going for coffee

I was in waitrose at the weekend and had a coffee whilst walking around doing my shopping it was free for card holders and I shared it with OH it was a latte just the right temperature really nice Oh having the lions share I think. Just wondering how long it will last before someone complains!!

The faffing is part of the theatre of the modern coffee chain and the proprietors think it justifies the eye-watering charges they exact for their lukewarm beverages. I hate them with a vengeance. Here is a list of the things I cannot stand about coffee chains:-
-cold tea and coffee (Grrrr!)
-the expense
-dark red walls covered with ghastly pictures of coffee pickers
-pan pipe or, even worse, jazz, music blaring continually
-one single, filthy, disabled toilet (usually without toilet paper) with a queue of squirming punters outside catering for about eighty covers in the cafe
-machines which slow down rather than speed up the progress of drink making

Give me a nice tearoom any day. Hot tea, extra water for no extra charge, proper cake.

the only place I go out to for a hot drink is Coco Mountain, only 1.5 hours for me. The hot chocolate is to die for (I don't like coffee).

www.cocoamountain.co.uk

Though I really recommend it, you would have to be on holiday here to go. You may have seen them on Dragon's Den last year, when they were told they couldn't run a successful business in Durness. they are doing really well.

Yes definitely it's a rip-off. We don't use them if we possibly can avoid them and prefer a tea shop with real tea.

Went to my local book shop / cafe which has just opened after flooding last December ( Cumbria ). 2 insipid teas £5.00 ! Couple next table had 2 teas and scrambled eggs on toast. We were close to open kitchen and saw it being made. 1 slice of bread cut from loaf,toasted and buttered, 2 Sainsbury eggs for each portion = £18.00 ! Maybe I'm a tight ar** but in my mind that's way too much.

I don't drink coffee in this country as it's too weak, too expensive and too big.
I wait till I'm in Spain where I know I'm going to get a decent cafe con leche, or a good strong cortado - or even a carajillo (coffee with brandy) - served to me at my table.

I love the idea of a coffee shop and I do like coffee but I don't like the prices! I'd visit coffee shops regularly if they were cheaper. And when I ask for a CUP of coffee, I mean a CUP of coffee not half filled flavoured hot water at a high price! I've sent the coffee back on a couple of occasions, I'm afraid.

Espresso is a rip off. They give you half a tiny cup and charge the earth. I don't think it should cost more than 50p as it is such a little amount.

Our village has three independent coffee shops, all are good, but one is exceptional, so that's the one we use!
Tea for one comes in a pot which fills at least three large cups, their Lattes are fantastic, and they do the best Mochas for miles around!
We also have a small, family run garden centre not far from us which has a wonderful coffee shop. It's small, off the beaten track and one could be forgiven for assuming it was 'nothing special' but it's run by an ex chef who used to have one of the best resaurants in Chester. He's semi retired now, the coffee shop is more of a hobby than a job to him, but his food is amazing, the drinks are superb and it's a great place to meet and eat/drink.
We very rarely use a 'chain' coffee shop, but if we can't find an independent, Costa are far superior to Starbuck's!

Waitrose coffee is free annodomini? ?
My daughter is a barista in a well known coffee chain. I prefer a different chains coffee & she's disgusted as the don't 'make' their coffee apparently!

I don't drink coffee, although I do like the smell .

At least once a week I meet my dad at our local Costa's prior to taking him for his weekly shop. much to my DD's disgust as she works for the opposition . I tend to have a hot chocolate but I do quite enjoy watching them make my dad's coffee. I find it quite fascinating and almost ceremonious with all the little levers and steam etc. The price is worth it for the effort they put into it.

At a motorway service station we avoid expensive options like Costa, which have long queues. When available head for Greggs, which does a lovely big hot cup of filter coffee at lower price (I spend the saving on one of their fresh Belgian buns). Like others we avoid instant coffee.

A tip though, it you have to provide instant coffee for a number of people, make it in a pre-warmed large flask or thermal jug. Once the mix has sat a short time, its flavour develops and improves.

Yes meandashy, Waitrose coffee is free if you have a "my waitrose" card. I get my daily fix from there, it's not bad coffee and you can have it on the go with lid on.

My friend takes her own (decaffeinated) teabag with her when we go out and asks for a pot of water. She then mutters about paying for it but I have pointed out that she's used the venue's power, staff time, milk and sugar!!

Agree Waitrose coffee is V good & as it is free I always have one- it lasts just long enough for me to drive home. I do like Costa sometimes if I am out but now I have a Nespresso machine I do begrudge paying for coffee that I can make for a fraction of the price at home & is hotter & tastier- so I tend to wait until I get back.

I can't drink coffee anyway as it gives me headaches but yes, I'm sure coffee shops are a rip off. My husband just drinks "normal" coffee ie black coffee with plain milk, but has to go through the palaver of cappuchino, latte, mochaccino etc when they don't recognise the term "flat white". I do like to see the artwork on top but not enough to queue, explain and wait then pay what to me seems an extortionate amount for a small drink. My age is showing!!

Good grief, there are a few people on here who have no idea of the true cost of making a coffee/pot of tea. It is not just about the teabag/coffee. What about insurance/business rates/rent/staff wages/etc? I for one am delighted that we have finally learnt to make decentish coffee in this country and that the days of big drums of powdered nescafe have gone. I like a good coffee and the whole experience of it, and I appreciate the associated costs in making it.

We love good coffee and search out cafes/tearooms that can make the perfect cup. As said, good coffee is not cheap, but it is well worth the cost. Of the High Street shops, Cafe Nero is pretty good, but some of the small independents can be even better.
It's the quality that matters, not the quantity, one of the main differences between a tiny cup of good espresso and a cup of Americano is just water, so the espresso will cost about the same.

Having coffee out is a treat so is worth the expense, especially if the company is good!

PamelaJ1, true, all the things you mentioned, but the Church coffee shop has become a real 'meeting' place for lots of visitors. It is a friendly place and no one is left to sit alone, unless they choose to. We do volunteer in there, an occasional Saturday, is our slot. But I must admit that sometimes I find their coffee a bit strong. I do like Costa and also Pret a Manger coffee. It is surprising how much can be spent on coffee out, if you care to add up the cost. But it's a nice treat.?

Enjoy a coffee (& cake) as a treat, usually with my DD & DGS.

Before we downsized DH & I used to go into local town once a month for main shopping & banking. Our treat was to pick up M & S sandwiches & nice cake for Lunch, my step-daughter couldn't understand why we didn't go for coffee but as we only lived a few miles away we would rather go straight home & enjoy Lunch & coffee at home (we could be home in less time than it would have taken to have a coffee out).

Our treat however was if we visited NT Properties, always packed a picnic but went for coffee & cake when we'd finished looking round

I'm with GillT57! Although, since my family gave me a deLonghi ( other makes are available) bean to cup coffee machine for my last 'big'birthday, I have coffee out less often as I can make such a good one at home.

It would be interesting to know the mark-up on coffee served in the coffee shop chains as they probably pay their staff the minimum wage.

I drink tea in these places because I prefer it, it's cheaper and the coffee can be too strong unless I have a latte.

Don't go to Starbucks - they pay no tax.

I love a good cup of coffee but I do like it hot which it isn't usually from any of the chains. M&S does a very nice mocha, though.

This thread put me in mind of the first date I went on with DH (10 years ago); we ended up at the end of a tram line in New Addington and found a cafe. DH, keen to impress, asked the lady behind the counter what kinds of coffee they had. Back came the reply "Nescaff, with or without milk", which absolutely cracked us up and has become a family catchphrase!

I agree about modern coffee palaver and avoid these pay through the nose chain coffee shops that abound.
Luckily in my little Devon locality there are nice coffee/tea shops where you can still get simply a cup of coffee.