Starbucks locations are busy places. With line ups that are often out the doors and new baristas constantly being trained, many Starbucks locations are filled with more than just the aroma of coffee. Instead, they are places of confusion and chaos, where anything happens and often, anything goes.

A regular patron of Starbucks in Washington, D.C., has discovered a number of different ways to make the most of the mayhem in Starbucks locations. While he admits that he pays for his own drinks, this man has “accidentally stumbled” upon five field-tested rules for scamming these busy Starbucks locations out of free drinks.

The first rule is to go to one of the busiest Starbucks locations you can find, as you will have to try and capitalize on the confusion of the baristas behind the bar. In order to maximize your chances of getting a free drink, it is essential to visit one of many Starbucks locations that are so full of activity, that the person who rings up your sale is a different person from the one who makes your drink.

The second rule is to make it seem like your order was incorrect. Company policy states that if a barista makes a mistake in serving you the wrong drink, they must give you a coupon for a free drink. Again, it is essential to choose one of the busiest Starbucks locations so that baristas are convinced the mistake was actually possible.

The third rule is to buy something small, such as a pastry or a cookie, and then act like a patient but confused customer at the other end of the bar who is waiting for his drink. Once more, busy Starbucks locations are key; a barista will only believe he has forgotten a drink if he already has a million drinks in line to make.

The fourth rule is to wait by the end of the bar for the chance to grab a drink that has been sitting there for more than three minutes. At hectic Starbucks locations, confusion often leads to duplicate drink orders being made more than once. Your drink might be lukewarm and not your favourite choice, but at least it will be free.

The fifth and final rule, if your conscience is getting to you, is one of the more honest of the rules. Choose to visit one of the Starbucks locations that you are close to on a regular basis, thereby becoming a regular customer. Get to know your baristas on a first-name basis and create a friendly vibe. Over time, these workers might be willing to giving you a drink for free just because you are a nice person. This rule requires more patience than the others, but it might also be more fun.

Let the record state that you should always pay for your drinks. But, if Starbucks locations are too busy to get your order right or give you the attention you deserve, who are you to stand in the way of reaping the benefits from an honest mistake?