McCafe

[suki]

McD's introduced some specialty coffees to prepare the market before going into the full McCafe. The iced coffees that are available now will be different when the McD's are opened with the McCafes. Right now, they are drip coffee based drinks.

When the McCafes are installed, they will be espresso based drinks... big flavor difference. But, it's caused a little confusion. Unless you see a big espresso machine with big clear hoppers filled with espresso beans... they don't have the McCafe yet. They might have elements of it, but they don't have the full business and training.

It's my understanding that it's still pretty early in the roll-out around the nation. Some regions have had stores that have made the mistake of not properly training everyone before launching the new business. That's where I come in. After the remodel and equipment installation, I'll spend about 3 weeks training crew and the specialty coffees will be free during that time period.

So, watch your local McD's for remodeling and free coffee samples!

I really am having a lot of fun with this. I love the teens I'm working with, they are great kids.

[TheRootedNomad]

Congrats Suki!!! I agree about the difference in crap / stress level at a job like that. My job is high stress/crap. It was especially high stress when I worked the floor with the kids in care. You knew they watched every move you made, listened to every word you said, and reacted in some way too it, so you always wanted it to be the right one, always hoped you said the right thing. At one point I got a second job at the local bakery.....oh what a difference...it was not my calling....it was not enough money to pay the bills...but it was fun. No one is ever grumpy about a doughut!!!!...(and if for some reason there's a problem you give them FREE doughnuts and it solves everything)...Have FUN!!

[suki]

Congrats Suki!!! I agree about the difference in crap / stress level at a job like that. My job is high stress/crap. It was especially high stress when I worked the floor with the kids in care. You knew they watched every move you made, listened to every word you said, and reacted in some way too it, so you always wanted it to be the right one, always hoped you said the right thing. At one point I got a second job at the local bakery.....oh what a difference...it was not my calling....it was not enough money to pay the bills...but it was fun. No one is ever grumpy about a doughut!!!!...(and if for some reason there's a problem you give them FREE doughnuts and it solves everything)...Have FUN!!

Yep... big HUGE difference. When I was working as an administrator, there were days when my nurse (2nd in command) and I would go out to lunch together and I'd just look at her and say, "why are we doing this? Someday, I'm just going to go to McD's and say, 'would you like fries with that?" and go on about my business." Well, she came in the store on Friday with her son and cracked up when she saw me behind the counter working. She gave me a big hug and said, "good for you!" She's also taken a less stressful job now.

Even when I'm store manager, I can't imagine it being anywhere near as stressful as health care.

[cissylu]

congrat`s suki ! I`m really happy for you. sound`s like you`ll have some fun with your work. good luck

[Russ]

Congrats Suki! Good luck.

[Jskell911]

Wow, usually I hate McDonalds. We are getting a completely new one in October, and if they have this McCafe well I just might be in trouble. LOL I live in a VERY small town and you just can't get espresso based coffee drinks around here.

And COngrats on the new career path! I hope it continues to be as fun and exciting for you

[Cricket1]

We don't have a McCafe, yet, but I noticed that each day of the week from 2-4 p.m. they are offering a sample of different cafe drinks (lattes, mocha, etc.). I haven't tried any, though.

Good luck with the new job!

[annymoll]

Suki!!!! Congrats to you!We do not have the Cafes yet, but I tried an iced coffee over the weekend and I liked it! We travel to Arkansas quite a bit(One of the most beautiful states)I will stop in and say hi on one of our trips!!!!!Will you have pastries?I have only had one experience at McDonald's that was negative, and right when I opened my mouth to let the manager have it, he handed me several coupons for free food and apologized. Wonderful customer service.I passed that along, the good service there. Have fun!!!

[Katybird]

Congrats on the new job. It is so great to hear someone so excited about a job. I will have to check out the Micky Ds around my area to see if any have gotten the McCafe yet. It will be great to have a low cost alternative to Starbucks.

[YankeeMom]

I've often tossed around the idea of working at McDs. It seems like a laid back, easy, fun place to work. I don't know if I could handle coming home smelling like grease though lol. BTDT.

We don't have a McCafe here. I hope, if we do get one, they improve their coffee. Dh & I stopped in for a cup of coffee on the way to an auction last weekend and it tasted like cat butt

[suki]

Cricket, it sounds like you'll have one soon there. The sampling is usually part of the training. So, stop by and get a sample!

It is a low cost alternative to Starbucks. The menu won't be as extensive as Starbucks and you won't need a translator to read it to you. But, for small towns that would never have a Starbucks... it's a great feature! We have one coffee house in town and they are quite expensive. This will be a nice alternative for us too.

As for pastries and such. I really don't know. They already have fresh-baked cookies, the pies and the cinnamelts. I'm not sure they will expand the line. I do know that the beverage line will expand in the future to include smoothies. The McCafe remodel includes making room for this equipment in the not-too-distant future.

Yes, I'm excited... it's a fun, laid-back job... very, very different from corporate health care administration. And, the young, energetic teens I'm working with are hard workers who take pride in doing a good job. I wasn't sure there was anyone like that anymore! In health care I worked with a lot of folks who simply didn't care anymore and no matter what you did, they didn't try any harder. It's such a refreshing change to see these kids working their butts off and not complaining. And, to work for an employer that has very simple, basic goals... keep the customer happy and make money.

Since I worked in this store over 20 years ago... I kind of feel like I'm back home. It's very comfortable for me.

The managers don't quite know what to think of me at the moment. They know I'm training for management but it's obvious they aren't sure what to think of me. It's all good though. I'm making sure to work with everyone on every shift in every position as part of my training. It'll be much easier to run the store with the knowledge I'm picking up.