Washington, Your Drive-Thru Manners Are Missing: 21 Tips to Get Them Back

Washingtonians, we need to talk. Your coffee obsession is legendary, your love for quick bites unmatched, but your drive-thru etiquette? Let’s just say it’s as soggy as a Seattle afternoon. From dawdling at the menu to honking like it’s a Black Friday sale, we’re dropping the ball. Here are 21 ways to polish up your drive-thru game and keep the line moving smoother than a sunny day on the Sound.

1. Know Your Order Before You Roll Up

Daydreaming at the speaker is not a vibe. Decide what you want before you pull into the line. That triple-shot, half-caff, oat milk latte with a pump of caramel? Have it ready.

2. Keep Your Phone Call for Later

We get it, you’re busy. But chatting on the phone while ordering your burger is a recipe for mistakes. Hang up, order, then call your buddy back.

3. Speak Clearly and Loudly

Mumbling into the speaker is like whispering in a windstorm. Enunciate, project, and make sure the staff can hear you over the espresso machine’s hiss.

4. Don’t Change Your Order at the Window

The drive-thru is not a choose-your-own-adventure novel. Finalize your order at the speaker. Swapping fries for a salad at the window throws everyone off.

5. Have Your Payment Ready

Fumbling for your card or cash while the line backs up to I-5? Not cool. Have your payment method ready to keep things speedy.

6. Don’t Block the Line

If you’re waiting for a special order, pull into a parking spot. Hogging the drive-thru lane is like camping in the passing lane on the freeway.

7. Turn Down the Tunes

Blasting your favorite grunge playlist might feel like a Washington rite, but it drowns out the staff. Lower the volume when you’re at the speaker.

8. Be Patient During Rush Hour

Morning coffee runs and lunch rushes are chaos. Expect a wait, and don’t take it out on the staff. They’re juggling more orders than a Pike Place fishmonger.

9. Check Your Order Before Driving Off

Peek into your bag before you peel out. If something’s missing, it’s easier to fix on the spot than to circle back in a huff.

10. Don’t Honk at the Car in Front

Honking won’t make the line move faster—it just makes you the jerk of the drive-thru. Chill, we’re all trying to get our caffeine fix.

11. Keep Your Pets in Check

Your pup might love sticking their head out the window, but if they’re barking over the order or jumping at the staff, it’s a problem. Keep Fido calm.

12. Avoid Overly Complicated Orders

We love your creativity, but a 12-step custom smoothie order during peak hours? Simplify it, or hit the counter inside.

13. Say “Please” and “Thank You”

Manners matter, even in a hurry. A quick “please” when ordering and “thank you” at the window goes a long way.

14. Don’t Loiter After Getting Your Food

The drive-thru isn’t a parking lot. Grab your food, check it quickly, and move on so the next person can get their burrito fix.

15. Use Your Turn Signal

If you’re merging into traffic after the drive-thru, signal your intentions. Washington roads are wild enough without surprise lane changes.

16. Don’t Cut the Line

Sneaking into the drive-thru from the wrong entrance is a cardinal sin. Respect the queue, even if it snakes around the building.

17. Be Kind to the Staff

Drive-thru workers are hustling hard. A smile or a kind word can brighten their day, especially when they’re dealing with a dozen cranky customers.

18. Don’t Order for a Crowd

If you’re feeding the whole office, go inside. Ordering 15 sandwiches in the drive-thru is a surefire way to clog the line.

19. Keep Your Car Clean

Trash flying out of your window or spilling coffee cups at the pickup? Not a good look. Keep your car tidy to avoid littering.

20. Follow the Drive-Thru Rules

Some spots have specific instructions—like “no left turns” or “pull forward for large orders.” Pay attention to signs and staff directions.

21. Tip If You Can

If the drive-thru has a tip jar or option, and you’ve got a little extra, show some love. Those workers are keeping Washington’s coffee culture alive.

Let’s Do Better, Washington

We’re the state of stunning mountains, tech giants, and the best coffee on the planet. Let’s make our drive-thru manners just as impressive. Next time you’re grabbing a quick bite or a latte, channel these tips and keep the line moving. Your fellow Washingtonians (and the drive-thru staff) will thank you.