you’re looking for and/or offering suggestions! When you give tips, they’re always so genuinely thankful and grateful, it makes the You feel like a million bucks because you’ve made a group of people so happy! Also, if the baristas are unsure about some aspect of your drink when they’re making it, they just ASK! Instead of guessing and acting stuck up and then getting the order wrong, they simply just ask the customer for clarification, which makes everyone very content and comforted! I haven’t mentioned all of the baristas simply because I don’t know all of them on the level that I know the ones who I mentioned, but I know them well enough to know that they are all freaking awesome!!! I love this Starbucks and I love these baristas! You need to take time out of your day to come experience this amazing establishment! Starbucks Corporate, if you’re reading this, THESE AMAZING BARISTAS...

This afternoon at 4:21 I experienced something way different than the Starbucks values. I simply asked that my drink be remade, it was very very bitter, and yes, I'm aware espresso is bitter, but I added 3 pumps of white mocha and 3 pumps of classic and a total of 10 half brown sugar pumps. I order this drink at least 5 days a week, and here at this location it tasted very off, so I just asked if it could be remade. The barista was VERY combative and acted as if I insulted her. She argued and then asked me if I had given the other drink back, to which I replied it was in the garbage can. The barista STARED me down and then went to remake my drink, and so I asked what her name was and the younger barista said he didn't know her name. Strange, and worrisome. So the barista comes back with my drink and says try this before you leave, and informs me that she put TWENTY THREE pumps of brown sugar in my drink??? I didn't even know how to respond. Not only did I pay for a drink that was absolutely terrible, but then I was met with a very hostile and vindictive barista. Outside of being embarrassed for a simple request, I am also very saddened to see such behaviors from a barista who works for a company that is supposed to pride themselves on being inclusive and offering a third space. Does not live up to it's values does not even come close to the rude and disrespectful nature of that individual. Knox avenue is off limits I will drive 30 minutes to...

Great store friendly employees but the getting asked for your name every time you go through the drive though is weird and honestly feel like it’s uncomfortable for everyone. The employees are friendly enough without it. It feels incredibly awkward to introduce myself for a week straight and honestly throws me off every time because I’m expecting to hear “what’s can I get you” or something like that. Not “what’s your name” Especially in a drive through. It goes without saying not everyone going through a drive through to get caffeine wants to socialize. And again, the customer service was great before. It feels so awkward and forced. I feel so bad for the employees. I would hate having to do that so bad especially since people are going to ignore the question and just start to order which is standard. I feel like theres some incredibly annoying out of touch management behind this. Like I’d even understand asking for a name for the order after the order if it’s necessary but it’s just so awkward going to a drive through window and hearing “Hi my name is blank, what’s yours?” Like what? Getting buddy...