What You Need To Know About Starbucks' 10-Minute Rule
Admit it: You've probably visited a Starbucks at least once. Reference says, that roughly 60 million people visit the coffee chain worldwide each week. According to the Starbucks website, the famous Seattle-based coffee shop has been around since its first store opened in 1971. Starbucks serves hot and cold caffeinated beverages, refreshing fruit drinks, pastries, snacks, and breakfast items. Eater says, the coffee shop is also known for its seasonal mugs and tumblers, many of which become rare collector's items.
While you may be accustomed to the Starbucks name, you may not be aware of their so-called 10-minute rule. More often than not, there's a long line of caffeine-deprived people waiting at Starbucks for their share of espresso. The 10-minute rule seems to have been a policy in the past that many Starbucks stores observed; however, many stores may no longer follow the procedure.
What is the 10-minute rule?
The 10-minute rule was created to provide better customer service for coffee drinkers, according to Woman's Day. They say the practice allows baristas to open the store 10 minutes early and close 10 minutes late. However, Newsbreak says that not all locations honor the 10-minute rule.
In 2015, Woman's Day published a quote by Starbucks' Corporate Marketing Manager, John Moore. Regarding the ten-minute policy, he said, "This is just to provide good customer service, as there's almost always a customer waiting for a Starbucks to open."
A Reddit member posted a question asking whether anyone's Starbucks store followed the rule. Many respondents said their stores do not follow the practice for safety reasons. At the same time, one person replied, "It's no longer in the Safety & Security Manual. It was in the past, but it's not anymore."
To ensure you snag your cup of joe before Starbucks closes, arrive before closing time. Doing so ensures you leave happily caffeinated and that employees end their shift on time. Tasting Table reached out to Starbucks for a comment on the policy but did not receive a response.