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Daily Coffees and cafes

(116 Posts)
nanna8 Sun 16-Oct-22 12:38:23

When I was young my Mum was always going into coffee shops and cafes for a coffee and I used to think she was wasting money when you could easily make one at home ( we didn’t have instant, it was ‘proper’coffee) . Guess what ? Now I have a coffee out at least 4 or 5 times a week and now I understand where she was coming from ! It has to be a good one, I am a coffee snob as are most Melburnians. It is getting very expensive, however and is now usually $5 for a small cup so I might have to cut back - still it’s better than cigs or booze I suppose.

Mollygo Sun 16-Oct-22 12:40:54

It’s not so much the coffee as the chance for meet ups that I missed during Covid so I was delighted to get the chance again but OH! those prices!

henetha Sun 16-Oct-22 12:46:00

It is expensive these days. I go to them if I'm meeting a friend or one of my grandchildren, as I did last week.
I must admit that I'm a cheapskate and if I go out for a day in my car I always take a flask of coffee/chocolate with me!
And sandwiches or something. No good for coffee snobs grin

Dottynan Sun 16-Oct-22 12:51:56

My husband and I very often go out for coffee and cake. He recently retired and we look on it as a treat. We really enjoy it.

tanith Sun 16-Oct-22 12:53:04

I only go to a coffee shop to meet up with friends which isn’t often.

Margiknot Sun 16-Oct-22 12:55:20

I buy a coffee out some weeks - usually on a day out for a walk or to explore local history. It's possible to buy a decent coffee or tea in all sorts of establishments now - pubs gardens, museums stations and almost every small town has at least one coffee shop. I agree when buying a coffee out - its more buying the chance to sit down, meetup, rest and either chat or think. We missed proper lattes so much during the early part of lockdown we even walked to a nearby service station-the only establishments allowed to sell take away beverages at the time- to buy the biggest size each.

RichmondPark1 Sun 16-Oct-22 12:55:49

I enjoy the people watching opportunities in coffee shops as much as the coffee. It's such a treat it is worth the money to me. Like henetha though I also enjoy taking a flask out. I make my own coffee in my moka machine and I'm sure it's as good as cafe coffee (or at least that's what I tell myself).

biglouis Sun 16-Oct-22 12:58:55

I cant remember the last time I bought a coffee "out". It must be more than 10 years. I was shocked when my nephew recently told me a coffee in Starbucks or Costa could be £5. But then I am not a food snob or a coffee afficionado.

BlueBelle Sun 16-Oct-22 13:01:43

Our local community theatre is doing a free coffee biscuits and sing along one morning a week and the local cinema is doing a film coffee and biscuits one morning a week for £4.90 and it’s an up to the minute film not old stuff
I think these community projects are really really helpful

BlueBelle Sun 16-Oct-22 13:03:18

Whoops pressed to soon I meet different friends at least twice a month for a coffee and snack but not in American expensive places just local cafes

sodapop Sun 16-Oct-22 13:19:39

Those community groups sound brilliant BlueBelle something a little different.

Calendargirl Sun 16-Oct-22 13:24:43

Just shows, we pay for what we want.

So many on GN seem to enjoy a coffee out several days a week. I prefer to go home and have one.

But then, I pay quite a bit for a good quality loaf from our artisan baker, whereas others are happy to buy a cheap supermarket one.

Horses for courses.

Kim19 Sun 16-Oct-22 13:31:05

I do a mix of both. Enjoy meeting friends for a coffee but regularly take my own flask and sandwiches when my day is less organised.

SueDonim Sun 16-Oct-22 13:39:29

I’m not sure why having a coffee in a cafe makes one a food snob. What an odd comment.

We have coffee out quite often, at least twice a week. Part of the pleasure is having something made for you, part is to enjoy people-watching, part is that we became friends with the proprietors, part is that it’s a central meeting place for friends. It’s not just about coffee.

cornergran Sun 16-Oct-22 13:43:29

A flask in the car is always on the agenda, along with cake and biscuits grin. Having said that we have coffee stops on many outings. Have done for over 30 years as health issues mean I need to sit down frequently. Mr C likes his coffee, I prefer tea, it extends the distance I can walk and our time out. We also enjoy it, just watching the world go by and chatting. As costs increase the number of times per week have been and will be reduced.

MissAdventure Sun 16-Oct-22 13:53:32

I used to love having a coffee out.
It's a prime opportunity for people watching.

M0nica Sun 16-Oct-22 13:56:33

My main problem is that essentially I do not like coffee or tea and only drink them when I or someone I trust makes it to my limited preference.

Come to that, I do not have a sweet tooth, so cake holds little appeal.

lixy Sun 16-Oct-22 13:57:19

The cafe in the park here is a great meeting place for people looking after small children. When I'm out with GD in pushchair for her afternoon 'airing' I sometimes stop for a coffee and a chat with some of the regulars. £2.50 a go so doesn't break the bank once a fortnight or so.

Blossoming Sun 16-Oct-22 14:53:15

There is a lovely wee coffee shop across the marina from our house. On days when I manage to walk all the way across the bridge on my own I reward myself with coffee and a biscuit or cake. If it’s fine I sit at an outside table and look at the boats. It’s been quite a while since I last visited. It’s an indulgence but it lifts my spirits and I’m supporting a small independent business.

Cabbie21 Sun 16-Oct-22 15:04:05

I don't drink coffee and cake is bad for me( but I like it.)
I have currently only one friend that I meet up with. We both drink tea and avoid the cakes.

AreWeThereYet Sun 16-Oct-22 15:04:18

We have coffee out maybe three or four days a week, preferably in a locally owned cafe. As others have said, it's not just about coffee but meeting people, people watching, a break from doing other things, sitting in the sunshine doing the crossword together sometimes. We also make coffee at home in our reusable mugs some days and take them with something to eat when we go for a long walk. Nothing snobby about having coffee out, some people have better coffee at home than I have had in some coffee bars but we can't really pop round to do the crossword for an hour in someone's house.

Callistemon21 Sun 16-Oct-22 15:20:25

I meet friends for coffee occasionally, every two or three weeks or so but it often extends into lunch too.
We do have coffee shops in town (more than shops), a couple of the chains but vintage tea shops seem to be becoming more popular now.

Callistemon21 Sun 16-Oct-22 15:21:57

The local garden centres seem to be very popular places to meet for coffee too

Norah Sun 16-Oct-22 15:32:20

Not snobby, one way or other. We can home cook better, cheaper.

Witzend Sun 16-Oct-22 15:33:40

A few ex colleagues and I occasionally meet in the M&S or John Lewis cafe, but other than that I don’t buy coffees. However I live a short bus ride from the town centre so never feel the need - I’ll have one when I get home.

I did not long ago take a very elderly neighbour shopping, and we had a coffee and cake in Maison Paul, because to her that was a treat part of her little outing. But I wouldn’t have bothered on my own.

I don’t like Starbucks because of the queues and the faffing, and will never, ever go to a Costa again, because a foreign boyfriend of a dd who was visiting, was once treated absolutely appallingly by them.