Starbucks - Pinole

I was pleasantly surprised by how good my latte was this morning, especially since it had microfoam, which I know from personal experience can be hard to achieve consistently. This Starbucks location does a much better job than the one in Fitzgerald.

I have nothing but positive things to say about Starbucks! This particular location was both welcoming and tidy, and I really appreciated the friendly staff.

I had literally stumbled into Starbucks, barely able to walk, and had just bought an orange juice before nearly collapsing at a table in the room. The young lady who took my order seemed completely unfazed by my condition, but either she or the manager noticed I was in distress and called 911. I experienced a severe physical reaction after having too much blood drawn earlier that day, which resulted in a prolonged fainting spell. This kind of thing is terrifying if you’ve ever gone through it— a sudden drop in blood pressure can lead to serious complications, and that’s exactly how I felt that day. I suffer from hypotension (very low blood pressure), and for some reason, my doctor thought it was fine for the phlebotomist to draw six vials of blood (not related to Covid, by the way). I weigh 108 pounds. To cut a long story short, I felt okay for a few minutes after my blood draw but decided to drive to Starbucks for something sweet before heading onto the highway. Then, everything started to spin. Although I was wearing a mask, I can only imagine what the manager must have thought, especially during Covid, so I’m especially grateful he came to help! I mention this part because, before I even reached the door, I collapsed outside my car. I knew I needed something sugary and didn't want to go in alone. As I made my way across the parking lot, my knees started to give out, and I barely managed to reach a chair at an outdoor table to prevent myself from falling. I was right next to a group of at least ten people who were laughing and enjoying their drinks. There was no way they could have missed my distress. I was breathing heavily, my head on the table, nearly collapsing. I was dizzy, hot and cold at the same time, and for some reason, I couldn’t speak or breathe properly; my chest hurt. Not a single person from that group even checked to see if I was okay or offered to help from a distance. It was frightening and left me feeling so alone and helpless. I knew I needed something sweet to drink urgently, so I forced myself to the door, bent over, with weak knees. I spotted the orange juice in the refrigerated section and took it before placing my debit card on the counter. The girl at the counter served me without batting an eye—how is that possible? Maybe she thought I was drunk? Anyway, the manager stayed with me after the 911 operator advised him to do so, which calmed me down and helped relieve the pressure in my chest. The medics arrived, and thankfully, I was okay, though it was embarrassing to have been in that situation, especially with the same group still there. Even if I might have appeared intoxicated, no one bothered to ask if I was alright. Once the medics confirmed I was fine and left, I sat at the same outdoor table, right next to that same group. Not one of them said a thing, not even after I was rolled into an ambulance. So, if you were at the Starbucks on 1315 Pinole Valley Rd. around 2 p.m. on November 12, 2021, and you were part of that large group of “upstanding” people sitting outside, you really need to reflect on your actions.

Besides my drink absolutely delicious I appreciate the staff that holds the mask log. I experienced a very rude customer refused to create a mask and curse the staff. The staff kept cool and even refunded the guy before he left. Thank you for keeping it stylish and keeping everyone safe :