In a reversal of a COVID-19 policy, coffee chain Starbucks has brought back self-serve milks and sugars effective Monday. The chain is also offering free refills for certain customers.
The Starbucks condiment bars include multiple creamers, milks and sweetener options. Customers who cannot find the one they want will be able to request them from a barista, the company explained on its website.
The chain got rid of self-serve in order to minimize people’s exposure to surfaces during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CNN. Its return was requested both by customers and by employees.
“Our customers are asking for it and our baristas are saying it would help them deliver the speed of service that they want to provide,” Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said on the company’s earnings call for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2024.
Mr. Niccol also said the company is aiming for a wait time of less than four minutes between the point of sale and the customer getting their drink. The condiment bar, he said, would allow the customer to get a simple cup of coffee immediately and then go add what they want to their drink.
Free refills of hot or iced coffee or tea will be offered to customers who order any drink to have inside the store served in a glass, mug or reusable Starbucks cup.
The chain’s cold brew coffee, iced tea lemonade, flavored ice tea or Starbucks Refreshers flavored drinks are not available as free refills, the company specified on its website.
Free refills will also be offered at licensed Starbucks locations in other stores, such as grocery stores or in Target, according to Axios.
The company also on Monday axed its open-door bathroom policy, meaning that only paying customers can to use the restrooms or stay inside a Starbucks lobby.
The company had allowed anyone to use its restrooms following a 2018 issue in which two Black men waiting at a Philadelphia location for a meeting were arrested after a store employee called the cops because one of the men tried to use the bathroom without buying anything.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the parameters of Starbucks’ revised refill policy. Refills are available for in-store customers who order any Starbucks drink, but only iced or hot brewed coffee and tea are available as a refill.
• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.
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