Local Starbucks barista wins championship

CLUTE — The next time residents stop by the Kroger Starbucks for an iced latte or hot chai tea and encounter Isabella Martinez, they might receive their caffeine fix from a champion barista.

Martinez won the district-level Starbucks U.S. Barista Championship in March at a Sugarland Starbucks Kroger location. The competition tests a barista’s customer service skills, how well they follow Starbucks’ procedures and standards, and also share their passion for beverage quality. Martinez will advance to the next level of the barista competition in Houston in May.

Martinez, who has been a barista at the Kroger Starbucks, 800 N. Dixie Drive, for three years, finds the job fast-paced and interesting, she said.

“I think I’ve stayed because I kind of have an attachment to the customers, “ she said.

The job offers a creative process of making drinks, including frappuccinos, iced coffees, lattes and white mocha beverages, Martinez said.

She entered the competition not expecting to come out with the acclaimed championship title, Martinez said.

To win the title, Martinez had to impress a series of judges with her coffee-making abilities, she said.

“There were three judges and they pretended to be customers and one of the judges stood behind the counter and one of the judges observed me,” she said. “They wanted to see how well I could follow the standard procedure of making a drink.”

To prepare for the competition, Martinez had to familiarize herself with a Starbucks manual, she said.

“It’s like a pamphlet that shows you what you’re going to be tested on,” she said. “I was cramming. All I can really do is study for it.”

Martinez, who has been humbled and shocked about the experience, has found her regulars aren’t surprised to hear she offers up great drinks and customer service, she said.

It’s gratifying to see her team’s customer service skills rewarded, Kroger Starbucks manager Stephanie Garza said.

“It feels great because we were practicing really hard,” she said. “I was very excited when I heard that she won.”

Martinez was constantly practicing and she’s not surprised the barista won for her skills, Garza said.

“Her customer service is really, really good,” she said.

The entire Kroger Starbucks location consistently gives customers excellent service, Garza said.

Garza and her team know many of the regular customers and calling them by their first names makes them feel appreciated and special, Garza said.

To some, Martinez may just be a Starbucks barista, but going above and beyond with drink orders and customer service allows her to have the opportunity to make people’s days better, she said.

“I do make an impact on people,” Martinez said.