Starbucks — Restaurant in Pittsfield Charter Township

I went to this location this morning at 6am when they opened to pick up a to-go carrier of coffee. Before they made the order, I asked if they were able to do tax-exemption for the university. The two baristas/managers looked at me like I had lost my mind. They fiddled with the register for a minute, told me they had never heard of such a thing, and that they don't do that here.

A guy who also worked there walked by and said out loud "yes we do" and they apparently didn't hear him. Later in the conversation when they told me there was nothing they could do, I said "what about the guy who walked by a minute ago and said you do?" and they looked at each other and said "did he say that?". Rather than going to ask him... they said "you would have to call in advance and ask for a donation for the university". I explained that it wasn't a donation, it was a tax exemption. I showed them my procurement card with the tax exemption number on it.

Then, who I would imagine is the manager or shift leader, a blonde woman, laughed at me and said "Well, in my six years of working here I've never heard of that, so there's nothing we can do". I just said "it's fine" and walked away.

Not once did they even consider that I knew what I was talking about and offer to go find an answer. They laughed at me and stood there staring at me as if it was my job to make a decision instead of them doing their due-diligence.

I then called the Starbucks 1 mile down the road who happily confirmed that they do tax exemption. They found the button within 15 seconds on the register and there was absolutely no issue.

It wasn't a problem that she had never heard of it - I understand that it's a somewhat unique request. However, my frustration was the tone and snark with which they spoke to me and assumed that I had no idea what I was talking about. There was no initiative to get an answer (mind you, there was no one else in line) or offer to work with me. Needless to say, I'll be taking my business to the Starbucks down the road because I'm not interested in being treated that...

The Barista, Brooklyn, at this location right now as of June 24, 2025 8:30am, does not know or understand how to make stacked espresso drinks or the importance of making a presentable espresso drink.

Brooklyn would rather issue a refund than to learn and understand what a stacked espresso drinks is supposed to look like.

Instead of Brooklyn listening to how I want my drink, she cut me off and offered a refund. This is rude behavior. I told her you’re being rude to me. She said I’m sorry you feel that way. This is now toxic behavior. She was rude and toxic.

She then went inside and complained to her manager and the manager asked me not to name call. I said, “What did I call her?” Brooklyn said you called her rude. Well that’s what she was being and Toxic too.

Starbucks is known for allowing customers to speak out about their drinks. The corp enables customers to request drinks to be made over again the right way. There is no point in having the same barista make the drink again if the results will be the same. The point of doing it again is to do it right.

Brooklyn, the drink you made for me looked like mud water twice which means you didn’t take the time to understand what was wrong with the first drink and then you proceeded to cut me off at the window when I was in the middle of explaining it to you. This makes you rude. Then you said I’m sorry you feel that way, girl that response is Toxic.

To the “Manager”: Thank you for making my drink stacked however me telling Brooklyn she’s being rude is not name calling. Brooklyn will not be better if you enable her to be rude, toxic, and uneducated on stacked espresso drinks.

Brooklyn cannot convince me or alter my reality when I know what my drink from Starbucks needs to look like.

I’ve attached pictures to show the difference between a stacked espresso drink from the same Starbucks on Washtenaw and the coffee mud water Brooklyn said I ordered at this very Washtenaw location. Both are same ingredients made...

I rarely leave reviews when I'm disappointed, but today was really unfortunate. I was running late for work and I placed a mobile order: an iced espresso with cream, cold foam and some syrup, and a breakfast wrap. When I got there, the wrap was ready but the coffee wasn't yet. So I sat down across from the bar and started eating my breakfast.

When they began making my drink, and again when they set it on the counter, they (a short, middle-aged barista and a tall barista with a long, platinum blonde ponytail) started making comments. First they said it was an annoying amount of modifications. Reasonable. Then they graduated to talking about what an unhealthy drink it is, and how immature the person who ordered it must be -- and they stayed on that topic for a while. Making comments about how people need to learn when they're just getting fat and how stupid it is not to be able to just order a plain espresso and move on. I'm assuming that because it was a mobile order, they assumed whoever ordered the drink wasn't there...rather than sitting five feet away from them.

Really disappointed, because this is the only convenient Starbucks location near my house. Bummer that they feel so comfortable openly making fun of customers.

On the bright side, my "stupid" and "fat" Starbucks order was awesome, and just the pick-me-up I needed on my way into a tough...