April 19, 2017—a Wednesday like any other.
Fox News announced that Bill O’Reilly was fired. Serena Williams announced her pregnancy.
And I, at 18 years old and nine months into my job as a Starbucks barista in Tacoma, Washington, clocked in for my afternoon shift just before 3:30 PM.
Little did I know this would be a day I’d remember forever—a story I’ve shared with countless other baristas and coffee lovers. Not because of some wild customer or a broken espresso machine.
Nope.
Because on this day, the Unicorn Frappuccino made its debut.
And I was right in the middle of it.
What Was the Unicorn Frappuccino?
It was a non-coffee frappuccino—a blend of ice, milk, mango syrup, a neon-blue sour drizzle, whipped cream, and pink-and-blue “fairy dust” on top.
It looked like something dreamed up by a hyper-caffeinated child with a sweet tooth.
I wasn’t a fan—too sweet for me—but it wasn’t really about the taste.
It was about the Instagram moment.
And it definitely delivered buzz.
The Shift: Chaos in Technicolor
3:30 PM:
I clock in. Quick huddle with the shift supervisor. The store manager is nowhere to be seen (lucky them). We have no idea what’s coming.
3:50 PM:
The line of cars starts building. Normal for this time of day—schools are out. Nothing alarming.
4:15 PM:
I’m working the drive-thru window. I can’t see the end of the car line.
Inside, frappuccino cups cover every surface. Blenders are roaring. The first signs of panic set in.
4:45 PM:
The drive-thru is nonstop. We’ve got three people making frappuccinos instead of one.
Milk. Ice. Pink and blue powder—everywhere.
The shift manager is outside taking orders manually to speed things up.
“Party in the U.S.A.” blasts from the speakers. Pure madness.
5:00 PM:
Over 30 unicorn frappuccinos in the queue.
Customers complain. Kids scream.
I’m screaming.
6:00 PM:
It calms down. The store is trashed. We’re exhausted.
Some teammates stay an hour longer just to help.
8:45 PM:
We finally close. Clock out. Check the schedule.
I’m back the next day—Day 2 of the Unicorn Frappuccino…
Every Barista Has That Shift
If you’ve ever worked behind an espresso machine, you know this feeling.
Whether it’s a product launch, equipment breakdown, or just a wild rush of customers, there’s no magic fix.
You just get through it together.
Next time you see your favorite barista, ask them about their worst shift.
I promise—it makes for a great story (and maybe you’ll even get a smile out of them).
Want to learn the fun side of coffee (without the chaos)?
Join one of my coffee workshops and I’ll show you how to brew, taste, and enjoy coffee the way it’s meant to be—minus the pink and blue dust.