Dear fellow baristas:

There are some things that I have learned, working as a barista. A portion of those things deal with coffee, and the other is all about the customers. From being friends with a lot of baristas and being one myself, I have found that we all share similar experiences, despite our different coffee shop locations.

Here is a list of things that baristas know all too well:

Even if the customer's joke isn't funny, laugh.

Hey, you may even get yourself a whopping tip.

If a customer is rude to you, don't say something mean back.

We've all heard the phrase, "If you can't think of something nice to say, don't say anything at all."

When you try to be the most chipper barista the customers have ever seen, but some customers just won't have it:

I mean, come on! We just want to make your day a little brighter, that's all.

This is what you look like when you open in the morning and closed the night before:

Some co-workers want to be flashy and efficient, so they throw the pitcher to you when you need it... and you just:

This isn't the coffee Olympics.

Then there are those wonderful days when a cute customer walks up to the counter:

You think you're winning at the whole "small talk" thing:

There's no way you're coming on too strong. You're a pro.

Maybe you subtly hint that you're single...

...and ready to mingle.

You call out their order, "I have a grande mocha made with 2% -

Smooooth.

Or when a creeper asks for your number and all you can do is:

When you work a shift with all of your friends:

There is obviously dancing involved, amiright?

When you're washing the dishes in the back and you have to keep an eye on the register:

When you make the perfect caramel macchiato and call your co-workers over to show off your work:

Everyone must see your artwork.

When you see a lot of people coming through the doors, but know that your shift is almost over:

And finally, when your shift is over:

Come on, get excited! You now have time to take that nap you were daydreaming about during your shift.

Just remember, baristas... Like the great cast of High School Musical once said, "We're all in this together."

- Reagan (AKA, a barista)